Table of Contents
Forbidden City
Watch
- The Last Emperor , Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 epic biography of Pu Yi, based in part on Johnston's book, was the winner of that year's Best Picture Oscar. It was the first Western production allowed to film in the Forbidden City, where most of the first half of the film is set. An excellent introduction to the palace's visual splendor that can only be surpassed by the real thing.
Get in
add listing Meridian Gate
- 39.90734116.391252 Tiananmen Gate
- 39.909116.391183 Duanmen Gate
- 39.92092116.390584 Gate of Divine Might
- 39.9137116.395195 East Glorious Gate
Get around
add listing [Plan of the Forbidden City. Labels in red are used to refer to locations throughout the article.
- – - Approximate dividing line between Inner (north) and Outer (south) Courts.
A. Meridian Gate B. Gate of Divine Might C. West Glorious Gate D. East Glorious Gate E. Corner towers F. Gate of Supreme Harmony G. Hall of Supreme Harmony H. Hall of Military Eminence J. Hall of Literary Glory K. Southern Three Places L. Palace of Heavenly Purity M. Imperial garden N. Hall of Mental Cultivation O. Palace of Tranquil Longevity The Forbidden City is usually described in two sections. The "Outer Court", in the south, was designed to be where the business of governing the empire was carried out, while the "Inner Palace", in the north, was the home of the Emperor and his family. The buildings are arranged along a central axis, and two subsidiary axes in the east and west. The usual way to get around the Forbidden City is on foot. There is a designated accessibility route[dead link]
Operating hours
add listing The Forbidden City is open Tuesday through Sunday all year round, and on national holidays that fall on Mondays, and is open every day during the summer vacation period (July and August). Hours as follows:
- April – October : 08:30 to 17:00. Last entry to museum galleries 16:10. Last tickets are sold at 16:00.
- Summer vacation (mid-July to late August) hours: 08:00 to 17:00. Last entry to museum galleries 16:10. Last tickets are sold at 16:00
- November – March : 08:30 to 16:30. Last entry to museum galleries 15:40. Last tickets are sold at 15:30.
Get here at opening time if you want to walk through the vast and spectacular courtyards in relative peace.
Admission
add listing April – October: ¥60; November – March: ¥40
- For entrance to the Treasures Gallery (including the Stone Drum Gallery) and to the Clocks Gallery, additional ¥10 tickets are required.
- Children under 120 cm in height are free of charge.
- Special ¥20 tickets are available for students enrolled in Chinese primary and secondary schools and universities with valid student ID or certified letter from the school administrator. This applies to foreign students and students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, but excludes post-graduate and adult education students. However, it's worth an under-18 showing their passport and asking for a student ticket, as it can sometimes work.
Passports are required to purchase tickets for foreigners. Electronic-GPS-enabled audio guides are available after the security gates, prices are ¥20 for Chinese audio guides, ¥40 for foreign language audio guides (over 30 languages available). Many non-native English speakers prefer the English version even over those in their language, since it is narrated by Roger Moore, the English actor famous for playing James Bond during the 1970s and '80s. The explains certain temples along the central axis and their uses. The signs posted around and on buildings inside are fairly short and are written in both Chinese and English; some also include Korean, Japanese and Russian text.
Suggested itineraries
add listing [The Hall of Supreme Harmony, the grand throne room - and crowds of tourists The usual route for visitors is to follow the central axis, which starts from Meridian Gate and leads through the largest halls and palaces before reaching the Imperial Garden and exit through the Gate of Divine Might. There are various buildings and museum displays to the left and right of this main axis. Even on a full day's visit it would be difficult to see all of these, so it is best to plan ahead of time which you want to see, and take detours from the main axis to see them. Some suggested itineraries if you are on a tight timetable:
- 2-hour itinerary 1 : Meridian Gate (A) > Gate of Supreme Harmony (F) > (exhibits on square before Hall of Supreme Harmony) > Three main halls of Outer Court (G) > Three main palaces of Inner Palace (L) > Imperial Garden (M) > Gate of Divine Might (B)
- 2-hour itinerary 2 : Meridian Gate (A) > Gate of Supreme Harmony (F) > Three main halls of Outer Court (G) > (exhibits around the three halls) > Three main palaces of Inner Palace (L) > Imperial Garden (M) > Gate of Divine Might (B)
- Half day itinerary 1 : Meridian Gate (A) > Hall of Literary Glory (Porcelain Gallery) (J) > Gate of Supreme Harmony (F) > Three main halls of Outer Court (G) > Hall of Ancestral Offerings (Clocks Gallery) > Three main palaces of Inner Palace (L) > Hall of Mental Cultivation (N) > Western six palaces (western part of Inner Palace) > Imperial Garden (M) > Gate of Divine Might (B)
- Half day itinerary 2 : Meridian Gate (A) > Hall of Military Eminence (Paintings and Calligraphy Gallery) (H) > Gate of Supreme Harmony (F) > Three main halls of Outer Court (G) > Hall of Ancestral Offerings (Clocks Gallery) > Three main palaces of Inner Palace (L) > Eastern six palaces (eastern part of Inner Palace) > Fasting Palace (south-eastern part of Inner Palace) > Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Treasures Gallery, etc) (O) > Gate of Divine Might (B)
A suggested itinerary if you have a full day:
- Meridian Gate (A) > Hall of Military Eminence (Paintings and Calligraphy Gallery) (H) > Hall of Literary Glory (Porcelain Gallery) (J) > Gate of Supreme Harmony (F) > Three main halls of Outer Court (G) > Hall of Ancestral Offerings (Clocks Gallery) > Three main palaces of Inner Palace (L) > Hall of Mental Cultivation (N) > Western six palaces (western part of Inner Palace) > Imperial Garden (M) > Eastern six palaces (eastern part of Inner Palace) > Hall of Ancestral Offerings (Clocks Gallery) > Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Treasures Gallery, etc) (O) > Gate of Divine Might (B)
Only two-fifths of the area of the palace is open but more sections open all the time. Wandering to the right or left can yield some beautiful secluded courtyards and, of course, padlocked dead ends.
