how many tourists visit the forbidden city in 2022

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Number of visitors to the Forbidden City in Beijing 2012-2019

Number of visitors to the palace museum in beijing from 2012 to 2019 (in millions).

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January 2020

2012 to 2019

Figures have been rounded.

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The Forbidden City: Highlights, Secret of the Name, Facts

The Forbidden City (Chinese name: 故宫 Gugong 'Former Palace') was the palatial heart of China. It is an imperial palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912) in Beijing, China.

As one of the five most important palaces in the world, the grand halls and walls proudly display the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architecture, fitting for the capital city of the world's largest nation.

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• Forbidden City Facts
• Why Is It Called the Forbidden City

Forbidden City History

The layout of the forbidden city, forbidden city architecture, forbidden city collections, what are some interesting facts about the forbidden city.

• The Forbidden City is the world's largest imperial palace, over three times larger than the Louvre Palace in France.
• It has some of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
• The Forbidden City took 14 years to build (from 1406 to 1420) and was built by over 1,000,000 workers, including more than 100,000 craftsmen.
• It was the imperial palace of China for 492 years (1420–1912) and was the home of 24 emperors — 14 of the Ming Dynasty and 10 of the Qing Dynasty.
• The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City is one of the world's largest cultural museums, hosting 14 million visitors per year.
• Exotic buildings? There are European and Arabic style buildings in the Forbidden City.
• No trees! There are no trees in the Outer Court because emperors thought they would overshadow or disrupt the majesty of the atmosphere.
• No Birds? Birds cannot land on the palace roofs, which have a special design so as to retain the cleanliness and magnificence of the Forbidden City.
• Cold Palaces? The palaces where concubines or princes who made mistakes and lost the favor of the emperor lived were called the 'Cold Palaces'.
• 9,999½ rooms? Legend has it that the Forbidden City was redesigned to have 9,999½ rooms. Half a room is missing to avoid upsetting the God of Heaven (who was believed to have 10,000 rooms in his heavenly palace).
• Higher-status palaces in the Forbidden City had more complex patterns of doors and windows.
• Fakes! The Palace Museum also (deliberately) exhibits some "fakes". These forgeries are very similar to the originals and are no less valuable.
• The emperors' routine in the Forbidden City was very regular. They usually got up at 4 a.m. and went to bed at 8 p.m. See A Day in the Life of Emperor Qianlong in the Forbidden City .

See more interesting facts on 15 Interesting Facts about the Forbidden City .

Why Is It Called the Forbidden City?

The English name "Forbidden City" is a translation of the Chinese name Zijincheng (紫禁城 /dzrr-jin-chng/ 'Purple Forbidden City').

In ancient times, the emperor was said to be a son of Heaven, and therefore Heaven's supreme power was bestowed upon him. The emperors' residence was built leading north, as an earthly foil to the heavenly Purple Palace, i.e. the North Star, though to be home to the Celestial Emperor.

Considered a divine place, it was certainly forbidden to ordinary people and that is why the Forbidden City is so named.

Now, in China, it is usually called the "Former Palace" (故宫 Gugong /goo-gong/).

See Why Is It Called the Forbidden City? and more Forbidden City FAQs .

The Forbidden City is now 601 years old [2021]. It was built from 1406 to 1420 on the orders of Zhu Di — Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle (reign 1402–24).

Emperor Yongle was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He seized the throne from his nephew. In order to consolidate his imperial power and protect his own security, he decided to move the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, which was his fief. Thus, Emperor Yongle ordered Kuai Xiang to design the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The Forbidden City experienced three fires, and so most of present palaces were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty .

During the Second Opium War (1856–1860), the Forbidden City was controlled by Anglo-French forces and occupied until the end of the war.

Puyi , the last emperor, lived in the Forbidden City until he was expelled in 1924. After that, the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City was established and was opened to the public.

The Forbidden City covers an area of about 72 hectares (180 acres) with a total floor space of approximately 150,000 square meters (1,600,000 square feet).

The Forbidden City falls into three parts : the defenses (moat and wall), the Outer Court and the Inner Court.

1. Forbidden City Gates and Walls — for Defense

The Meridian Gate (Wumen in Chinese) is the main gate of the Forbidden City. It had three openings. Only the emperor could go through the middle one. It was the place where the emperor issued imperial edicts and battle orders.

The Meridian Gate is the entrance for Forbidden City visits. Visitors need to pass through Tian'anmen ('Gate of Heavenly Peace') to reach the Meridian Gate.

2. The Outer Court — Used for Ceremonial Purposes

The outer court has three main buildings , where emperors attended grand ceremonies. In the Ming Dynasty era, emperors would hold court in Hall of Supreme Harmony to conduct state affairs.

The first hall waiting for you is the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden City. The emperors' Dragon Throne (Longyi) is in this hall. In Qing Dynasty, it was mainly used for ceremonial purposes, such as coronations, investitures, and imperial weddings.

The second hall, behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian), the resting place of the emperor before presiding over grand events held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Emperors would rehearse their speeches and presentations here before departing to the Temple of Heaven for the sacrifice rites.

The last hall is the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian), used for banquets and later for imperial examinations.

There are a couple of side gardens with interesting halls to explore. Please consult with your local guide if you want to visit them and have more time to explore the palace.

3. The Inner Court — Residence of the Emperor and His Family

In the Qing Dynasty, the emperors lived and worked mostly in the Inner Court.

Out from the Hall of the Preserving Harmony, you will notice a huge block of marble carved with cloud and dragon designs. Go straight, and you will see another gate, called the Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqingmen). This is the main gateway to the inner living court.

The inner court has three main structures at the northern rear of the Forbidden City:

• The first structure inside the inner court is the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong). Before Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1722–35), it was the residence of the emperor. Later it became the emperor's audience hall.
• The second structure, behind it is the Palace of Union and Peace (Jiaotaidian), where the imperial seals were stored.
• The third hall is the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility (Kunninggong). In the Ming Dynasty, it was the residence of the empress. In the Qing Dynasty, it became a shamanist worship place. It was also used on the emperor's wedding night.

Other important structures:

• Mental Cultivation Hall (Yangxindian): From the time of third Qing emperor Yongzheng, all the remaining Qing emperors, 8 in total, resided in this hall.
• Six Eastern Palaces and Six Western Palaces on either side of the three main structures were the residences of the imperial concubines. It was also where many Qing emperors were born and raised.
• The Imperial Garden is behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. It was a place for the emperor's family to relax and visit. The garden offers an aesthetic change — from the crimson and gray building complex to a colorful and luxuriant atmosphere.

The Forbidden City is outstanding not only because of its magnitude, but also for its unique architectural design. Here are five key features.

1. Axial Symmetry and South-North Orientation

To represent the supreme power of the emperor, given from Heaven, and the place where he lived being the center of the world, all the important gates and halls of the Forbidden City were arranged symmetrically on the north-south central axis of old Beijing.

Heaven was thought to be Polaris (the North Star), the only seemingly stationary star in the northern sky, and the Forbidden City's layout points its visitors straight at "Heaven" .

2. Wooden Structures without Nails

The Forbidden City is the largest and most complete complex of ancient wooden structures in the world.

The main frames of all buildings were built with high-quality wooden beams and columns, including whole trunks of precious Phoebe zhennan wood from the jungles of southwest China.

Forbidden City carpenters used interlocking mortise and tenon joints to build its great palace buildings "harmoniously", without nails. Nails were considered violent and inharmonious.

See The 4 Reasons Why Most Traditional Chinese Architecture Was Wooden .

3. The Yellow and Red Color Scheme

The main colors of the Forbidden City are yellow and red . The walls, pillars, doors, and windows were mostly painted in red, which is a regarded as a symbol of good fortune, and happiness in Chinese culture.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, yellow was a symbol of supreme power and only used by the imperial family. If you climb up to the top of "Scenery Hill" in Jingshan Park and overlook the Forbidden City, you will see an expanse of yellow glazed tile roofs.

4. Mystical Animal Statuettes on the Roofs

There is a row of mystical animal statuettes placed along the ridge line of halls that were only for official use.

The animals, like dragons , phoenixes, and lions, have powerful meanings in Chinese culture.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony has 10 roof ridge statuettes — left to right: 'Series Ten' (行什, unique to this roof, an anti-thunder monkey god), dragon, phoenix, lion, sea horse, Heavenly steed, a fish dragon, a Haetae (sheep-like dragon), a lion-like dragon, and a bull-like dragon.

The number of animals is different based on the importance of the buildings. You can see 10 animals on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the most important structure in the Forbidden City, and seven on the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the residence of the Empress.

5. Stone/Bronze Lions

In Chinese culture, the lion is the king of the animals, and is regarded as a symbol of power and strength.

Stone and bronze lions are popular as symbolic guardians , and can be seen beside the gates of many Forbidden City palace compounds.

The lions are always in pairs, with the female lion on the left and the male on the right. See more on China's Stone Lions — the Lowdown and Many Photos .

See more on Forbidden City Architecture .

The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City holds more than a million rare and valuable works of art, a sixth of the total number of cultural relics in China.

The collection includes ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, timepieces, jade pieces, ancient books, and historical documents. Some of the valuable collections include:

• The Tomb-Sweeping Day Riverside Painting — a priceless treasure that stands out in the history of Chinese painting: the more than 500 figures in the painting each wear different styles of dress and are involved in different economic activities
• The 'Eternal Territorial Integrity' Gold Cup — the greatest treasure of the Forbidden City: it was used by emperors of the Qing Dynasty
• Lang Kiln Red-Glazed Vase — a rare red glazed porcelain vessel of extraordinary craftsmanship

For more, see The Top 10 Treasures in the Forbidden City .

More Forbidden City Related Articles

• History of the Forbidden City - 1406 to the Present
• Why Was the Forbidden City Built?
• Forbidden City Maps

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting The Forbidden City

Why is it called the forbidden city.

The Forbidden City is also called the Palace Museum. It was off-limits to the general public for over 500 years. Only the emperor, his family, and authorized officials were allowed to enter, giving it an aura of secrecy and exclusivity.

Forbidden City Tip: Logistics

How to buy the Forbidden City tickets?

Five crucial facts you should Know!

#1 The Forbidden City is not open on Monday!!!

#2 This is super important!! There are a limited number of tickets every day. (It can be sold out during the low season; There are only 50000 tickets every day till now) 

#3 The tickets can be booked seven days before at 8 pm. So try to get your tickets as early as you can.

