The Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng; officially the Palace Museum, 故宫博物院) is the largest palace complex in the world — 980 buildings, 8,886 rooms (by traditional count), 72 hectares within the moat. Most visitors walk the central axis (Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Imperial Garden → North Gate) in 2–3 hours and see approximately 10% of the palace.
This guide helps you see more of the right things in the same time, and navigate the palace with the understanding that transforms it from “old buildings” to the embodiment of imperial cosmology.
Mandatory Ticket Booking
Online booking is required. Walk-up tickets are not available; the daily visitor cap is 80,000. Book at en.dpm.org.cn or via the Palace Museum WeChat mini-program.
Tickets release 10 days in advance. Book as soon as your dates are fixed. Peak season (October–November, spring holidays) sells out quickly.
Opening hours: 8:30am–5pm (last entry 4pm). Summer closing at 5:30pm.
Entry price: ¥60 (high season, April–October); ¥40 (low season). Some inner areas require separate tickets: Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆, ¥10), Clock Museum (钟表馆, ¥10).
The Central Axis Route (1.5–2 hours)
The north-south central axis of the Forbidden City is the architectural spine — the most important halls arranged in a line from the Meridian Gate (午门, main entrance) to the Imperial Garden (御花园, north end).
Key stops:
1. Meridian Gate (午门): The main ceremonial entrance, with towers on three sides. The roof structure is a “Wu Feng Lou” (五凤楼) — five phoenix towers — symbolising the emperor’s position at the centre of the universe.
2. Golden Water Bridge (金水桥): Five marble bridges across an ornamental stream. Only the central bridge was used by the emperor; different bridges designated for different official grades.
3. Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和门): The first major courtyard gate. On the left and right, the bronze lions (male lion with ball — representing the world; female lion with cub — fertility) are the most reproduced palace image.
4. Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿): The largest building in the palace, where coronations, imperial marriages, and annual court assemblies were held. The Hall sits on a triple-tiered marble terrace; the surrounding courtyard could accommodate 100,000 officials during major ceremonies. The throne inside is the most significant furniture piece in Chinese history.
5. Hall of Middle Harmony (中和殿): Where the emperor prepared before major ceremonies — smaller, more intimate than the flanking halls.
6. Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿): The final major ceremonial hall of the “Outer Court.” The largest marble carving in China is behind this building — a 250-ton relief carved in 1761 depicting dragons in clouds, embedded in the central staircase descent.
7. Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫): The emperor’s main residence in the inner court. After Emperor Yongzheng (1723), emperors moved to the western wing; this palace became the venue for audiences with foreign envoys.
8. Hall of Union (交泰殿) and Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫): The empress’s ceremonial spaces.
9. Imperial Garden (御花园): The palace garden — relatively small (11,700 sq m) but extraordinarily detailed. Ancient cypress trees, rock formations, and pavilions.
The Western and Eastern Wings (Often Missed)
Most visitors follow the central axis. The two flanking wings — the Western Palaces (西六宫) and Eastern Palaces (东六宫) — are where the emperors and their families actually lived. This is where history happened in the more personal sense.
Western Palaces (西六宫): The six individual residential palaces on the west side. The Palace of Eternal Longevity (长寿宫) and the Palace of Gathering Elegance (储秀宫, where the young Cixi lived as a concubine) are particularly interesting. The empress dowager’s residence is recreated with period furnishings.
Eastern Palaces (东六宫): Six palaces on the east side, now used for permanent exhibitions including the Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) and various ceramic and painting collections.
Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆): The palace’s extraordinary collection of imperial jewellery, ritual objects, and portable luxury — jade carvings, cloisonné, gold and silver vessels. ¥10 additional ticket, but absolutely worth it.
Photography Tips
Best light: Morning (8:30–10am) in spring and autumn. The golden east light illuminates the Hall of Supreme Harmony from the south.
The aerial view: The Jingshan Park (景山公园) hill immediately north of the palace (5-minute walk from north gate) provides the perfect aerial view of the palace’s red rooftop complex. This is the photograph.
Also see: Beijing 3-Day Itinerary | Beijing Hutong Guide | Beijing Xicheng District Guide