See
add listing [One of the Emperor's thrones - this one equipped with a desk, for working meetings with his ministers [A "caisson" roof decoration in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity [Fearsome gilded lions guard the Inner Palace [Inside the Porcelain Gallery [The Inner River of the Golden Water meanders through a secluded part of the palace. [One of the Forbidden City's corner towers
Inside the Forbidden City
- 39.91476116.391461 Outer Court外朝).The imposing set of buildings designed to be the ceremonial centre of the palace. Visitors enter through Meridian Gate (A), the imposing main gate with unique protruding side wings, followed by the Gate of Supreme Harmony (F), where the Emperor sometimes held court. There are then three grand halls set on a multi-tiered marble platform, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony (G), which was the ceremonial throne room used for the grandest of state occasions. To preserve the fine paving stones, it is no longer possible to enter the halls, but you can admire the interiors from the front door.
- 39.91415116.388332 Paintings and Calligraphy Gallery - Hall of Military Eminence武英殿).Somewhat ironically, this set of buildings (H) built to celebrate military valour now houses the Palace Museum's paintings and calligraphy gallery. Works from the Palace Museum's extensive collection are rotated through the gallery and changed every few months. To reach the Hall of Military Eminence, go through the gate on the left after the Meridian Gate but before going through the Gate of Supreme Harmony.
- 39.91428116.393073 Porcelain and Ceramics - Hall of Literary Glory文华殿).This mini-palace (J) was variously used as the Crown Prince's court and an imperial Confucian lecture hall. It now houses the Palace Museum's porcelain and ceramics gallery. The gallery's exhibits trace through the development of Chinese porcelain, and includes items from the large imperial collection held by the Palace Museum. To reach the Hall of Literary Glory, go through the gate on the right after the Meridian Gate but before going through the Gate of Supreme Harmony.Inner Palace内廷).Form the Outer Court, the central section of the Inner Palace is accessed through the Gate of Heavenly Purity. The Inner Palace, like the Outer Court, is centred on three main buildings. The grandest, the Palace of Heavenly Purity (L) was designed to house the Emperor's bed chamber, but later became a throne room where the Emperor held court with his ministers. The Palace of Earthly Tranquillity was designed to be the Empress' bed chamber, but later became a Shamanist shrine. The Emperor and Empress' marital suite, where they spent their wedding night, is in this building. To the west of this main complex, the much smaller Hall of Mental Cultivation (N) was in later years the Emperor's actual bedchamber and office. You can even see where the Empress Dowager Cixi ruled China from behind a curtain for 47 years. The remainder of the Inner Palace is made up of a series of small courtyards, the homes of the Emperor's concubines and household. Look out for the "Crystal Palace", a cast iron and glass building of which sadly only the skeleton remains. The Palace Museum's Bronzeware Gallery is also in the Inner Palace. Other permanent and temporary exhibitions are also housed around the Inner Palace.
- 39.91803116.39465 Treasures Gallery - Palace of Tranquil Longevity宁寿宫).A palace in itself with its own "Outer Court", "Inner Palace" and "Imperial Garden", this complex (O) was designed for the Qianlong Emperor to enjoy his retirement after abdication - but he was too busy giving his son instructions on government to ever use it. Look for the glaze-tiled Nine Dragon Screen in front of the main entrance. These buildings now house the Palace Museum's Treasures Gallery (珍宝馆), which includes works in precious metals and precious or semi-precious stones. A separate admission charge applies. The Stone Drum Gallery , which houses a set of ancient drum-shaped stone carvings, and the Theatre Gallery , housed in a traditional Chinese-style outdoor theatre, are also in this complex. The mini-Imperial Garden, while smaller than the main garden, is more finely decorated with some small but elaborate garden buildings.¥10.Clocks Gallery - Hall of Ancestral Offerings奉先殿).Built as a shrine for making offerings to ancestors, this set of buildings on the eastern side of the Inner Palace now houses the Palace Museum's clocks display, the major portion of which are elaborate European-style mechanical clocks - including a calligraphy-writing automaton! Demonstrations are held at 11:00 and 14:00, where some of the fanciest clocks in the collections are put on show. Separate admission charge applies.¥10.