#4  Time-slot reservation policy and ticket inspection measures  For example, if you booked the morning tickets, you should get in before noon, and afternoon tickets can only go inside the afternoon.

# 5 The business shooting is prohibited, so the gimble and triple cannot be taken inside.

3 WAYS TO BUY FORBIDDEN CITY TICKETS

NO.1 All domestic tourists buy tickets from WeChat; however, international tourists do not recommend it since all the apps are in Chinese, and you must pay via WeChat or Alipay. If you can use WeChat, search for “故宫博物院，” and”you will be led to the ticket booking site.

NO.2 You can easily book the tickets from the official website of the Forbidden City. ( The Palace Museum (dpm.org.cn) )

NO 3. Send an email to the Forbidden City to book the tickets.

Internatio”al visitors can reserve admission tickets up to seven days before the day of visit and are required to submit by email the full name, passport number, and intended visit date of each visitor to the Museum’s offMuseum’scket reservation email address at [email protected] at a minimum of one calendar day in advance. An individual may only reserve one admission ticket on any given visit date. 

I will keep you updated! You can also send me an email to check the new policy.

How To Get There?

Address: No.4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China   Zipcode: 100009

Taxi or subway

Show the taxi driver: 天安门广场

The Forbidden City is friendly and easy to reach. It is just the north of Tiananmen Square. So before visiting the Forbidden City, you may also like to walk around Tiananmen Square first.

Hop on the Beijing subway, and get yourself to Tiananmen East station (located almost in the middle of the Beijing subway map, on the red Central Line 1 ).

If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll notice a notice telling you which exit to go to reach Tiananmen Square (Go out from Exit B).

Once you’ve left your driveway station exit B , you’ll find yourself at the end of a long line waiting for security to enter Tiananmen. (The Security queue can be long and easily take half an hour.)

From the doorway down the Tiananmen Tower, it is about 200 meters to get to the Forbidden City.

If you have limited time and don’t want to wait for the long security queue, you can skip Tiananmen Square and walk to the Forbidden City directly. You can visit Tiananmen Square in the afternoon; the line is usually shorter.

Opening Hours &  Ticket Prices

The best time to visit.

As time changes, the Forbidden City looks different with its specialties. So you can visit the Forbidden City almost the whole year. (It is not open all Monday)

Forbidden City is the busiest attraction in Beijing, so it is always full of people. Some tips for you to avoid the crowds:

1. Go earlier. It opens at 8:30 am, so arrive at 8 am and queue at the beginning. You can go in front of the groups and enjoy the Forbidden City by yourself.

2. Go late. The Forbidden City closes at 5 pm, so if you go around 2 pm, it is not as busy as in the Morning.

3. It is better not to visit the Forbidden City at the weekend.

4. Avoid all the important Chinese holidays, such as National Day and the Chinese New Year.

Food and drink

There are six restaurants inside the Forbidden City, like fast Chinese food; the quality is OK, and the budget is around 100RMB per person. (I have marked them out on the map below). But it is straightforward to find shops to sell water and snacks. A bottle of water is 4 RMB.

Hear entertaining stories of the Forbidden City

Discover the hidden tales and untold history of the Forbidden City. Prepare yourself for an extraordinary journey by reading the stories behind this majestic imperial palace.

20 Intriguing Secrets and Facts Revealed in Forbidden City

Forbidden City Tips: Seeing the highlights

Forbidden city map + best travel routes (From Local guide suggestion)

1 Meridian Gate （午门）

The Meridian Gate, the main entrance of the Forbidden City in Beijing, is located on the north-south axis of the Forbidden City. You can always go up to the Gate to see a bird ‘ s-eye view of the Forbidden City before you go deep inside. When you enter the Forbidden City, turn left, and you will find the stairs up to the Meridian Gate. There are always some excellent temporary exhibitions from all over the world.

2 Hall of Supreme Harmony (outer court) （太和殿）

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest structure in the Forbidden City and was once the tallest building in the capital. It was used for state occasions, such as the emperor’s crown ceremony and the nomination of military leaders.

 3 Palace of Heavenly Purity (inner court) （乾清宫）

This is the residence of Ming and early Qing emperors and later an audience hall for receiving foreign envoys and high officials. The highlights are the decorations inside. 1. How did the Qing emperor choose his successors ? 2. What is the emperor’s bedroom like? 3. 6 big mirrors inside, do you know what it is for?…

4 Six Western Palaces （西六宫）

A dozen smaller palace courtyards lie to the west and east of the three lesser central halls. It was in these self-contained abodes where most emperors and empresses lived.

The 6 Western Palaces are the  Original Forms of the Old Life. You can easily find the palace where the last emperor lived and Cixi’s palacCixi’s

5 Eastern Palaces（东六宫）

Like the 6 Western Palaces, these are also the palaces where the concubines live. But they have changed into exhibitions now. The bronzes exhibition at the Palace of Celestial Favour and Palace of Enteral Harmony. Ceramic show at the Palace of Prolonging Happiness.

6 Treasure Gallery （珍宝馆）

On the northeastern edge of the complex is what feels like a mini Forbidden City all of its own. The Palace of Tranquil Longevity was built around 1771 for Qing Emperor Qianlong, though he never moved in.

Nine dragon screen is just at the entrance. There are a lot of exhibitions inside, such as the Jade exhibition at the Palace of Tranquil Longevity and the Drum-shaped stone locks exhibition at the Hall of Imperial Supremacy.

7 Imperial Garden （御花园）

The Imperial Garden is 130 meters wide over 90 meters long. In the Garden, there are ancient towering pines and junipers. Grass. Strange  flowers and rocks . The whole garden is where ladies living in the forbidden city like to walk around. It is exquisite.

Jinshan Park （景山公园）

Jinshan Park does not belong to the Forbidden City; it is at the north exit of the Forbidden City. It is a super nice view if you go up the hill to see the Forbidden City, which can make your Forbidden City visit complete .

So I advise now to go to the excellent gift shop, the Forbidden City, and the sights around are too good to devote just one day to; use the guide to pinpoint exactly what else you’d like to do and mark them for the next time.

Jingshan Park Travel Guide

Forbidden City travel FAQS

How to avoid the crowd?

Early bird and late bird!

Early bird is always helpful to avoid the crowd. But it is not my favorite time to go early.

I don’t recommend you go early because everyone thinks the same, especially the tour groups. A long queue waits at the front door(medium gate) before opening. If you only have 1 or 2 hours to visit, I highly recommend you go after 1:30 pm. It is much better.

Every day from 10:00 am  to 1:00 pm , the Museum receives the most visitors.

If you want to stay inside for a whole day, be the early bird since it is vast.

There are some Chinese holidays; it is always busy. If you can skip them, it helps you get a better travel experience.

Dates to avoid visiting China!

How do I visit the Forbidden City by myself?

If you want to see as much as possible, please read the blog below. It can easily take you 4 hours or more.

Forbidden City Map + Best Travel Routes (Without BACK AND FORTH)

If you don’t have one, choose some interesting sights to see.

Tour Guide or Audio Guide

A tour guide is essential to learn more details about the Forbidden City. But you can also quickly get an audio guide at the entrance (The cost of renting any version of the device is CNY 40 (Chinese and Cantonese are both CNY 20); return at the exit, no deposit needed). It includes 35 languages.

What should I wear？

There is nothing you should be concerned about regarding the dress. Just wear comfortable walking shoes as it is big inside with many steps.

What MUST I take?

Your passport. It would be best if you had access to the Forbidden City. A security check is always near the square, so it is a must before you visit.

Wheelchair Accessible

Yes. Just around the axis of the Forbidden City.

Where to finish the Forbidden City trip?

There are two exits in the Forbidden City: the North gate and the East gate.

Most people choose the north gate to go out.

Going out from the east gate is good!

A. Your time is minimal . You can jump in, take some photos, and leave. It can help you save a lot of time. You may especially waste time in the queue. B. You are with people who are not good walkers . This is an easy way for people to understand the Forbidden City. C. If you want to take a fantastic photo of the Forbidden City. The best time is 10 minutes before it closes. Going out from the north gate may be rushed, so the east gate is the best choice.

Other sights near the Forbidden City

After completing the Forbidden City trip, it is better to go up to Jingshan Park  to enjoy a bird’ s-eye of the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City turret is also a great place for photos.

Beihai Park is a 5-minute from the North Gate of the Forbidden City.

Good restaurants near the Forbidden City

After the long walk, I guess you must feel a bit tired and hungry. Unfortunately, there is no good restaurant near the north gate of the Forbidden City, but you may like to go to a good coffee restaurant.[ Alley Coffee 寻常巷陌  It is near the east entrance of Jinshan Park, about a 5-minute walk from the North Gate of the Forbidden City.

Can I visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in 1 day?

It is doable if you have limited time, such as a layover. But both will be a bit rushed; I suggest you do them in 2 days.

Related posts (Tips and details)

11 theme Permanent Galleries in the Forbidden City

4 Most Important People with Forbidden City History

Why there are 9999.5 rooms in the Forbidden City? Where is the half room?

Forbidden City Detail (2): Why the emperor’s bedroom so small?

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Forbidden City

Top choice in Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

Enclosed by 3.5km of citadel walls at the very heart of Beijing, the Unesco-listed Forbidden City is China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings – large enough to comfortably absorb the 16 million visitors it receives each year. Steeped in stultifying ritual, this otherworldly palace was the reclusive home to two dynasties of imperial rule, sharing 900-plus buildings with a retinue of eunuchs, servants and concubines, until the Republic overthrew the last Qing emperor in 1911.

The year 2020 marks the 600th anniversary of the Forbidden City, which the palace intends to celebrate by ensuring more of the complex is open for visitors than at any other time in its history as a tourist attraction. Which is a longer history than you might think – the Palace Museum (故宫博物馆, Gùgōng Bówùguǎn), as the Forbidden City is officially called, first opened in 1925, just one year after Puyi, the abdicated 'last emperor', was evicted from the Inner Court.

Built between 1406 and 1420 by the Ming emperor Yongle, the construction of the Forbidden City was a titanic undertaking, employing battalions of labourers and craftspeople. Pillars of precious nanmu wood were floated from the jungles of southwest China to the capital, while blocks of quarried stone were hauled to the palace in winter over ingenious ice roads. Once built, the Forbidden City was governed by a stultifying code of rules, protocol and superstition; 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed China from its closed-off world, often erratically and haphazardly, until revolution swept them all away just a century ago. Despite its age, most of the buildings you see are post-18th-century Qing dynasty constructions and renovations – fire was a constant hazard, hence the enormous brass water vats everywhere.

