beijing forbidden city tour

Half-Day In-depth Beijing Forbidden City Heritage Discovery

This is our exclusive Forbidden City tour where we go deeply into the Chinese History with our Expert "Professor" Guide. We won't miss any area that a common 2 hours tour does. You'll see mythical historic places with no rush at all, and getting the full picture with comprehensive explanations. Skip the lines at the Forbidden City as China Highlights VIP guests. In this 600-year-old building complex with 9,999½ forbidden imperial chambers, today NOWHERE is closed and NO secret is kept from you.

Tour Highlights

• See the real scene of the movie The Last Emperor at the Forbidden City.
• Being amazed by the largest imperial palace (with 9,999½ palaces) in the world.
• Discover the hidden history of Chinese imperial life.
• Skip the lines at the Forbidden City as a China Highlights' VIP guest.
• See all the important places that a common 2 hours tour won't do with no rush at all.

Call Us "Forbidden City Geeks"

Some people enjoy computers, some enjoy boats, and we enjoy the Forbidden City. Mythical stories and interesting facts are what we, the expert guides, enjoy about the world's largest imperial palace. We guide people to the sites of the Forbidden City every two days, all year round. We find it fun to look for something new and provide an untraditional experience and hope you do, too.

Detailed Itinerary

Meet at the subway exit A of Qianmen Station (地铁前门站A出口) at 8:30am. Your tour guide will be waiting for you with other tour members, holding a sign with the China Highlights logo on. You can get there by subway or taxi.

Please make sure to arrive punctually as the trip must begin on time. If for some reason you cannot get there by the specified time, please make a call to your tour guide (listed on the confirmation letter that we will send you the day before your departure) and your tour guide will try his or her best to help you.

Good to Know:

• How to get to the meeting point by Subway? You can take subway line 2 to the Qianmen Station and go to exit A. The first train of line 2 runs at about 5:03 am and the last train ends at about 21:55 pm. The ticket price for the train starts from CNY 3 Yuan based on the distance of your trip.

You will visit the Tian'anmen Square - the largest urban square in the world where you can see the famous portrait of Chairman Mao hanging on the red wall. You can take pictures and walk around the square. Your guide will give you background information of this famous square.

Walk to the entrance of the Forbidden City and start your visit to the Forbidden City. Your expert guide will show you around the Forbidden City and tell you a lot of interesting stories, revealing the true Chinese imperial life and history. With more than 600 years of history, 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in the Forbidden City. It is the largest imperial palace in the world and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO; it is now open to the public as the Palace Museum.

At the Meridian Gate, you'll hear a brief introduction about the Meridian Gate, which is famous as a place to penalize offending officials in the Qing Dynasty.

Walk along the Central Axis Way, you will see a grand square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Your guide's presentation will answer your questions, like: Where is the throne of the Chinese emperors? How did the emperor have an audience with high-ranking officials? What is the significance of the sundial, bronze turtle statue, stork statue, huge copper vat, etc.

Visit the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which respectively functioned as the place for the emperor to change his costume before grand ceremonies and the venue for the annual imperial exams.

Cross the Central Axis Way to view the Hall of Heavenly Purity, which used to be respectively the audience hall for high ranking officials and the venue for emperors' wedding ceremonies.

Walk along the white marble balustrade and descend from the main palaces. On the way, you will see a high stone slab with a dragon and cloud design. It weighs about 200 tons. Our presenter will enlighten you as to how they were transferred into the Forbidden City.

Walk to the eastern side of the Forbidden City to see the Clock Exhibition Hall and the famous Nine Dragon Screen.

Walk along the red palace wall to the Palace of Prolonging Happiness to view remains of the most ingenious building in the Forbidden City — the Crystal Palace. Our iPad presentation will show you what it once looked like.

Lastly, you will be shown to the imperial garden and view the artificial rockery, surrounded by peonies and trees in beautiful shapes. Some of them look like animals of the Chinese zodiac. The last palace you will see is called ‘Feast Pavilion'. In the Qing Dynasty, the annual selection of the emperor's concubines happened there, and their story and that of the eunuchs will be presented.

Finally, you will come to Spiritual Valor Gate (神武门) which is the north gate of the Forbidden City.

Later on, you will visit Jingshan Park which is located in front of the Forbidden City. It is said to be the best position to get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. Definitely not to be missed, Jingshan Park is located on the central axis of Beijing and has many historic buildings symmetrically located on both sides. You will see the Drum and Bell Tower to the north while the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square can be seen to the south.

Your tour will end at Jingshan Park. After the tour, you can take the subway or a taxi back to your hotel. Your guide will show you the best ways to get back to your hotel or other places you are interested in visiting.

Price Include:

• Admission to the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.
• English-speaking expert local guide.

Price Exclude:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
• Gratuities to the tour guide & driver (usually CNY 50 - 100 per person per day for each of them, please tip them separately.). It is not compulsory but would be a great encouragement for them.