Planning Your Visit

Although you can explore the Forbidden City in a few hours, a full day will keep you occupied and the enthusiast will make several trips. Most visitors focus their energies on the showpiece ceremonial halls and parade grounds, which take up the central axis in the outer court (southern half) of the complex. But the real thrill comes from exploring the labyrinth of courtyards and halls, laid out on a more human scale, on either side of the central axis, and from parading along the tops of the 10m-high walls for aerial views of the palace.

Entering the Forbidden City

In imperial times the penalty for uninvited admission was severe, although mere mortals wouldn't have even got close; the Imperial City girdled the Forbidden City with yet another set of huge walls cut through with four heavily guarded gates – including the Gate of Heavenly Peace , upon which hangs Mao's portrait. These days, tourists enter through the Meridian Gate , a massive U-shaped portal at the south end of the complex, once reserved for the emperor alone. Gongs and bells would sound imperial comings and goings, while lesser mortals used lesser gates: the military used the west gate, civilians the east gate and servants the north gate. The emperor also reviewed his armies from the Meridian Gate, passed judgement on prisoners, announced the new year’s calendar and oversaw the flogging of troublesome ministers.

Through the Meridian Gate, you pass into a vast courtyard and cross the Golden Stream (金水, Jīn Shuǐ) – shaped to resemble a Tartar bow and spanned by five marble bridges – on your way to the magnificent Gate of Supreme Harmony , beyond which the courtyard could hold an imperial audience of 100,000 people.

Mounting the Wall

Since 2018, visitors can climb the Forbidden City's Wall just inside and to the east of the Meridian Gate , follow it eastwards to the Corner Tower, and then north to the East Prosperity Gate. This route includes the Gallery of Historic Architecture , with exhibition spaces in the Corner Tower and the splendid East Prosperity Gate. In total, around three quarters of the 3.4km wall wall can now be climbed, a fine way to leave the crowds behind and take awesome photographs.

First Side Galleries

Before you pass through the Gate of Supreme Harmony to reach the Forbidden City’s star attractions, veer off to the west of the huge courtyard to visit the Hall of Martial Valour , where emperors would receive ministers. It houses a changing line-up of exhibitions. Just to the south is the Furniture Gallery , occupying an area known as the Southern Storehouses, which opened for the first time in 2018.

The Hall of Literary Brilliance complex to the east of the Meridian Gate was formerly used as a residence by the crown prince. It was rebuilt in 1683 after being destroyed by fire. It too hosts a changing line-up of exhibitions throughout the year, but is sometimes closed between November and March.

Three Great Halls

Raised on a three-tier marble terrace representing the Chinese character for king (王; wáng ), are the Three Great Halls (三大殿; Sān Dàdiàn), the glorious heart of the Forbidden City. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden City, and was once the tallest building in the capital. It was used for state occasions, such as the emperor’s birthday, coronations and the nomination of military leaders. Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony is a richly decorated Dragon Throne (龙椅; Lóngyǐ), from which the emperor would preside over trembling officials. The entire court had to touch the floor nine times with their foreheads (the custom known as kowtowing) in the emperor’s presence. At the back of the throne is a carved Xumishan, the Buddhist paradise, signifying the throne’s supremacy. Today you can only view it from the outside, and it virtually requires a rugby scrum to do so.

Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the Hall of Central Harmony , which was used as the emperor’s transit lounge. Here he would make last-minute preparations, rehearse speeches and receive ministers. On display are two Qing dynasty sedan chairs, the emperor’s mode of transport around the Forbidden City. The last of the Qing emperors, Puyi, used a bicycle and altered some features of the palace grounds to make it easier to get around.

The third of the Great Halls is the Hall of Preserving Harmony , used for banquets and later for imperial examinations. The hall has no support pillars, and to its rear is a 250-tonne marble imperial carriageway carved with dragons and clouds; it was hauled into the city on an ingenious path of ice – they had to wait until winter to do so. The peripheral buildings surrounding the Three Great Halls were used for storing gold, silver, silks, carpets and other treasures, and now house museum exhibits.

Lesser Central Halls

The basic configuration of the Three Great Halls is echoed by the next group of buildings, reached through the Gate of Heavenly Purity . Traditionally, this gate was the dividing line between the ceremonial outer court and the inner court to the north, where the emperors and their entourages actually lived and worked. Smaller in scale, these buildings were more important in terms of real power, which in China traditionally lies at the back door.

The first structure is the Palace of Heavenly Purity , a residence of Ming and early Qing emperors, and later an audience hall for receiving foreign envoys and high officials.

Immediately behind it is the Hall of Union , which contains a clepsydra – a water clock made in 1745 with five bronze vessels and a calibrated scale. You'll also find a mechanical clock built in 1797 and a collection of imperial jade seals on display. The Palace of Earthly Tranquillity was the imperial couple’s bridal chamber and the centre of operations for the palace harem.

Imperial Garden

At the northern end of the Forbidden City is the Imperial Garden , a classical Chinese garden with 7000 sq metres of fine landscaping, including rockeries, walkways, pavilions and ancient, carbuncular cypresses. At its centre is the double-eaved Hall of Imperial Peace. Nearby, the Lodge of Spiritual Cultivation is where British tutor Sir Reginald Johnston gave English lessons to the abdicated 'last emperor' Puyi.

Treasure Gallery

On the northeastern edge of the complex is what feels like a mini Forbidden City all of its own. This is the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (宁寿宫; Níng Shòu Gōng), built around 1771 for Qing emperor Qianlong's retirement, though he never moved in. Today it holds the Treasure Gallery , one of the palace's most important collections of ornamental objects, which are crafted from gold, silver, jade, emeralds, pearls, and other gems and semi-precious stones.

The complex is entered from the south – not far from the unmissable Gallery of Clocks . Just inside the entrance , you’ll find a beautiful glazed Nine Dragon Screen , modelled after the one in Beihai Park.

From there you work your way north, exploring various halls and courtyards before exiting at the northern end of the Forbidden City. En route, seek out the Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies , a three-storey wooden opera house, which was the palace’s largest theatre. Note the trap doors that allowed actors to make dramatic stage entrances.

Western & Eastern Palaces

A dozen smaller palace courtyards lie to the west and east of the three lesser central halls. It was in these self-contained abodes, like far grander versions of Beijing's sìhéyuàn mansions in the hutong, where most of the emperors and empresses actually lived. Many of the buildings, particularly those to the west, are decked out in imperial furniture.

Other Attractions

Parts of the palace that were previously off limits are opening all the time. Due west of the Gate of Heavenly Purity are a collection of halls and gardens where the empresses and concubines of deceased emperors resided. Known as the Palace of Compassion and Tranquillity , it was used for storage for many decades after 1925 and today houses the Sculpture Gallery , which includes Buddhist statues, terracotta warriors, exquisite stone reliefs and more, from as far back as the Warring States period.

To the south is the Garden of Compassion and Tranquillity , where empress dowagers and imperial consorts worshipped the Buddha, entertained themselves and rested. To the west is the Palace of Longevity and Health , built for emperor Qianlong's mother.

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Forbidden City

Beijing's Forbidden City: The Complete Guide

The Palace Museum

Palace, home, seat of government, and a testament to the tenacity of Chinese builders—the Forbidden City was where emperors once lived and ruled. Commoners could only come by invitation or servitude (hence the name). The Forbidden City was very much tied to the Chinese conceptions of Heaven, divinely endowed leaders, and extreme respect. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 14 million people visit it a year, and luckily, you can enter sans royal invitation.

The complex and buildings of the Forbidden City invoke a sense of imperialism. It begins as soon as a visitor enters through the Meridian Gate, and builds as they walk through the open, massive courtyards and imposing palaces along the central axis pathway. The innumerable treasures within—sculpture, calligraphy, rare books, oracle bones, woodwork, paintings, ivory, and gold, beckon visitors even further into a world of intrigue and history. The treasures housed here are a collection known as the “Palace Museum.” Each of the dynasties that ruled China for 4,000 years had its own royal art collections. Each emperor would add to the collection he or she inherited from the previous ruler, all the while aiming to grow and outdo the predecessor’s art trove.

The Forbidden City is one of the hallmarks of Beijing and Chinese history and culture. If you do only one other thing besides seeing the Great Wall in Beijing, this should be it.

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the last two to rule China. Twenty-four emperors lived here at different times, over nearly 500 years. Construction began in 1406 by decree of Emperor Yongle and lasted for 15 years. Millions of Chinese workers used material shipped in from all over China to create a palace only slightly less grand than that of the Jade Emperor himself (the supreme ruler of heaven in Chinese folklore).

In 1644 with a military takeover and fire, the Qing dynasty seized control of the Forbidden City. Control of the palace switched hands several times during the Second Opium War and Boxer Rebellion before the Qing finally reoccupied it. The last Qing emperor, Puyi, was forced out by the new Republic of China government in 1924, and the Palace Museum opened to the public the following year.

Architecture

The Forbidden City was built in the exact center of ancient Beijing, in the style of feudal Chinese architecture. A giant rectangle, it spans 152 acres and contains 980 buildings (most of them from the Qing dynasty era). Within the complex lies the Imperial City, and within that the Outer City and Inner City. The whole complex is surrounded by a 26-foot high wall with a moat below it.

The major palaces, halls, and pavilions within were built on a North-South axis, known as the “central axis.” Symmetry was a major consideration in planning and building, and all of the palaces were based on ideas taken from the Book of Changes, a traditional Chinese Confucian text championing the concept of union between humans and nature. In addition to rammed earth and marble, wood was one of the major elements used throughout, especially in the construction of the pavilions.

Significant Aspects

An old myth claims the Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms. The Chinese believed that the Jade Emperor had a heavenly palace containing 10,000 houses. Thus, to show the emperor’s god-like status, during construction, he ordered the number of rooms to be just under that of the Jade Emperor.

To further exemplify this connection with Heaven, the color yellow and the number nine was heavily utilized in the design as well. Yellow was considered to be a holy color (due to the Yellow River), reserved for royalty. This is why most of the Forbidden City’s roofs are painted yellow. Nine was thought to be a divine number in ancient China, as the word for “nine” and “forever” sound similar in Chinese. Look for groupings of nine throughout the complex, such as the nine doornails on each door or the Nine-Dragon Wall.

Getting There

• Bus: 1, 4, 20, 52, 57, 101, 103, 109, or 111
• Subway stops: Tian'anmenxi or Tian'anmendong on the East-West line

Tips for Visiting

• Book your tickets in advance, as a limited number are sold each day.
• Plan to spend a minimum of three hours here. However, some visitors opt for two days to explore.
• Visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. Arrive by 8:10 a.m. to beat the tour groups, and wait 20 minutes until the gate opens.
• The last week of August is generally the lowest week of tourism at the Forbidden City. If possible, go then and stay well-hydrated in the heat.
• Arrive well-rested, with good walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and a hat. There is not much shade between buildings, and crowds can be massive, especially if you are walking along the central axis.
• If you have time, leave the central axis path to walk along the wall and see some aerial views.

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Visiting the Forbidden City – The complete guide

Introduction

The residences of kings, sovereigns or emperors that we’re used to seeing in Western countries, though being rich and opulent, are the size of a large palace or at most, especially from pre-Renaissance times, a castle.

In China, starting in the late Medieval period, when the darkness of the Holy Inquisition dominated the scene in Europe, and up until the early years of the 20th century, the emperor lived in a true fortified city constructed entirely around him and designed to allow him to carry out his public functions, and at the same time, take care of his human and personal needs.

In this citadel you could come and go only with the permission of the emperor. Those who disobeyed this rule paid with their life.

This is the origin of the name “Forbidden City” (“Zi Jin Chen”, in Chinese), a historic place, perfectly preserved, that hosted the emperor of the Middle Kingdom for about 500 years, from 1420 up until 1912, when the last emperor was forced to abdicate to the forces of the first Chinese revolution.

From that point on the name was changed to what it is called even today on maps and directions: “Palace Museum”.

The term “Museum” is there to underscore the fact that this is a historic relic and no longer the seat of any political power.

Fortunately, the Forbidden City was spared the pillaging and destruction of other revolutions and invasions of foreigners of the time.

Neither the French, English, or victorious revolutionary troops of Chiang Kai Shek earlier and Mao Zedong after, had the heart to destroy such architectural beauty despite it being the seat and symbol of what they strenuously fought against.

Fortunately, therefore, we can still enjoy this magical and enchanting place.

Its pervasive discreet and charming fascination was recognized in front of the entire world when, in 1987, the site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as the largest and best preserved ancient wooden structure system in the world.

Where is it and how much does a ticket cost for the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City (or Palace Museum) is found in the exact center of the city of Beijing , across from Tienanmen Square.

You can get there through Line 1 of the metro, getting off at the stop for Tienanmen Square East (or Tienanmen Square West) and following the signs.

Remember to bring your passport because you’ll need it both to pass security controls at the entrance of the square and to get an entrance ticket.

Be careful to not get a ticket for the panoramic terrace over the square (the signs aren’t the clearest); go straight ahead until they ask you for a ticket; the box office is to the right of the entrance.

The total cost is 60 Yuan a person.

Historic framework

Beijing wasn’t always the capital of the Chinese empire; it became such under the Yuan Dynasty (1271 d.C. – 1368 d.C.) by the order of Kublai Khan.

The Yuan Dynasty, fathered by Gengis Khan, was originally from the northern steppes and stuck around for about 100 years, going down in history as the most extensive empire that has ever existed, the Mongol Empire.

Despite their austerity in clothing, for which they were fiercely proud, the Mongols didn’t fail to take notice of the fascinating culture and efficiency of state administration in use by the various kingdoms that then divided China, which, although being fragmented and struggling for supremacy for about 900 years (or the definitive fall of the Han Dynasty in 221 a.d.), preserved a marked cultural and administrative homogeny.

Even the Mongols, like all foreign peoples in the course of history that conquered China, had to accept its cultural and material riches and were exposed to the inexorable process of assimilation that brought them to incorporate the Chinese culture and governmental organization and adopt the bureaucratic structure of power, which was fundamental for running “an empire on which the sun never set””.

Principally for these reasons, the great Khan of the Mongols moved his capital from Karakorum ( in the center of modern Mongolia ) to Khanbaliq forming the basis for a true imperial city, on which Beijing was later built.

With the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, after a brief period of internal struggles, the Ming Dynasty took power which had its base in the southern regions and its capital in Nanjing .

Soon arose a debate about moving the capital to the north and the area of Beijing was singled out, which was defined by one of the most influential court counselors as an area with superior “Feng Shui”.

After heated arguments on whether or not to move the center of administrative power, the position of Prince Yongle prevailed (who had already been appointed by his father as governor of the area of Beijing) who, moving the capital, sought to free himself from the powerful influence of the nobility that had its base in the south of the country.

From these facts you can understand the origin of the name Beijing, which was given to the city in 1403, in fact, in the earliest years after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.

The name Beijing (北京) is composed from the union of the words “north” (北, bei) and “capital” (京, jing) and literally means “the capital of the north”; in contrast Nanjing, “the capital of the south” from “south” (南, nan) and “capital” (京,jing).

After having definitively decided to move the center of power to the north and eliminated contrary factions led by his brothers, Prince Yongle, who became the emperor in the meantime, ordered construction to begin on what would be his future residence.

It was for this reason that in 1406 the construction of the Forbidden City began.

Work proceeded quickly and despite its immensity, it was completed in “just” 14 years.

It was at this point, in 1420, right after the completion of the work, that Beijing was officially designated as the new capital under the Ming Dynasty, of which it remains to this day.

During the successive epochs all 24 emperors that resided there (10 belonging to the Ming Dynasty and 14 of the Qing) governed the enormous land from here through imperial edicts guaranteed by the innumerable seals of which they were stamped.

This situation went on until 1912 (the year in which the revolutionary troops of Kuomintang entered into the citadel), when the last emperor (Xuantong) was forced to abdicate at the age of just 6 years old (he was 2 when he came to the throne in 1908).

With the intercession of the new government, run by Sun Yat Sen, he was still allowed to live in his residence inside the interior court until 1924 (up until he became an adult), when he was forced to seek refuge at the Japanese embassy.

He died at 61 years old, on October 17, 1967, of a prostate tumor in a hospital in Beijing, after various ups and downs tied to the second World War, where China mainly fought against Japan, which brought him to occupy an anonymous functionary position in the enormous administrative apparatus of the party.

Memorializing his amazing story is the blockbuster film by Bernardo Bertolucci “The Last Emperor” which was the first film that received official permission to film scenes inside the Forbidden City.

The construction of the Forbidden City

The majority of the citadel was designed by a eunuch named Nguyen An. Even a few years before the beginning of its construction, the emperor sent representatives throughout the empire to gather and choose the best materials, which were then transported to Beijing mainly by river.

The types of wood used includes Elm, Oak, Catalpa, Camphor and Spruce; which were transported a distance of thousands of kilometers. The supplies still continued to come in even after the end of construction in anticipation of eventual repairs.

Although the primary construction material was wood, both the walls and platforms on which they were built required lots of bricks and marble: mugwort marble, which is white and hard with a light green shade and white jade marble.

These marble blocks, some of which weigh 180 tons, could be moved only in winter by throwing water on the road, which once iced over, allowed it to be slid and required an enormous work force that got up to twenty thousand for a single block.

This immense work force was found through obligatory duty, which substituted taxes and used the condemned and inmates as workers with bonds around their necks and feet (at least the handcuffs were removed!).

The bricks were mainly formed of terracotta but other types of bricks and tiles were also used and produced directly on site in Beijing, where some of the lakes there (such as the lake in Taoranting Park), are the fruit of excavations made for the extraction of the sandstone necessary for construction.

The types of roofs, which are true masterpieces, differ greatly and go from the conical form to the more traditional trusses that offer variable descending and inclining curves.

Often, on the edge of the roof, you’ll find rows of animal figures in the shape of lions, dragons, seahorses, roosters and many others of varying sizes depending on the size of the roof.

Under the supervision of Nguyen An, a million workers handled the carpentry, while a hundred thousand specialized artisans took care of the decorations.

The entire structure was designed to perfectly follow the Li Ji (or “Book of Rites”) ascribed to Confucius, and even the bedrooms follow the principles of yin-yang and the five elements, bringing to life the symbolism that was so dear to the rulers of every epoch that conferred an aura of divinity to their absolute power, and as a result, legitimized it.

Even the predominance of the color yellow, the imperial color of the Ming Dynasty, symbolized the five elements and the duality of the yin-yang.

The first resident of the city, the emperor Yongle, was also the first to be interred in the hills above Beijing, or in the famous cemetery complex that hosts the tombs of the Ming emperors, and a little ways away, those of the Qing.

With the establishment of the Qing Dynasty (in 1644), with origins in Manchuria, some changes were made to the citadel due to the different needs and beliefs of the new rulers (which this time came from the north instead of the south), who modified the names of the halls and built new ones.

Other than the walls, all the buildings are built with wood in a typical Chinese architecture.

This made the structure’s primary enemy, which has caused much damage, fire. The 500 years of history of the Forbidden City were marked by continuous fires followed by innumerable renovations and reconstructions.

The first fire took place just 100 days after the enthronement of the first emperor. The buildings we see today are the result of renovations and reconstructions; and perhaps none of the buildings are the original shape of those in 1420, the year in which the work was completed.

To fight fires, large bronze containers were distributed to all the buildings and kept full of water under which they would light a fire in the wintertime to keep the water from freezing and becoming unusable.

Life in the Forbidden City

The emperor represented the apex of a vast bureaucratic structure that he ran, or tried to run, from his residence in the capital.

Since he lacked nothing inside the City, he rarely went out into the real world and this caused, over time, a progressive detachment from reality on the part of the rulers;and the sensation that this magnificent structure had become a golden cage, which led the sovereigns to delegate their royal power to the hands of their closest functionaries.

In fact, despite the fact that the emperor regularly held daily audiences, given the vastness of the empire and the enormous quantity of petitions and requests for his intervention, only the most important documents were brought for his approval while the majority were handled by his functionaries or advisors.

During the Ming epoch the number of administrative officials was about twenty two thousand, chosen according to the official exams based on a knowledge of the four books and five classics written by Confucius .

The government officials that reported directly to the emperor inside the Forbidden City were his 3 great secretaries and his 6 ministers (of Staff, of Rites, of War, of Public Works, of Finance and Punishments).

Also inside the city there were obviously a large number of servants, advisors and functionaries: the eunuchs, or males who voluntarily submitted to castration, having their penis and testicles removed in order to have the opportunity to serve the emperor inside this residence.

These people had to submit to a cruel and complicated operation performed with a metal harpoon and without anesthesia, which at times resulted in death due to the complications that ensued both during the operation itself and especially afterwards, if the healed wound blocked the passage of urine.