FAQs About This Tour

•  If we are not able to implement the contract due to war, flood, typhoon, fire, strikes, storm, earthquake, or any other condition we are not able to foresee and avoid, we will inform customers at the first possible opportunity and offer the best possible solutions, and the final bill shall be settled based on the service we actually provide.
•  Up to 7 days before departure: 100% refund of all money paid, excluding penalties charged by hotels, railways, airlines, and PayPal, if applicable. All penalties will be itemized.
•  From 3 to 7 days before departure: 90% refund, excluding penalties charged by hotels, railways, airlines, and PayPal, if applicable. All penalties will be itemized.
•  Within 3 days before departure: no refund.
•  After the trip has commenced, we are unable to refund any amount for canceled services due to non-participation, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.
•  For groups of more than 10 people: The terms for cancellation may vary from case to case. Please ask your travel advisor regarding the cancellation policy for your group.

Citizens of certain countries who meet the criteria are allowed 72-hour visa-free transit via and travel in nine China cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shenyang, and Dalian. Please make sure you have  read the detailed Visa-free policies  before you decide to take the Visa-free policy. And please keep in mind that China Highlights does not take any resposibility for the risk or loss of a customer who uses the Visa-free policy.  more details

What Makes Us Different

We take you to see places in the Forbidden City that you would never find by yourself. By going with us you'll have the opportunity to:

• Get audio-visual insights into Chinese feudal society and emperors' lives: 24 emperors, 14 in the Ming and 10 in the Qing Dynasty reigned over China from the Forbidden City.
• Discover the extravagance of Chinese royal architecture beneath the surface: timber from 100,000 Chinese cedars, 12 years making bricks, and 300 tons of gold leaf went into making almost 10,000 rooms for one man — the Chinese emperor!
• Learn how and when Chinese culture and customs came into being, and how they were passed on.

Instead of seeing a standard succession of similar rooms, and listening to textbook-like guide recitals, we attempt to bring imperial times to life for you through fascinating stories, anecdotes with original pictures, and videos shown on an iPad.

Our Forbidden City presenters are tested and certified to our high standards in history and architecture knowledge and English. We try to bridge the gap between "old" and "new" China, and let you know how Chinese culture and customs came into being.

Unlike some other online travel agents who sell tour products made by local travel agents, we built our own branch company in Beijing in 2010, and since then we started to make our own unique products. We aim to deliver a high-value tour to every one of our customers. We have more than 50 local staff in Beijing to solve your problems on the spot.

• Emergency contact: +86-18807734970 (24/7 customer service)
• Beijing address: Room 204, Building 8, Beijingxiangsu, Wuliqiao Erjie, Chaoyang District

Adult (age 12+) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Child (age 2-11) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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Forbidden City Guided Tour

• 8.50 / 10 8 reviews | 195 travellers It was great. I really enjoyed the tour 10 Elisabet
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service starts
• X (Twitter)

Embark on a captivating guided tour of the Forbidden City , an iconic symbol of Beijing . Prepare to be captivated forever; this experience is a must-see!

At the scheduled time, we'll begin this guided tour of the   Forbidden City of Beijing . Then, we'll embark on a guided tour of one of the most spectacular palace complexes in China .

Accompanied by your guide, an expert in the history of Beijing and of the palace complex, you'll wander through the  immense courtyards giving way to pagodas and pavilions  where you'll be able to imagine the ceremonies held here by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties throughout history.

Following a brief introduction, we'll enter this fascinating site, which UNESCO considers the world's largest architectural ensemble of ancient wooden structures . First, we'll walk through the spacious courtyards that lead to the pavilions where the emperor's official ceremonies were held.

Within the walls of the Forbidden City, 24 different emperors ruled China for almost 500 years, and its importance in Chinese history is evident as you explore. Discover the incredible details of the ancient architecture and the philosophical and religious symbolism they represent, from the yellow roof tiles - the color of the emperor - to the imperial roof decorations, gilded lion temple guardians, and exquisitely carved dragons.

Then, after between 3.5 and 4 hours immersed in the wonder of this great palace complex, we'll bring our guided tour to an end. But if you want to continue soaking up the site's history, feel free to stay within the city walls and continue your exploration !

• We need a minimum of 10 people per group to run this tour. If we don't reach that number for your selected date, we'll offer you an alternative date.
• The number of tickets to the Forbidden City is very limited. Therefore, we recommend booking this tour well in advance.

Order of Itinerary

Please keep in mind that the order of the itinerary  is flexible and subject to changes.

More Information

3 hours 30 minutes - 4 hours.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English–speaking guide

Skip the line entrance to the Forbidden City

When to book?

You can book up until 24 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. This must be indicated in the reservation. Accessible toilets. An accompanying person is required.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• Printed material is avoided.
• No single-use plastics are used.
• Reusable headsets are used.
• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Lotto Trip | Beijing Botrip Tour Holiday Company Co., Ltd Show more

Corporate name: Beijing happy holiday international travel agency Co., Ltd

Corporate name: Beijing Shengda Holiday Travel Agency Co., Ltd.

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities .

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?

A - This activity requires a minimum of 10 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point.

Meridian Gate

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​ Book Forbidden City Tickets & Tours

Forbidden city tickets are released  ​ 7 days in advance and run out quickly, the forbidden city - the palace museum.