Their willingness to submit themselves to such mutilation was considered a sign of their unconditional loyalty; and they were used in great numbers both as spies and as counselors.

Towards the end of the Fifteenth century it has been calculated that their number was around 10 thousand and that their number rose to 70 thousand at the early stages of the Qing Dynasty in 1644.

They were also used as gifts to relatives of the king and deserving high officials, along with silk, gold, silver and jewels.

They became essential for carrying out government affairs as is demonstrated by the fact that by 1453, around the imperial city, they were already 24 agencies specializing in supplying eunuchs.

They had important roles and a strict hierarchy whose head was the Director of Ceremonies, presided over by a eunuch who was responsible for the carrying out of rituals, ceremonial halls and eunuchs and that, in essence, oversaw the very many aspects of life in the Forbidden City.

In fact, under his supervision, numerous departments operated, dividing the running of daily affairs inside the City.

There was the Department of servants and carpenters, which handled all works of construction and restoration, the Department of Imperial clothing, which manufactured clothing for the emperor and his concubines and wives, the Department of baths, which cleaned the baths and restocked the soaps, bathing halls and various basins.

There was even a Department of toilet paper, where the eunuchs produced the millions of sheets of toilet paper required annually. The emperor had a paper that was particularly soft and made of various materials; but the standard was made with straw, wood, oils and lemon and each sheet bore a stamp.

Then there was the Directorate of food and cooking, which prepared and served meals for all and before serving the emperor, as in the films, tasted them to avoid poisoning.

The emperor’s food was served on golden plates or special porcelain (the quality of Ming porcelain is even today unsurpassed and the famous Ming vases cost much more than gold), by eunuchs that followed him around with many different types of foods to be ready to act quickly and on the spot if the emperor wanted to eat.

The food was cultivated in large farms outside the citadel again by eunuchs, which provided a large variety of meat and produce as well as soy sauce, tofu, grain and the mandatory wine.

The eunuchs were also responsible for the imperial pharmacy, which obviously was the best furnished in the kingdom.

Of course they had to have a Department of firemen that, as I already mentioned, always had a delicate and very important job.

It’s no surprise that over time the eunuchs acquired an extraordinary power and toward the end of the Ming Dynasty they controlled the affairs of state, having total control over all communications coming and going to the emperor.

This tendency dwindled during the Qing Dynasty that had, not without reason, recognized in taking away these figures that acted in the shadows the root of the weakening and final fall of the Ming Dynasty.

They didn’t fully manage to carry out their intent and the eunuchs remained, up until the end, diminished figures that still heavily conditioned the choices of the emperors and, looking back, the destiny of the empire.

Despite the city being off limits to ordinary citizens, to foreign diplomats there was granted a certain freedom of entrance, with the Korean and Japanese diplomats enjoying it first and foremost.

The first Westerner to enter the Forbidden City was an Italian.

The Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci was received in 1601 by high functionaries (but not the emperor personally) and, knowing Chinese, remained in the court for awhile to instruct the eunuchs about Western technology and astronomy after realizing that there was little interest in his religious ideas in the Orient.

During the Qing Dynasty there was however a large number of Westerners received (Germans, Dutch, French and Italian) as translators and advisors in technological materials.

The role of Western thinkers grew in time to the point where the last emperor even had as a tutor and professor the Scott Reginald Fleming Johnston.

To close this chapter on life in the citadel you can’t help but mention the role that women played, and who from time to time depending on their abilities and cunning, led some of them to exercise a determining influence on the sovereign and even fill the highest role as empress.

During the kingdoms of the Ming Dynasty there were up to 100 “imperial women” and from 2000 to 3000 “serving women”.

These served as bearers of the royal sedan, dancers, musicians, physical therapists, accountants and general serving women.

They were recruited in groups of 40 to 500 based on their merits but also forcibly and at times were released if they got sick or became too old.

Their position strengthened them, allowing them to rise in the palace hierarchy, especially if they gave birth to a male child, which obviously belonged to the emperor since any other male in the city had to be a eunuch.

Obviously this condition created intrigues and competition among the various mothers who did everything to make sure their child would prevail as potential successors or to hold other state positions.

Some emperors wanted their wives to follow them in death and this gave rise to mass executions at times.

When this extreme sacrifice was not required, and at the death of the ruler they managed to get their child on the throne though still a minor, they became tutors and exercised all roles as an actual sovereign.

The most famous was the Dowager Empress Cixi (1835-1908) who conquered absolute power despite her humble origins in 1861, when her son rose to the throne after the death of the emperor.

Initially sharing affairs of state with another empress (the first consort of the defunct emperor), but when she died in 1881, she became the sole ruler.

Orientation

The citadel has a rectangular shape and covers an area of 72 hectares, extending in a north-south direction for 961 meters and east-west for 753 meters.

Today it contains 980 buildings for a total of 8.886 rooms and is surrounded by a wall that’s 8 meters high and 8.5 meters wide at its base and 6.5 thick at the top.

The walls have the dual function of blocking the view of the common citizen and defense; this last function was reinforced by a moat 6 meters deep and 52 meters wide that circles the citadel.

The imposing structure is subdivided in two main parts: the external court, where the emperor conducted official ceremonies; and the interior court, where his personal quarters were along with his innumerable wives and concubines.

In the interior court, located in the southern section (that is, the side opposite of Tienanmen Square), there are imperial gardens where the emperor could relax.

The external court, as the area designated for ceremonies is characterized by ample open spaces where troops both on foot and horseback could render homage to the emperor with military parades or were celebrated after a victorious campaign.

There are also some public buildings (although it’s better to say “not private”), each with its specific function that were used for certain occasions tied to court ceremonies dictated by the lunar character but could also change name and function according to the emperor.

Visitors enter from the north gate, located on Tienanmen Square, and follow the main way, straight to the interior court to then leave from the south gate beyond the gardens.

A visit goes from north to south and begins at the ticket counter to the side of the entrance on Tienanmen Square, looking at the large photograph of Mao Zedong on the left.

Remember to follow the signs for the “Palace Museum” because if you look for the “Forbidden City” you’ll never find it.

Once you enter you’ll immediately notice the widths of the internal courts that are around building largely closed to the public.

In reality you can’t enter any of the buildings but, at least you can look inside the most important ones and contemplate the furnishings.

The ones open (or should I say those with free entrance) to the public are along the central path and had a certain importance during various imperial times.

The visitor is not obligated to follow a set course, but can branch off anywhere along the structure. So, even if almost the entire total of visitors stays along the central trail, even on the most crowded days (there’s about 14 million tourists each year) the visit remains pleasant.

Along the main route you’ll find in sequence the buildings named “the Hall of Supreme Harmony” (as soon as you pass the namesake arch that acts as an entrance), the “Hall of Central Harmony”, and the “Hall of Preserving Harmony”.

You move on then to the interior court through the entrance of “heavenly purity” to its namesake hall, followed by the “Hall of Union and Peace”, to the “Hall of Earthly Peace” and imperial gardens.

Besides the ones along the central way there are many other rooms in which you can take a peek; the “Hall of Military Valor” and “Hall of Literary Glory” in the exterior court and the “Hall of Ancestor Worship” and the “Imperial Kitchen” in the interior court are worth a look.

There are about forty buildings that can be visited in all.

Inside the complex, about halfway along the route on the right, you’ll find a restaurant with Chinese food at acceptable prices; it also has a bathroom.

Whether or not you’re interested in Chinese history, I think it’s worth spending at least half a day inside the complex, not just to get your fill of various halls and the precious pieces within them, but also to just sit, apart from the crowds, and imagine seeing the eunuchs, soldiers, generals, diplomats, concubines, empresses and emperors walking around doing their duties.

Cover Photo Credits: Photo by chungking on Depositphotos©

About The Author

Enrico Randi

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• How to Visit
• Forbidden City Tours
• Architecture
• 8 Fun Facts
• Top 20 FAQs
• Meridian Gate
• Gate of Supreme Harmony
• Hall of Supreme Harmony
• Hall of Central Harmony
• Hall of Preserved Harmony
• Gate of Heavenly Purity
• Palace of Heavenly Purity
• Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union
• Palace of Earthly Tranquility
• Imperial Garden
• Gate of Divine Prowess
• Hall of Martial Valor
• Hall of Mental Cultivation
• Six Western Palaces
• Palace of Compassion and Tranquility
• Palace of Longevity and Good Health
• Hall of Literary Glory
• Palace of Abstinence
• Hall for Ancestry Worship
• Six Eastern Palaces
• Palace of Tranquil Longevity
• Treasure Gallery
• Qianlong Garden

How to Visit the Forbidden City - An Insider’s Guide

What you must see in the forbidden city: 6 halls + 2 galleries.

Classic Tour Route: Tour along the Central Axis - 2 Hours

Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Spreading Righteousness → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserved Harmony → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Imperial Garden → Gate of Divine Prowess For tourists with a tight schedule, this is the most ideal visiting itinerary as it assembles the most magnificent imperial buildings in the Forbidden City.

Half-day Tour Route: Tour along the Central Axis + West Wing

Meridian Gate → Hall of Literary Glory (Painting Gallery) → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserved Harmony → Hall for Ancestry Worship (Clock and Watch Gallery) → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Hall of Mental Cultivation → Six Western Palaces → Imperial Garden → Gate of Divine Prowess  

Half-day Tour Route: Tour along the Central Axis + East Wing

Meridian Gate → Hall of Martial Valor (Pottery Gallery) → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserved Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Six Eastern Palaces → Hall of Abstinence → Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Treasure Gallery & Opera Museum) → Gate of Divine Prowess The two half-day routes are similar, with slight differences in the selected galleries. Tourists can choose either according to personal interest.

One-day In-depth Tour Route

Meridian Gate → Hall of Martial Valor (Pottery Gallery) → Hall of Literary Glory (Painting Gallery) → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserved Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Hall of Mental Cultivation → Six Western Palaces → Imperial Garden → Six Eastern Palaces → Hall for Ancestry Worship (Clock and Watch Gallery) → Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Treasure Gallery) → Gate of Divine Prowess This itinerary gathers all highlights in the Forbidden City. It requires physical strength as you need to take a long walk. You need to take some food for the one-day visit because there are few restaurants inside the Forbidden City and the food is costly.  