Cerficate of Excellence

4.5 of 5 based on 14,000+ reviews on Tripadvisor

#4 of 1,634 things to do in Beijing on Tripadvisor

E-tickets, Skip the Line ​

Show passport to get access. Our tickets are E-tickets,  and very simple to use! Just show your passport when check in the site at the selected entry time and date. No need to queue in line to collect your paper tickets at tickets counter. 

Easy Book & Pay without Sign-in

No need to sign in, booking  process is rather easy by using our advanced tickets booking engine. Your will get an instant confirmation from us after successful payments through Paypal. Credit Card is supported. 

Free Change or Cancellation

Your travel plans changes? No worry, we offer the most flexible change and cancellation policy for customers. You just need to click the "view booking" button to submit your changes. 

Tickets & Tours

Small Group Forbidden City Tour (Max 12 Persons)

Daily departure: daily (no Mondays) from 15 March to 15 November, no departures on Chinese holidays 

Summer Palace Tickets ​​​E-Ticket(QR code)

E-Tickets, skip the line

Ticket Grabbing Service

Flexible Cancellation

Temple of Heaven Tickets ​​​E-Ticket(QR code)

Forbidden City Tickets Request ​

Small Group Day Hiking on the Great Wall

Truly it was a great journey, and in it I met with many, whom to know was to love but whom never could I see again; for life has.

Bucket-list small group day hiking on the Great Wall with USD148 each

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.

Visitor Guide

Forbidden City Tickets

Summer Palace Tickets

Temple of Heaven Tickets

Small Group Forbidden CIty Tour-New!

Email: [email protected]

Useful travel links: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus | Great Wall Hiking | Cu Chi Tunnels | Laos Train Tickets

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How to Book Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Tickets from Official Website 2024

- Important notes, prices, how and when to book, step-by-step instruction, cancellation, visiting guide...

Securing sought-after and limited Forbidden City Beijing tickets was once a challenging and cumbersome task. But the good news is, to meet the diverse visiting needs of international tourists, the Forbidden City (also known as the Palace Museum) has recently implemented a new official ticketing system optimized for international visitors. Now you can efficiently book tickets on its website with only passport numbers and email accounts required.

Click the top right corner to switch to the English version, you will find helpful booking instructions and ticket inspection instructions, interactive calendar for date selection, and clearly listed ticket options. You can check latest available tickets, exhibitions, schedules, prices, order information, etc. and also we will update the latest news for you.

Important Notes Before Booking Forbidden City Tickets

Ticket Price: ◆ General Admission Tickets: April 1st - October 31st (high season) CNY 60 November 1st - March 31st (low season) CNY 40 ◆ Optional Tickets: The Treasure Gallery CNY 10 The Gallery of Clocks CNY 10

Opening Hours: ①8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Opening time for admission: 8:30 ; Last admission: 15:30) ②The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays except for statutory holidays. ③Morning session: Check tickets by 12:00 (noon) ; Afternoon session: Ticket checks start at 11:00 am.

Useful Tips:

1. There is no third-party sales and tickets should be booked exclusively through the official website to avoid fraud. 2. The visitor limit maximum is 40,000 visitors per day and the Forbidden City does not sell same-day tickets. So register for your visit in advance. 3. Passport for booking & entry and real-name reservation are required for international visitors for security and identification purposes. And only one ticket can be reserved per visit per day with the same passport. 4. To enter the Forbidden City, visitors must bring the original valid passport used to book their tickets to the Meridian Gate (Wu men), the south gate of the Forbidden City, for check-in.

Access the Ticket System of Forbidden City & Sign Up

Visit Forbidden City ticketing website, switch to the English version, then click on the button of Sign in, enter your email address to get a verification code, finally use it to log into the system.

Forbidden City Ticket Booking - 6 Easy Steps

Click on the button of Book tickets to enter the booking process.

1. Select your visit date and choose the quantity of tickets

Choose your intended visit date from the calendar. Please book your tickets at least one day in advance, and you can book up to a maximum of 7 days in advance. Then choose the quantity of ticket type. (e.g. standard tickets, senior citizen discounts, etc. if applicable)

2. Enter visitor information

Enter visitor details, including first name & last name, country/region, and passport number. When booking online, you can book tickets for up to 5 people at a time. Just enter their passport numbers and corresponding information. When enter the tour site, provide the original passport of each individual.

3. Select exhibitions

Based on general admission tickets selected, if you are interested, browse available galleries and exhibitions on display for the chosen date, and select what you wish to visit.

4. Confirm your order

Then confirm your order details including ticket selections, exhibitions, subtotal prices etc.

5. Check reservation result and make the payment

With reservation successful, select a payment method and complete the transaction within 30 minutes. You can choose credit card, WeChat/Alipay payment and also can apply for on-site payment.

6. Receive confirmation notification

With payment successful, you will receive booking confirmation by email.

● Cancellation and Refunds

Start from ☛ www.bookingticket.dpm.org.cn

Contact and Support

◆ Language assistance is available on site. ◆ For issues or inquiries, email [email protected] or contact (8610)8500-7420. ◆ Contact us for immediate help and comprehensive information.

Useful Forbidden City Visiting Tips

◆ How to plan the visiting route? You can arrange your visit based on the expected duration of your tour, such as 2-hour, half-day, and full-day tour recommendations. We recommend spending half a day exploring the Forbidden City, as this allows for a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of its history and culture, while maintaining an enjoynable pace. After visiting the Forbidden City, we suggest a visit to the nearby Jingshan Park (about a 4-minute walk) where you can enjoy the majestic and charming panorama of the Forbidden City and Beijing City.

◆ How to get to the Forbidden City? Rightly located at the center of Beijing City, Forbidden City is easily accessible by subway line 1 (most convenient), by bus and even on foot.

◆ Where to get convenient services? You can click on the button of visit to figure out the position of service spots from the map, including Guide, Audio Guide, Service Center，Nursery，Shop，Food & Drink，Coffee，First Aid，Stroller Rental, Broadcasting Station and etc.

For more visiting tips and useful details, click ☛ The Forbidden City

Book Forbidden City Tickets with US

As a part of our private valuable Beijing tour packages, we promise to book Forbidden City tickets for you in an ensured and well-formed way. We are sorry ticket-booking-only is currently not available.

1. Travel agency's specialized booking system helps you skip registration and tedious steps. 2. The Forbidden City tickets often sell out quickly; we can ensure your successful reservation. 3. If you book tickets with us and choose our tour packages, we'll provide an experienced local guide to help you gain a deeper understanding of the Forbidden City's history and its precious collections. 4. Beyond the Forbidden City, we can also assist in booking tickets for other Beijing attractions, such as the Great Wall , the Temple of Heaven , and the Summer Palace .

Travel With Our Valuable & Worry-free Beijing Tour Package

Besides booking tickets, we are also good at create tailor-made Beijing journeys and will tailor the perfect itinerary for you with experienced travel planners, local guides and well-informed schedules. In a word, China Discovery will ensure you a captivating Beijing visit with great comfort. Here are our most recommended and popular Beijing tour packages as below. Wish you a nice, smooth and enjoyable journey in China!

How to Plan Your Beijing Tour 2024/2025

To explore the best highlights of Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Hutongs, you only need 2 or 3 full days , which is available for to 144 Hours Visa-free for Transit in Beijing. If you have more days, you can go for an in-depth Great Wall hiking or photography, and explore more hidden attractions in the city.

As the most popular transportation hub in China, you can easily travel from Beijing to any other hot travel destinations in China by flight or train, such as Xian , Shanghai, Yangtze River, Guilin , Chengdu , Tibet and other popular destinations in China by flight or train.. China Discovery has designed many great China tour packages from Beijing for you. Please make your choice from our collections or let us customize one for you.

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable wonderful trips to Beijing for the past few years. Among them, a special team of over 50 VIPKID teachers from North America traveled with us to see their dear studends in China with amazing experience in Beijing and shared us their special travel story ! Travel with China Discovery to create your great China trip memories!

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How to Visit Forbidden City (Tips, Photos & Map)

• Beijing Travel
• Travel Tips

Dear Travellers,

Plan your Beijing tours ? Visiting the Forbidden City ( The Palace Museum ) is no doubt one of your travel highlights in Beijing.  Then how to buy your Forbidden City entry ticket? When to visit? Which gate to enter? What’s the visiting line? How to beat the crowds? We’d like to have the following quick guide to be always updated for the benefit of new visitors visiting the Forbidden City ( the Palace Museum) in Beijing.

If you have any questions or anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!

Here we have a quick guide for you to grab some basic travel tips for visiting Forbidden City.

Tip 01: Try to Avoid Weekends or Public Holidays

Forbidden City is a must see highlight for every first-time visitor to Beijing. Be ready for crowds of people visiting this complex. Try to avoid visiting Forbidden City on weekends or Chinese public holidays.

On these tourist peak days, the hoards of tourists are thick. Many tour groups ( most domestic ones) seem to aggregate and move about with banners, and colored caps.

Very often you have to elbow your way to see and take pictures. We recommend you come here either early in the morning or in the later afternoon ( not too late to be allowed to enter the museum ) to beat the crowds, enjoy the Forbidden City as it once is before the masses turn up and ruin your photo opportunities.

Tip 02:  The Right Gate to Forbidden City In & Out

The Palace Museum officially sets the one way travel route from south to north ( no return). So there is just one main entrance to the Forbidden City, namely the southern gate, or Meridian Gate, also known as Wumen (午门）in Chinese. To the south of Forbidden City’s Southern Gate lie Tiananmen Tower and Tiananmen Square .

There is one main exit gate to the Forbidden City, namely the northern gate, or Gate of Divine Prowess , also known as Shenwu Men (神武门）in Chinese. So don’t try to enter the Forbidden City from its north gate.

Again Kinder Reminder: Basically you enter the Forbidden City from its southern gate and exit from its northern gate, which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route. You cannot exit from the Southern Gate again; you cannot enter the Northern Gate either.

Tip 03: How to get to Forbidden City?

When we ask how to get to the Forbidden City, we very often mean how we can get to the southern gate to the Forbidden City since basically we are supposed to enter the Forbidden City from its south main gate and exit from its north main gate, which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route.

To the south of the Forbidden City’s southern gate lie the Tiananmen Square , the National Museum of China , the Great Hall of the People ( Chinese parliament), The National Centre for the Performing Arts (the Giant Egg) and Qiamen Street.