Visiting Tips

1. Consider booking a guided tour for a better travel experience. It saves you the trouble of booking tickets online and queuing to collect tickets on the spot and helps to make your trip more organized. A knowledgeable Forbidden City guide can ensure you a fun trip even if you do not know much about Chinese history. 2. Jingshan Park opposite to the Gate of Divine Prowess is the best place to have a panoramic view of the imperial palace. Visitors are highly advised to combine your Forbidden City trip with Jingshan Park. 3. After getting out from  Gate of Divine Prowess, you can go to the northwest or northeast Corner Towers to take some amazing photos.  4. Wear comfortable shoes for the long walk. 

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(Yicai Global) Feb. 19 -- Located in Beijing's Forbidden City, the Palace Museum's income outstripped that of 1,500 Chinese listed companies in 2017 and it became the world's most visited museum last year, according to its director.

The Palace Museum earned CNY1.5 billion (USD222 million) two years ago thanks to culturally innovative products and attracted 17 million visitors last year, Shan Jixiang said in a recent speech.

Founded in 1925, the museum sits in a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a comprehensive institution built on the foundations of the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties and their collections. It is also the largest museum of ancient culture and art in China.

It had brought out more than 10,000 culturally innovative products by the end of 2017, public data shows. These are sold in the museum and through various e-commerce platforms. Earlier this year, the museum released a range of lipsticks inspired by objects in its collection and sold more than 900,000. 

Speaking at the 19th Annual Conference of the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum on Feb. 17, Shan also said income from such products rose to CNY1 billion in 2016 from CNY600 million in 2013.

After years of management overhaul and renovation, more than four-fifths of the Forbidden City is now open to the public. The museum displays about 20,000 cultural relics a year, which is twice the number of 2012. The ratio of items on show to its entire collection will reach 8 percent this year, Shan said. It was 3 percent last year. 

The Palace Museum homes more than 1.68 million precious cultural relics, accounting for almost 42 percent of China's total number, Shan told the forum.

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A Little Fascination… A Day Wandering Beijing’s Forbidden City

Last updated on January 21, 2024 by Shannon

As nonchalance creeps into my travels, I find myself in a battle to find a way to love every new moment on the road. I arrived in China and there was so much to explore .

But also, since I live on the road , like a spider building a web, my thoughts spiraled: “Is this worth my time? Could I be eating food right now? I mean really, how is this different than the 25 other palaces I’ve seen in the past two-and-a-half years since I started traveling full time ?”

But hello, China!

Visiting the Forbidden City is an absolute given when traveling through Beijing. Even though I had done little research prior to my trip, I knew that I could arrive in the city, hire a guide (or use my guidebook in this case), and learn the deep history, quirky architectural nuances, and modern meaning of the Forbidden City.

Table of Contents

First Impressions: How to Get into the Forbidden City

Even though I take a decidedly more laissez faire approach to travel now, there was never a question I would leave the warmth of my hostel and reserve a full day for sightseeing around Beijing with my friends (who had traveled all the way from Florida to hang out!).

We all donned many layers of cold-weather gear to face the whipping March winds that surge through the wide, open courtyards in Beijing’s Forbidden City.

We had a bit of a miss for the first hour—we got lost, which is par for the course  for me—and we had some hilarious back-and-forth discussions where we all admitted that the Forbidden City was smaller and altogether less than we had anticipated.

Turns out we had arrived through the workers section.

The actual Forbidden City was just next door. Which we realized when we saw a glittering, gilded temple just over the wall that outshone the handful of woefully unadorned buildings we had just photographed for an hour—whoops!

Quickly exiting the workers section, we figured out how to get into the actual Forbidden City. Naturally, that’s where we found hordes of other tourists queuing for tickets and shuffling through the elaborate arched doorways.

You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you’re thrust by pulsing crowds into a huge square crowned by beautifully named Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Suddenly it hit me. In front of me was China’s iconic Forbidden City. The very one that I had curiously studied while perusing the pages of  National Geographic magazines as a child. Built in the 15th century by the third Ming emperor, Yongle, the emperors ruled from this palace all the way until 1911.

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What to See at the Forbidden City

Instead of hiring a guide, we three decided to take a self-guided tour of the grounds. Using our Beijing guidebook , we could snake our way through each area at our leisure, reading the history of each building and discussing among ourselves.

Had any of us been history or architecture buffs, hiring a guide would have been a good idea, but if you have an app or guidebook with key facts, that’s probably sufficient for most travelers.

Enjoy the Small Details

Relieved to see ornate beauty unfolding as we walked deeper into the grounds, we began a slow and methodical study of the buildings and architecture. As we walked further into the city, I spotted an endless number of tiny, intriguing details on every building.

The Palaces themselves, as structures, are quite similar. But little details—colors and designs, and symbolic whirls—make the Forbidden City truly worth a wander. It’s this aspect of a place that I most remember in all of my travels to amazing, historic sites.

The colorful flakes of marble carved into the Taj Mahal and the snubbed-out faces of dancing figures at  Angkor Wat  tell an intriguing and altogether more intimate story of a place.

Cater to Your Interests

Embracing my own interests these past few years—rather than caving to the prescribed traditional tourist experiences—continually defines my travels. So as we looked, I took notice of fine cracks in the carvings near the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

Even visiting one of the top tourist attractions in Beijing, there are no true “must sees”—instead there are parts of the temple better suited to different interests, and by visiting things that align with your interests, the entire experience becomes infinitely more memorable.

Delight in Uncommon Stories

Huge bronze vats flank the major palace buildings. Although we could have walked right by them, instead I overhead a guide explain their significance and stopped to admire the passage of time marked in the weathered black streaks marring the bright bronze hue.

Each vat always contained liquid water that could be used to extinguish palace fires in bygone days. The Chinese deeply feared fire in previous centuries, and rightly so!

According to UNESCO, the Forbidden City houses the world’s largest collection of wooden structures—so these vats stored water and throughout the freezing winters the Chinese maintained a fire under the vats to keep the water liquid, otherwise a fire could have ravaged the city in mere minutes.

When in Asia, Find the Gardens

Next up on our route was a trip through the palace gardens—a little wonderland and a fun surprise to happen upon after several hours of museums and endless architecture. The gardens presented an aesthetic wonderland of flowers, trees, rock gardens, and small pagodas.

We had moderate luck for spring bounties—cherry blossoms were about two weeks from full bloom, but we managed to glimpse and experience a small slice of China’s colorful spring beauty.

Find Where Culture and History Intersect

This is the point where I have to shout out that the Forbidden City may, in fact, possess the most gorgeous and lyrical naming system in the world.

A few buildings within the Forbidden City include:

• The Palace of Heavenly Purity
• The Hall of Mental Cultivation
• The Gate of Divine Might
• The Hall of Literary Glory

With such pretty names, we were torn about which ones to leave off of our itinerary, because the Forbidden City is enormous and even the most ardent and enthusiastic palace lovers will, eventually, hit Palace fatigue.

Once we felt we had seen the highlights, however, it was time to find a better vantage point on it all.

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Where to Find Panoramic Views of the Forbidden City

With a final spurt of energy, we spied a high viewpoint at the park crowning the Forbidden City. After hours wandering and sightseeing inside the Forbidden City, we wanted a change of pace.

A hot ear of steamed corn from a street food vendor filled our bellies enough to continue onward—note that this is  not  the tastiest food choice in Beijing.

From the base, it was an easy hike up the nearby hill in Jingshan Park for panoramic views over Beijing and a gorgeous aerial view of the tourist madness down below.

The entire Forbidden City stretches just ahead and it was fun to pick out the sections of the city and places we had just explored.

Visit Jingshan Park in the late afternoon, just as the sun begins its descent. The light bathes the Forbidden City in a warm glow, and you’ll find locals gathering to sing traditional Peking opera or play the erhu, a two-stringed Chinese violin.

It’s a unique, less-touristy way to soak in both the panoramic views and authentic local culture in one swoop. Trust me, this twilight experience elevates your understanding of Beijing from mere sightseeing to something far more intimate and evocative.

A Side-Trip to the Temple of Heaven

Exhausted and hungry (questionably-tasty corn can really only go so far in satiating hunger), we found delicious, steaming dumplings at a hole-in-the-wall spot nearby before crowning our day of sightseeing with the Temple of Heaven.

This makes an side-trip addition to a half-day of exploring China’s Forbidden City and it is unskippable. Although you might have temple fatigue, the Temple of Heaven is unique and really quite beautiful. Plus it only needs a quick visit to see the highlights and it’s a much faster visit than the Forbidden City.

Through it all, even with the iconic shots of the Temple of Heaven, and the Palace of Supreme Harmony, I’m glad I took five extra minutes to revel in my geek-tasticness and enjoy the little details on the water cisterns. Travel is about more than seeing everything, it’s about taking things in and allowing curiosity to guide you! :)

How to Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing

How to Get into the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is located directly across from ​Tiananmen Square. Enter via the front entrance—you can enter from the back too, but you should start at the front gate, the Meridian Gate, so you can exit through the Gate of Divine Might and walk across the street to Jingshan Park for panoramic views.

If you don’t plan to visit Jingshan Park, then starting very early morning at the south gate is an effective way to avoid crowds.

The Forbidden City is located off of the Red Line 1 on Beijing’s highly effective metro system. Use the Tiananmen East or West stop on the metro line (Tian’anmenxi or Tian’anmendong), once you exit, you can’t miss the entrance.

The entrance fee is currently ¥40 in the winter and ¥60 in the summer. book online ahead of time to skip the queues and guarantee entry.

Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City

It’s closed most Mondays, but otherwise the is open Forbidden City every day at 8:30 a.m. Go early to avoid some of the tour buses that drop off hordes of tourists all day long.

Or visit in the early afternoon—last entry tickets sold at 3:30 p.m. in winter (4 p.m. in summer).

For the sake of your photos, and your sanity, go early, or go late.

If arriving late, note that only 80,000 tickets are available each day and they may sell out if you don’t book ahead of time. The site that sells tickets online is in Chinese, or you can Google and find an intermediary selling them—you can book up to 10 days in advance.

How to Explore the Forbidden City

You have options for exploring! Although you could just wander the site, it’s an overwhelming string of corridors and buildings. Instead, either book a guide when you arrive, or you can join a day tour you find online.

There are also audio guides available when you buy your ticket—do this if you’ve arrived with nothing else to help you give the site context.

Lastly, you can use something like a Lonely Planet Beijing for some context, but it’s actually best for how to navigate details (we used ours for transport and planning tips of our entire China trip, but preferred other guides for more detailed historical information).

You could also download this fascinating e-guide , which is cheap and offers a very thorough and visual journey to accompany you through your self-guided walking tour.

Book a day tour to maximize your time.