So if you have half a day available for your trip to the Forbidden City which basically takes about 2 hours, you may add some of the sights nearby to enhance your Beijing experience.

Tip 04: Entry Ticket Information

The Palace Museum is limiting the daily number of visitors to 20,000, so upfront ticket booking is highly recommended. The Palace Museum has cancelled on-site ticket sales. Instead you need to have online real-name ticket purchases.

Tickets are to be sold 10 days in advance until sold out. Tickets can be booked online at Forbidden City ticketing , or through the Forbidden City’s official booking page: Forbidden City Official Ticketing .

Only one ticket per certificate (ID/passport) per day of admission is allowed. On the day of visit, you can be admitted Forbidden City directly with your ID card or the original household register at any ticket gate. There is no need to exchange paper tickets.

People who buy tickets together on the Internet must check in at the same time and must not check in separately.

Note: 1. Forbidden City is closed for the entire day every Monday, except the Chinese national public holidays. 2. Forbidden City Ticketing Purchase is based on real name policy; 3. You need to show your passport to buy your entrance tickets; 4. Free of charge for children under 1.2 meters, each required to be escorted by an adult； 5. Special 20 yuan tickets are available for China’s elementary, middle school, and university students (including foreign students studying in Chinese universities) with valid student I.D. or certified letter from school administrator (including students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, excluding graduate and adult education students); 6. Seniors over 60 years old are entitled to half price by showing a valid ID or passport. 7. Forbidden City Customers Service Hot Lines: 010-85007057 010-85007058 010-85007062 （working hours：08:30-22:00）; (Fax): 6523-7344

Tip 05: Suggested Forbidden City Travel Routes

The Forbidden City is huge, covering an area of 72 hectares. Normally you should cruise through in two or three hours.

Plan this together with Tiananmen Square, Jinshan Park or Beihai park. Please keep in mind that Tickets sold until 15:30 (November 1st – March 31); Tickets sold until 16:00 (April 01 – October).

Classic Two-hour Axis Travel Route 1. The Meridian Gate (Wu men – the south gate) 2. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) 3. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) 4. Treasures from the Qing Palace 5. Memory of the Old Palace 6. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) 7. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) 8. Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men) 9. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) 10. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) 11. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) 12. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan) 13. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men – the north gate)

Half a Day Travel Route 1. The Meridian Gate (Wu men – the south gate) 2. Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian) 3. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) 4. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) 5. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) 6.Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) 7. Hall of Clocks 8. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) 9. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) 10. alace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) 11. Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) 12. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan) 13. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men the north gate)

Tip 06: View the Turrets and the Moat

When touring the Forbidden City, don’t miss visiting the magnificent turrets of Forbidden City and its surrounding moat. There are four beautiful turrets of the same structure on the four corners of Forbidden City.

Each turret tower has nine girders, eighteen columns and 72 ridges. The two turrets on the northeast and northwest corners offer the best photo opportunities. How to Take the Best Photos of Forbidden City Turret and Moat .

The turrets are inaccessible to visitors. People usually finish their visit to the Forbidden City and exit from its north gate. Then turn either right for the northeast turret tower or left for the northwest turret tower outside the Forbidden City.

Tip 07: A Panoramic View of Forbidden City

Jingshan Park is not to miss on your Beijing tour for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the city of Beijing as a whole. . Jingshan just sits across the north gate to the Forbidden City.

After finishing your visit of the Forbidden City from south to north, you exit from the Forbidden City’s north gate.

Exiting from the northern gate, raising your head, you will find a pavilion has three-layered eaves perched on a hill. The hill is called Jingshan Hill ( Coal Hill or prospect Hill).

Jingshan Hill is an ideal place to have a panoramic view of Forbidden City and the Beijing city as whole.  Click “ Jingshan Park is not to be missed ” for more information.

Tip 08: Public Transport after your visit to Forbidden City

It is a bit tricky to use the public transport back to your hotel or other attractions you continue to visit afterwards.

Public bus stations around the Forbidden City’s North Gate: Public Bus Number: 101, 103, 109, 124 trolleybus and No. 58, Night 13, Sightseeing Bus 1, Sightseeing Bus 2.

Public Bus stations around Jingshan Park East Gate Public Bus Number: No. 111, Trolleybus 124 and No. 58, Night bus 2

After visiting the Forbidden City and exit from its north gate, most of the visitors want to continue their day trips to other attractions or destinations in Beijing like Park Park ( just opposite the north gate to Forbidden City), the nearby Beihai Park , Wangfujing Street , Beijing Zoo , Summer Palace , Fragrance Hill , Temple of Heaven , the Great Wall of China and the list is much longer.

Please read the following travel information to help plan your further day trip:

Jinshan Park ( Prospect Hill or Coal Hill )    ( How to Visit Jingshan Park ) Jinshan Park is just opposite the north gate to the Forbidden City, but you are not allowed to cross the street. To visit Jinshan Park ( Prospect Hill ), you are advised to use the underpass 20 meters in the west.

Beihai Park Beijing ( How to Visit Beihai Park ) This park is approx 800 meters west of the north gate to Forbidden City, just 10-minute walking.