GetYourGuide has a phenomenal range of tours, and they’re affordable too. Maximize your time by booking your must-dos as a tour, and then slot in the rest as time permits.

What to Bring

You must bring your passport to enter. Although some nationalities can use other types of ID cards, I wouldn’t bet on it. Wear comfy shoes and bring weather-appropriate clothing .

Even in the freezing cold, we had bright sunshine and needed sunscreen and hats. You are allowed to bring water inside the Forbidden City, and your own snacks (and you should!). I always carry a nice reusable water bottle and it’s easy to refill in various places.

Additional Forbidden City Travel Tips

The Northeast turrets are among the best photo spots within the city, and hiking in Jingshan Park on a clear day (one with less smog), will also yield pretty views.

Don’t check your bag upon entering or it’s a long walk back for it at the end. And don’t forget to pack a travel adapter for China so you can charge your electronics!

23 thoughts on “A Little Fascination… A Day Wandering Beijing’s Forbidden City”

Just back from work trip, and took in my second visit, impressive place, a bit dirty with the dust and could do with a clean, Disney land could turn it around, but would drive the price up by 700%,… so much potential visit before it changes…

Glad to hear that it still has that “something special” even on a second visit. Thanks for weighing in and sharing your experience Hugh!

Gorgeous photos!  I especially like the one of the tree. 

Sounds like you’ll have to return and see more of Beijing.

Thanks so much! Appreciate the support :)

Such a wonderful information about China. I will keep all of this in mind when I travel and will make sure it’s on my tour list. Thanks for sharing Shannon!

i had seen a documentary on the forbidden city on discovery , amazing history… great pics btw…

Thanks Oliver! It’s worth a visit if you’re in the city :)

I enjoyed the Forbidden City but I liked the views from Jingshan Park more – and they only cost 2RMB :)

Beijing is such a fun place to be, and you could spend weeks there (I was there for two) and still not see everything. Did you find it really big? The concrete is just endless…if a subway station looks close to a sight on the map, it’s still probably a good twenty minute walk away!

Very good point Megan – the views from Jingshan was a highlight, and actually one I almost missed out on because I hadn’t done any research, but luckily we saw it there in the distance and decided to investigate :)

You no doubt saw more in your two weeks there than I managed (just three days!) but you’re right…our hostel was “just near the Tienanmen Square metro stop” – that meant a 15 minute walk!

This was a lot of fun for me to read. I lived in Beijing for three years, so it was good to see these pictures and read your musings on a place that has been a huge part of my life.

I personally always thought the Forbidden City was a bit overrated. You have to go there once just to tick it off your list and say you’ve been there, but I felt like it’s all kind of the same. There are some touristy places in Beijing that I went to multiple times. I think I went to the Forbiden City once.

Tourists can jam pack their day in the same area by visiting Tiananmen Square and it’s accompanying sights (the south gate, Mao’s tomb, whatever the museum is called that’s right there).

I do love the Temple of Heaven, though. It’s one of the coolest structures I’ve ever seen. And for those interested in shopping, the Peal Market (which sells much, much more than pearls) is right across from the east side of the Temple of Heaven park.

Some of my favorite slightly more obscure things to see on Beijing were the Military Museum and the Beijing International Sculpture Park. There’s also a PLR shooting range to the northwest of the city, where you can shoot uzis, AK-47s, M16s, etc. That’s one of my favorite Beijing memories :)

Thanks for weighing in Tristan and sharing tips! You definitely have a much deeper understanding of Beijing, having lived there for so long – and I can’t help but agree that the F.C. is a bit of a list ticker. I managed to find some areas and details that were intriguing, but on the whole, there are more amazing places in the city.

I did make it to the Pearl Market and had a fun time bargaining down the vendors for my US friends so they could by some souvenirs :)

If I make it back to Beijing I’ll definitely take your recommendations and check out those other spots (is it wrong to admit I’ve always *kinda* wondered what it’s like to shoot an AK-47 ;-)

Some great information on how to get there and what it costs. More importantly, you shed some light on something we tend to miss as long-term travelers. You can flood a monument a million times by a million people, but no matter what, each person will see it differently. And love the new picture format!

Thanks Jeannie! You’re right about the perspective differences – traveling is so personal, and we bring ourselves to it, so that plays into everything we report on as travel bloggers :)

Hey Shannon,

Sweet pictures as always.

And nice site revamp. :-)

And is it just me, or did “sexy bookmarks” plugin get an upgrade, too? (like the little numbers showing retweets, etc)

Cheers and thanks Jeff! I can breathe a sigh of relief when I have to look at my own site now, whew. As for “Sexy Bookmarks” – your eyes do not lie, they now possess even more sexy! ;-)

I love the names of those palaces. I’d visit just for the names alone!

That’s precisely how I felt too Joanna! The naming just so lyrical and pretty :)

I am digging your new design, very nice Shannon!

Thanks Ayngelina! I like to call it ALA: now with less teal. :-)

I’m with Anthony I have always wanted to visit the Forbidden city. But my travels have been a bit on the slow side lately so I dont know if I will get to take photos of my own or if I will have to continue to learn about this place from sites like yours. Thanks for the great article and photos.

Glad you enjoyed the post – and part of traveling is having those things on your bucket list to dream about! Crossing my fingers you get there soon :)

It has been a dream of mine to go to the forbidden city. Not sure if it will come true one day but we will be going back through Asia on our way back home to Oz. Guess we can live through this post for the time being. Cheers ;)

Hopefully you can add China onto the itinerary before Oz – or at least it’s a fairly close flight if you make a vacation in the future! Glad you enjoyed the post and pictures, it’ll be even better once you make it there too :)

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• Forbidden City Travel Tips & Tours, Beijing

Forbidden City

As the seat of power for hundreds of years, Beijing is full of examples of imperial extravagance and architectural design. In no place are these on better display than the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum or gu gong in Chinese.

This immense complex, with its seemingly endless red and gold buildings, sits at the heart of Beijing and was the home of the emperors and their households, as well as the center of Chinese government, for almost 500 years, from 1420 of the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

Forbidden City Virtual Tour

Want to visit the forbidden city spontaneously with a professional live guide learn more about our guided virtual tour here, highlights and travel tips.

The Palace Museum is massive; it covers an area of approximately 150,000 square meters and is surrounded by a moat 3,800 meters long and 52 meters wide. The complex consists of an impressive 980 buildings, many of which are now open to the public.

Travelers must enter the Palace Museum at the South Gate. Note that before you can enter the Tiananmen area and walk through to the entrance of the Palace Museum, you will need to queue for a security check. You will need your passport to get a ticket and enter the Palace Museum. Starting from October 2, 2017, all visitors to the Forbidden City must book their tickets online. Find out how to buy Forbidden City tickets online here .

Despite its immense size, most visitors stick to the Forbidden City's central axis from the south entrance to the north exit. This route takes around two hours and allows you to take in all of the most magnificent gates and palaces, including the Meridian Gate ( wumen ), the Gate of Supreme Harmony ( taihemen ), the Hall of Supreme Harmony ( taihedian ), the Gate of Heavenly Purity ( qianqingmen ), the Palace of Heavenly Purity ( qianqinggong ), the Imperial Garden ( yuhuayuan ) and the Gate of Divine Prowess ( shenwumen ). The central axis usually attracts the most visitors and is crowded during peak hours.

Since a lot of the Forbidden City's many halls and palaces may look similar, we've provided a tourist map below to get you acquainted with some of its key sights. Simply click on the icons along the main south-north axis for more information. The complex also features good signage in both English and Chinese, and renting an audio guide will also help explain what you're seeing. If you want to make the most of your visit, we strongly recommend hiring a licensed guide to give you a thorough and informative tour of all the Forbidden City's top sights.

Tourist Map of Forbidden City

If you have more time and plan on taking any detours from the central axis, we recommend visiting the northeastern corner of the complex, called the Tranquil Longevity Sector, where the Empress Dowager and the many imperial concubines resided. Here, you'll find a well-preserved nine-dragon wall, one of just three of these ancient decorations that remain in China, as well as numerous atmospheric halls and gardens and an impressive, three-story opera house.

Another worthwhile stop is the impressive Hall of Clocks, which features lavish and intricate timepieces that were gifted to Qing emperors by various European leaders and diplomats from the 17th century on. This interesting museum (which costs 10 RMB extra to enter) can be reached by veering off to the right just after walking through the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

Depending on how in-depth you want to go, it can take up to a full day to explore all of the accessible areas in the Forbidden City. If you have a half day or full day to spend exploring the Forbidden City, you can find recommended tour routes and maps at the Palace Museum website .

If you want to beat the crowds, avoid going to the Forbidden City on weekends and Chinese Holidays, and plan your visit for the early morning or the afternoon. Learn more about how to avoid the crowds when traveling in China here .

Bring plenty of water if you are visiting during the summer or early autumn, as it gets rather hot and there is little shade inside. There are places to buy drinks and snacks inside the Palace Museum but expect touristy prices. The gift shops sell good souvenirs at fixed prices. Toilets are adequate and mainly Chinese style.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you can spend hours just walking around the complex on sometimes uneven stone courtyards.

After touring the Palace Museum, visitors must exit from the North or East Gate. There is no subway station near these two gates, so you will need to opt for a bus or taxi.

Jingshan Park is just opposite the North Gate; we recommend climbing the hill (Coal Hill) inside the park so you can get a bird's-eye view of the Forbidden City after your visit.

Accessibility Information

There is an accessible tour route for wheelchair users on the eastern side of the central courtyards. You can find the map of the wheelchair friendly route here . Following this route, visitors in wheelchairs can access all of the most magnificent palaces in the Forbidden City. Accessible toilets are also available along this route. There are map and signs showing the accessible route, and you can always ask the staff for additional information or help when you are not sure.

Beyond this accessible route, it would be difficult for wheelchair users to explore other parts of the Forbidden City, since the rest of the complex is full of stairs and high thresholds.

Limited public wheelchairs are also available for rental at no charge at the service center. A deposit of 500 CNY is required and will be returned when you return the wheelchair at the exit.

Opening Hours & Ticket Prices

Opening hours: April-October: 8:30am-5:00pm, last entry at 4:10pm / November-March: 8:30am-4:30pm, last entry at 3:40pm. Closed on Mondays. Entrance fee: April-October, 60 CNY; November-March, 40 CNY Ticket for Treasure Gallery/Hall of Clocks: 10 CNY Average time for this activity: 2 hours

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A Guide To Visiting the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is located right in the heart of Beijing and is a must-see when you visit the capital city of China. The ancient Imperial Palace of China, called Gùgōng (故宫) in Chinese, is a popular tourist location and covers a large area, so it’s best to do some planning before you go to make sure you get the most of your time there.