Summer Palace ( How to Visit Summer Palace ) First take the underpass to cross the street and walk west to the Bus No.103 and get off at Beijing Zoo Station, then connect Bus 332 for Summer Palace.

Badaling Great Wall ( How to Visit Badaling Great Wall by train ) Walk westward and find the Bus No.5 and drop off at Deshengmen, then connect Bus 877 for Badaling Great Wall.

Temple of Heaven ( How to Visit Temple of Heaven ) Walk westward for 30 meters and take Bus 814 and get off at Dong Dan, Chongwenmen and Temple of Heaven.

Wangfujing Street or Beijing Railway Station  ( Wangfujing Street )  ( Beijing Railway Station ) Walk west for 30 meters and take trolley bus No.103 and get off at Wangfujiang or Beijing Railway Station.

Beijing West Railway Station ( Beijing West Railway Station ) Take the underpass to cross the street and Take bus 109 and get off at Xuanwumen, connect bus No.9 or 703 for Beijing West Railway Station.

Beijing South Railway Station  ( Beijing South Railway Station ) Walk west for 500 meters and take Bus No. 05 and get off at Qianmen, connect Bus 20 for Beijing West Railway Station.

Tiananmen Square or Subway Line 01  ( How to Visit Tiananmen Square )  ( Subway Line 1 ) Walk west for 500 meters and take Bus No. 05

How to take a Beijing Taxi ( Beijing Taxi ) Walk west for 50 meters and call a cab.

Taking a rickshaw at the north gate is a rip-off. Don’t ever take a Rickshaw at the north gate of Forbidden City unless you feel like getting lost and extorted.

So if you visit Forbidden City by getting to a wrong gate (north gate), don’t use a local rickshaw to get back to the south gate, just walk to the right gate (south gate).

For the same reason, if you exit from the north gate after visiting Forbidden City, don’t use a rickshaw for your next place.

Tip 09: Hire a legitimate Tour Guide or Audio Guides

The Forbidden City is much worth visiting, but unless you know the history very well, you should use a Beijing tour guid e . You are not advised to use the tourist guides around the entrance. Most of them are self-employed tour guides.

So, try to find a reliable travel agency for your tour guide services or the Recorded guide. The recorded audio guides: these are available for rent walking from south to north. There are many signs in English by each building. An actual book would probably better serve you if you want to understand what you are seeing.

Tip 10 : Dress for the Hot Weather

There are very few trees with little shade Forbidden City. It is super hot during the summer.

So if coming here in summer, be ready to bring an umbrella for sun protection, bottles of water, and comfy walking shoes. Check out: Beijing Climate for more information.

Tip 11: Wear Comfortable Shoes

There are lots of outdoor areas so you can’t do a lot of hiding from the sun or rain. Wear your most comfortable shoes.

It’s a long walk! strollers and wheelchairs are available for free at the tourist guide service at both southern gate and the northern gate.

Tip 12: Avoid Tour Vendors on the Street

There are some tour vendors at each entrance selling their excursions to the Great Wall. Just ignore all handouts that will be forced upon you. Especially bus tours.

They are all too good to be true, and you will be disappointed. See Top 10 Tourist Scams in Beijing for more information.

Tip 13: Be vigilant on Tea House Scam and Ticket Touts

A kind reminder that Tea House Scams and ticket touts could possibly pester you around Forbidden City area. Below is a trip report by a victim from Sri Lanka named Akalan ( click Top 10 Tourist Scams in Beijing for more information) :

——————————— I wish I read this page 1 week earlier! I was a victim to the “Tea House” scam. The scammer, a lady was very clever. I came to the Tiananmen area and was going to buy the ticket to enter the forbidden city. A lady who was walking besides me casually said “Hello” and started a chat while walking.

In fact this was my 4th trip to China, but first trip to Beijing. Many a times many people, usually young ladies chatted with me and they helped me a lot. Even on the same day morning I went to the Great Wall and a young girl with good English walked with me. All those I met earlier were genuine people who just wanted to help a visitor to their country. Most of the time they did not even allow me to pay a bill, ticket price or taxi fare.

With that sort of experience, I had no suspicion on this woman. Still my priority was to get into the Forbidden city ASAP, as it was passed 3pm and I knew that the ticket sales would stop at 4 pm. This lady said that she would show me the “East gate” where I can enter without a long queue. Yes, there was a queue of people at the main entrance.

Simply followed her advice and she walked with me to “show” the entrance. On the way she said she is from Xi’An (a city I visited 1 month ago) and we had quite a good conversation on history, culture and languages. She also explained some history of the area.

She said her friends from another province are there and they will meet them in 10 min. If I can wait 10 min, they also can join me to go inside the Forbidden city.

While waiting for them, she suggested me to sit somewhere and have a tea or fruit juice. In fact after walking and climbing whole morning in Great Wall area, I was thirsty and wanted to sit and stretch my legs. So I agreed.

I tried to sit on some chairs laid outside, but she suggested to go inside – less noisy, less dust and air-conditioned!

I picked a Chinese tea and the scam began! You know the rest. Yes, she split the bill, still I lost a few hundred! Worst thing was that she took me to a gate, assuring that I could enter from there, but obviously there were no ticket counters. I had to get to an electric car. The driver charged 20, instead of 2, as he sensed my urgency!

He actually did not take me to the ticket counters, instead, he stopped somewhere and a woman approached me. She was telling me that the ticket counters are closed and she would sell a ticket to me for 100 ! I did not want to let some one rip me off for 3rd time, within 15 min. Finally when I found the ticket counters, they were closed! So I missed the Forbidden City!

Tip 14: Hail a Taxi on the Road

Please note that taxis are not allowed to stop either at the northern gate or south gate. Some people approaching you for taxi service after you finish your visit at the Forbidden City, may be black taxi drivers. Just avoid them and try to hail a taxi on the road.

Taxis are not allowed to stop at the northern gate (Shenwu men) according to the local traffic regulations. Visitors exiting from the northern gate need to walk further either east or west to hail a taxi or take a bus. Check out Beijing Taxi for more information.

Tip 15:  Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Car Rental in Beijing Beijing Day Tour Beijing Tour Packages Great Wall Tour Beijing Winter Tour Beijing Tour China City Tours China Tour

Chinese version of the travel guide

Further readings.

Best Time to Visit Beijing How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing How to Visit Forbidden City How to Visit Temple of Heaven How to Visit Summer Palace How to Visit Ming Tombs How to Visit the Great Wall of China How to Visit Tiananmen Square How to Visit Hutongs How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Night Snack Street Qianmen Commercial Street Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop line.

62 thoughts on “ how to visit forbidden city (tips, photos & map) ”.

Thanks for your feedback on your trip to Beijing!

Anywhere around the world where there are larger groups of humans, there will be more opportunities for scams. It seems the way of the Universe that these will be filled. You should always be aware, do research and remember that if it seems off, or too good, it is probably a scam. This is true in China, the U.S., or any other place where humans exist.

For more information about Beijing tourist scams, check out the link below:

http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/china-travel/tourist-traps-in-china/top-10-tourist-scams-beijing

I’m currently in Beijing until Tuesday 19th. Is the Forbidden City still closed every Monday or has renovation now finished?

Great website btw

Dear James,

Thanks for your visiting our website!

Yes, Forbidden City is still closed on Monday. No big renovation is going on.

Have a nice time in Beijing!

Are the booking agencies you mentioned reliable? I’m planning on booking a group tour but most of the ones that I found online had really terrible reviews.

Are you going to book a group day in Beijing? You may check out the link: https://www.tour-beijing.com/coach_tours/

Any questions, please email [email protected]

If Tiananmen Tower is closed till end april can you still get to The Forbidden City ? Thanks

Dear Roger,

Thanks for your inquiry!

Yes, you can walk to Forbidden City from Tiananmen Square through the gate to Tiananmen Tower. Have a nice time!

Hi,how long does it take to get tickets when in the que on the spot please?weekdays and weekends.many thanks!

How long does it take to get the tickets in the que pls?weekends and weekdays. thank you

Dear Radkulena,

Basically people are required to buy tickets online. It is hard to predict the queue time.

Since when it eas announcrd that the visits to tha ForbidenCity would not be allowed end september?

I already have plane tickets to be there

Dear Thales Zugman,

For confirmed trips to Beijing during the closure period, you are kindly suggested to rearrange your itinerary to Summer Palace or Hutong, which are also highlights of a Beijing day tour.

Better adjust your plan to other sites to make the most out of your holiday. Beijing has much more to offer even though Forbidden City is the main draw.

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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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Forbidden City

Forbidden City, China (Palace Museum)

• 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

Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, lies in the city center of Beijing, and was once the Chinese imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is the largest, best-preserved ancient timber-built palace complex in the world. Constructed between 1406 and 1420 during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors and their families and acted as the ceremonial and political center of ancient Chinese government throughout 500 years. After the Last Emperor of China left the palace, it later became a museum open to the public in 1925. Since then, the Forbidden City is no longer ‘forbidden’, and now ordinary people are able to take a virtual trip in time to see the secrets and luxury of imperial life. Rectangular in shape, the Forbidden City is enormous, covering an area of 72 hectares, and boasting more than 9,000 bays of rooms. It is divided into two parts – the Outer Court for national affairs in the south and the Inner Court as living quarters in the north. It is not only an immense architectural masterpiece, but also a treasury housing a unique collection of 1.8 million pieces of art, including ancient calligraphy and painting, imperial artifacts, ancient books and archives. A must-see in Beijing and the world’s most visited museum, it is worth spending half to one day to visit the Forbidden City and appreciate the precious cultural heritage of China.

How to Tour the Forbidden City

Recommended guided tours, layout and major palaces.