I’ve been inside and around the Forbidden City a few times now and wanted share some tips for making your experience more worthwhile at one of Beijing’s most famous historical sites!

Before You Visit the Forbidden City

• Time Needed : 2-3 hours is recommended, but if needed you can walk through faster
• The Forbidden City is closed every Monday
• Make sure to review the ticketing and entry times before you go

Here’s a useful map showing the location of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, and other popular destinations to visit inside the center of Beijing and Metro Line 2.

Buying Tickets For the Forbidden City

Only 80,000 tickets are sold for Forbidden City everyday, so it’s smart to book your ticket ahead of time to ensure they’re not sold out on the day you go.

There are a few options for buying tickets:

• This is the Chinese website for booking tickets, but you’ll need to be able to read Chinese or have a Chinese friend help you out.
• You can also book through other English sites like Klook and Ctrip (this is the easiest option I’ve found!) After you buy your ticket and get confirmation that it was approved, you’ll just show your passport when you arrive at the Forbidden City.
• Alternatively if your time is more flexible and you’re going on a less crowded day, you can go to the Forbidden City and buy a ticket when you arrive.

Tips for Visiting The Forbidden City

1. Remember your Passport: You need your passport to get inside the Forbidden City/Tiananmen area, and also to collect your ticket.

2. Avoid Weekends and Holiday: During holidays, especially the National Week in October, the Forbidden City with be especially crowded! Avoid holidays if you can. If you can’t avoid this, go really early right when the Forbidden City opens or later in the afternoon when people are leaving.

3. Walk Around the Sides: People usually stick with tour groups in the central areas of the Forbidden City, but there’s actually so much to explore around the edges and sides – and you’ll get better photos without so many people in your shots!

4. The Forbidden City is huge: If it’s your first time visiting, it’s a little overwhelming how much there is to see! Many people go with tour groups or have a guide to teach them about the history and guide them through. You don’t need a guide, but one might approach you when you arrive.

5. The Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City: Usually late spring/early autumn is the best time to visit because the weather is not too hot or too cold, but any season is okay for a visit!

The Forbidden City in Summer

The Forbidden City in Winter

The Forbidden City in  Spring

Areas Inside the Forbidden City

There are several parts to the Forbidden City: the defenses (moat and wall), the Outer Court and the Inner Court.

The Moat and Wall

There are four gates to the Forbidden City, one in each direction, as well as 4 watchtowers on the corners of the walls around the Forbidden City.

The Outer Court

Once you’re inside the Outer Court, there are three halls. The Hall of Supreme Harmony (the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden City), the  Hall of Central Harmony( the place where Emperors would rehearse their speeches and presentations), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (used for banquets and later for imperial examinations.)

The Inner Court

The Inner Court has three main parts: the Palace of Heavenly Purity (where the emperor slept), the Palace of Union and Peace (where the imperial seals were stored) and the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility (the emperor’s wedding room).

Other Places To Take Photos of the Forbidden City

If you’re looking for other places to take shots of the Forbidden City, there are several other places that will give you a great view:

Jingshan Park

When you exit the Forbidden City from the North Gate, you’ll be right across the street from Jingshan Park, a beautiful little Chinese park where you can see elderly Chinese people dancing and practicing tai ji, and also get a stunning view of the Forbidden City from above.

These cute little ladies were laughing at me taking photos.

Tiananman Square

You can’t see the Forbidden City without also visiting Tiananmen Square. The public square is right across the street from the southern side of the Forbidden City and it’s free to walk around inside

Visit the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is a must see for Beijing visitors! No matter which season you choose to go during, this imperial palace will definitely amaze you.

Other Places To Visit in Beijing

Beijing is the ultimate China travel destination! You’ll find everything from ancient temples and palaces to lively shopping streets and modern art districts. Some other things you shouldn’t miss in Beijing:

• The Ultimate 7-Day Beijing Itinerary
• The 10 Best Instagram Sites in Beijing
• Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great Wall
• The Summer Palace

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15 comments.

I’ve visited it just a few months back! What a great place! Really beautiful! Great post! A lot of useful information! 😊

Like Liked by 1 person

It really is amazing! Thanks for reading!

Very useful tips! (And that’s a great looking dress you wore- the pink one – goes well with the Chinese umbrella!)

http://nataliesdailylife.wordpress.com/

Thank you! I just found the umbrella at a Chinese shop and thought it was a fun touch! 🙂

Rachel, I used to live down the street from you in Texas, and we just got back from a two week stay in China, and I sure wish I had found your site before we went! Awesome job, and very informative! Brings back a lot of great memories. God Bless!

Hello neighbors! 🙂 I hope you had a fantastic trip in China, it’s an amazing country!!

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How to Visit the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, the world’s largest royal palace complex, is a truly unique and special place. No longer is entry punished by the pain of death, so anyone with a ticket- can come to see it now. Visiting it can be intimidating though, for a variety of reasons; it sees thousands of tourists every day, Beijing’s weather and smog are notorious, and the language barrier inherent in visiting China is difficult to overcome. Fortunately, we have a guide that can help you make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality.

The Best Time to Visit

Visit the Forbidden City

According to the annual tourist flow map, the week before September 1st (when the school term begins), i.e. the last week of August , is the period when the Forbidden City has the least tourists each year.

Winter and summer vacations, Labor Day (May 1st to 3rd) and National Day (October 1st to 7th) are peak periods , but the flow of daily visitors in the last week of the summer vacation is sharply reduced to about 1/5 of the average, which is the main trough in the year.

Try not to visit the Forbidden City during the major Chinese public holidays mentioned above, unless you want to join in some celebrations.

The Forbidden City is visited by 14,000,000 tourists annually. That’s an average of over 38,000 tourists a day, the following guidelines will help you avoid getting lost in the massive crowds.

Top Highlights to See

1. classical chinese architecture.

Located at the center of Beijing’s central axis, the Forbidden City is a museum featuring palace culture, art, architecture, and history.

It is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world, consisting of two parts, showcasing the supremacy of imperial power in ancient China: the magnificent Outer Court (the southern section) and the strictly symmetrical Inner Palace (the northern section).

From the overall symmetrical layout to the smallest detail, the complex was meticulously planned to reflect the philosophical and religious principles of ancient Chinese palace architecture.

When touring the city, don’t miss the three most essential halls (the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Middle Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony) on the central axis.

2.  Exhibitions

In addition to the palace buildings, there are more than 1.8 million cultural relics in the Palace Museum at present, including all kinds of treasures and articles, used or collected by the emperors.

It’s a good idea to skip the central axis and take a different route to visit the glorious exhibitions in the palace, for a deeper understanding of imperial history and hitherto secret gossip about the emperors and their concubines.

The main permanent exhibitions are:

• The Hall of Clocks in the Hall for Ancestral Worship ( Fengxian Dian ) – Clocks and timepieces from the permanent collections are routinely exhibited here.
• The Treasure Gallery in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity Sector ( Ningshou Gong Qu ) – This consists of six rooms displaying items from the imperial collection and extant accouterments for palace life, including jade, jadeite, gold, silver, pearls, and other precious and semi-precious stones.
• The Ceramics Gallery in the Hall of Martial Valor ( Wuying Dian ) – Hundreds of porcelain and ceramic items showing the evolution of ceramics from the Neolithic Age to the late Qing dynasty.

The museum also houses some other high-quality themed exhibitions, constantly changing, for example:

• The “Four Wangs’ Paintings of the Early Qing Period, Collected by the Palace Museum” from 2018-09-12 to 2018-10-30;
• The “Color of History – Exhibition of Archeological Cultural Relics, Decorative and Applied Art of Ukraine” from 2018-09-26 to 2018-11-19; and
• The “Antikythera Shipwreck” from 2018-9-14 to 2018-12-16.

3. A Panoramic View from the Hilltop

Jingshan is the man-made hill opposite the northern gate of the Forbidden City. Walking up to Jingshan Park after touring the palace, a panoramic view from the highest point of Jingshan is even more eye-catching than the views from inside.

Most photographic overviews of the Forbidden City on social media that attracted your attention were taken from the top of Jingshan.

How to Buy Tickets?

1. The Palace Museum has been implementing an online ticketing policy since October 10th, 2017.

2. The Museum has been closed on Mondays since June 2018 (excluding national holidays) to improve the protection of the cultural heritage and to create more time for renovations of the ancient buildings.

3. Due to the daily limit of 80,000 visitors , tourists are recommended to buy tickets online (the official website available in English: The Palace Museum) with appropriate IDs well in advance. Those without any credentials cannot gain access to the museum.

4. There are windows to provide a ticketing service to foreigners who can’t buy tickets online.

How to Avoid the Crowds

The Forbidden City isn’t so forbidden anymore. Seeing close to 40,000 people on average per diem, it’s easy to get lost in the multitudes. However, a crafty visitor can see the city without getting pushed around by noisy, inconsiderate tourists by following a few guidelines.

Show Up Early

Arrive before the complex opens and queue in the front. When the gates open, you will be the first inside.

Come During the Off-Season

Avoid Chinese holidays- particularly National Day, from the 1st to the 7th of October. Avoid weekends.

The last week of July is the low season for the Forbidden City. If you happen to be in Beijing then, that would be a great time to visit.

Facilities in the Palace

1. The museum provides a  free luggage check-in service : you can check in your luggage at the entrance (the Meridian Gate) and collect it again at the exit, the Spiritual Valor Gate (Shen Wu Men).

2. It would be a good idea to rent an audio guide device from the Meridian Gate or the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shen Wu Men) at a cost of CNY 20 for Chinese and Cantonese versions, or CNY 40 for other languages.

3. Barrier-free access is available in the Forbidden City.

4. Wheelchairs and strollers are provided at the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shen Wu Men), on payment of a deposit of CNY 300.

5. There are restaurants and tourist shops in the area.

Recommended Tour Routes

Depending on your physical condition and interests, we have three recommended palace tour routes for your reference.

In-depth Forbidden City Tour with China Travel

Take your time to enjoy the 4-Day Beijing Essence and In-depth Forbidden City Tour with China Travel : You will see all highlights and discover the hidden history of Chinese imperial life.

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The Forbidden City, now known as the Palace Museum, is the  imperial palace of two consecutive dynasties - the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911). It  is the most prestigious museum in China and one of the bucketlist museums in the world.

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