• Length (north-south): 961 meters (1,051 yards) • Width (west-east): 753 meters (823 yards) • Total Area: 72 hectares (178 acres) • Building Area: 15 hectares (37 acres) Located to the north of the Tiananmen Square , the rectangular Forbidden City is enclosed by a 10 meters (33 feet) high outer wall and surrounded by a 52 meters (57 yards) wide moat . It has four gates: the Meridian Gate (Wumen) in the south, the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) in the north, the West Prosperity Gate (Xihuamen) and the East Prosperity Gate (Donghuamen). On each of the four corners of the outer wall, there is a delicately structured corner tower. Standing on the wall or the towers, or seeking a higher viewpoint from the Jingshan Mountain to the north of the Forbidden City, you can get the feel of the truly massive scale of the palace complex. For comparison, the Forbidden City is four times the size of the Taj Mahal of India (18 hectares), which is mainly composed of gardens. Here the Forbidden City, with a multitude of palaces, has a building area even larger than that of the Palace of Versailles in France (11 hectares). The high outer walls enclose a labyrinth of more than 90 palaces and courtyards, with over 9,000 bays of rooms! The layout is in perfect symmetry, with the north-south central axis ingeniously designed for not only the forbidden palace complex, but also the whole of today’s Beijing city. The major palaces extend along the axis, while the minor halls stand on the west and east sides, all being well arranged in five north-south lines: Central Axis, West Wing, East Wing, Outer West Route, and Outer East Route. For different functions, the complex is divided into the Outer Court in the south and the Inner Court in the north. The Outer Court was used for state ceremonials, with three main halls on the central axis, namely the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian), and the Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian), and two wing structures – the Hall of Martial Valor (Wuyingdian) in the west, and the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) in the east. The Inner Court was the residential area, including the three central palaces for the emperor and the empress, namely the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian), and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong), which are flanked by Six Western Palaces and Six Eastern Palaces for concubines and maids of different ranks. There is an Imperial Garden at northernmost part, affording views and entertainments.

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Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, After its completion in 1420, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors, their families and servants during the Ming (1368–1644) and the Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. After the Last Emperor of China left the palace, it later became a museum open to the public in 1925. The Forbidden City was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is the largest, best-preserved ancient timber-built palace complex in the world.

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, he ordered Kuai Xiang to design the Forbidden City in Beijing. A total of 100,000 artisans and one million laborers were involved in the construction.

Over 200 years later, the Ming dynasty fell to the Manchu Qing dynasty in 1644. Then, in 1911, the Qing were subsequently overthrown by republican revolutionaries. The last emperor, Puyi (who ruled from 1909 to 1911 under the reign name Xuantong), continued to live in the palace after his abdication and was finally expelled in 1924. 

Rectangular in shape, the Forbidden City covering an area of 72 hectares, housing more than 9,000 rooms. It is divided into two parts – the Outer Court for national affairs and the Inner Court as living quarters. It is not only an immense architectural masterpiece, but also a treasury housing a unique collection of 1.8 million pieces of art, including ancient calligraphy and painting, imperial artifacts, ancient books and archives.

Classic Visiting Route

Explore the central axis of Forbidden City- about 2 hours.

Meridian Gate (午门), is the  main entrance to the Forbidden City . The Meridian gate was the place where the Emperor announced the new lunar calendar on the Winter Solstice each year; After emperor win the battle, here is the location to pardon the prisoner of war. It’s also the punishment place for court officials.

Outer Court(外朝)

Emperors held important ceremonies. There are three main halls in the outer court along the central axis.

the Hall of Supreme (太和殿), the largest and most spectacular architecture in the Forbidden City. Been used to hold grand ceremonies, such as emperor’s birthday, wedding ceremonies etc.

the  Hall of Middle Harmony (中和殿), for emperor to rest and rehearse etiquettes for the ceremonial events held in the Hall of Supreme.

the  Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿), for state banquet in the New Year’s Eve and Lantern Festival. For imperial exam to select the top 3 in the Qing dynasty.

Inner Court (内廷)

The imperial living quarters and the work place for the emperors.

the Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门) , for officials waited for the military and administrative decisions from the emperor.

the Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫), 14 Ming and Qing Emperors had lived in here and handled state affairs.

the Hall of Union (交泰殿), the Empress coronation room in the Qing Dynasty.

the  Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫), the bedroom for the empress in Ming Dynasty.

Imperial Garden (御花园), the pleasure ground for the emperor and his harem.

Gate of Divine Might (神武门) is the north gate of Forbidden City.

In-depth Route(4-6 hours)

You can spend one whole day in the Forbidden city to explore more courtyards and museum items.

Hall of Martial Valor (武英殿): located in the west of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, in this courtyard you can find Painting and Calligraphy Gallery.

Hall of Literary Brilliance (文华殿): exhibit ceramics through past dynasties.

Six Western Palaces (西六宫) which represent six palaces in the west of the inner court which was the residential area for the emperor’s concubines.

Eastern Exhibition Area : in the east of the Forbidden City. You can find the Hall of Treasure, Hall of Clocks, Gold and Silver Gallery, Bronze Gallery represent the priceless art history of China.

Panoramic View of Forbidden City

After the Forbidden city, you can climb up to Jingshan Park to enjoy the panoramic view of Forbidden City. From the highest pavilion Wanchunting (万春亭) you can enjoy amazing panoramic view of Forbidden City and other sites along the Central Axis of Beijing. The park is also a place to experience local life where you can find local people dancing and singing.

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+86 13522069857 (Wechat/Whatapp)

103, Unit 9, Yabaoli, Beijing, China

Mon - Sat 8.00 - 18.00 Sunday CLOSED

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