- 39.91996116.390617 Imperial Garden御花园).The Palace's main garden is among the smallest of Beijing's imperial gardens, but the emperors have managed to pack a lot of pavilions, ponds, trees and ornamental rocks into the space. It would be a nice place to relax after your tour of the Forbidden City, if it weren't packed with thousands of tourists with exactly the same idea. The Imperial Garden leads in the north to the Gate of Divine Might, the north gate and exit of the Forbidden City.
Outside the Forbidden City
- 39.92189116.395958 Wall, moat and corner towersThe Forbidden City's imposing walls and tranquil moat can only be admired from outside the complex. As you leave the Forbidden City, the corner towers (E) are well worth seeing for their elaborate roof structure, modelled on mythical "ideal" pavilions in Chinese art.
- 39.91019116.393619 Imperial Ancestral Temple太庙)walk east from Tiananmen gate).08:00-22:00.This is one of the grandest temple complexes in Beijing, often forgotten by visitors keen to get to or from the nearby Forbidden City. The temple complex is located to the east of the ceremonial way leading from Tiananmen Square to Meridian Gate. This was where the Emperor performed rites to honour his own ancestors. Sadly, much of the interior, including the ancestral tablets, were destroyed by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, and the main building now serves as a museum of musical instruments. The park surrounding the temple is called the Labouring People's Cultural Palace. The main gate is on East Chang'an Avenue, east of Tiananmen Gate, but the park also has side and back gates. The main halls of the temple are in the same style and on a similar scale to the main halls of the Forbidden City but has fewer tourists, so it is a popular destination for photographers, especially wedding photographers.¥15 (park and temple); ¥2 (park only).Altar of Land and Grain社稷坛)walk west from Tiananmen gate).08:00-22:00.Located west of the ceremonial way leading from Tiananmen Square to Meridian Gate in a mirrored position to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Emperor came to this altar to venerate the land of his empire, rather than his family. The park surrounding the temple is called Zhongshan Park. There are fewer grand buildings here, but the gardens and greenhouses are famed for their flowers, which are on show year-round.¥3 (park); ¥5 (inner gardens); seasonal prices apply during flowering season.
- 39.909116.3911811 Upright Gate端门)walk north from Tiananmen gate).The Upright Gate is located between Tiananmen gate and the Meridian Gate, along the ceremonial way. It is nearly identical to Tiananmen gate, and is also open to the public. on Wikidata")updated Sep 2020 | )
Do
- ShoppingSouvenir stores and stalls of varying quality dot the Forbidden City. Many of these are overpriced tourist traps, but if you are interested in Chinese art, it can be a good place to find the Palace Museum's high-quality reproductions of paintings and other artworks from its collection.
- Clocks demonstrationClocks gallery - Hall of Ancestral Offering.11:00, 14:00.Some of the fanciest mechanical clocks from the Imperial collection are wound up and put into action twice a day - watch them reveal their elaborate surprises.¥10 entry to gallery.
Eat
add listing Lai Jin Yu Xuan来今雨轩)inside Zhongshan Park).This 100-year-old restaurant is located within Zhongshan Park, just outside the Forbidden City's walls to the south west. It was a favourite haunt of Beijing's literati in the 20th century, and is today famed for its "Red Mansion" banquet, with dishes taken from the classical Chinese novel Dreams of the Red Chamber. The Lai Jin Yu Xuan tea house is also in the same park, and is a good place to enjoy a cup of tea amidst quiet greenery in the centre of Beijing.
- 39.9111116.38562 Cheng Fu Yan程府宴),38 Nanchangjieoutside west gate of Zhongshan Park).One of Beijing's famed "imperial cuisine" restaurants that also has a private dining room decorated as a replica of Chairman Mao's study, Cheng Fu Yan's odd combination of the imperial and revolutionary reflects its location - just outside the Forbidden City's south wall and faces the leadership compound of Zhongnanhai across the street. The owner's grandfather spent 22 years cooking for Chairman Mao and Madame Mao. The intricate flavour of the elaborate dishes are matched only by the jaw-dropping prices for the de luxe set menus, but à la carte is also available.¥1080-2080 per head set menus.
Drink
- Forbidden City Caferight-hand side, outside Gate of Heavenly Purity).After the controversial Forbidden City branch of Starbucks closed in 2007, the former Duty Room of the Nine Ministers has hosted a very similar café run by the Palace Museum. The prices are high but comparable to Starbucks prices in China, and the selection of drinks and snacks is also similar.¥20-30 coffee.
- Lai Jin Yu Xuan TeahouseInside Zhongshan Park.Associated with Lai Jin Yu Xuan Restaurant (see "Eat" listing above), this is a peaceful tea house within Zhongshan Park set amongst mature cypress trees, in the south west of the Forbidden City precinct outside the Forbidden City walls.
Sleep
add listing There is no accommodation for visitors inside the Forbidden City, but there are numerous options in the surrounding Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts.
Connect
- 39.92216116.39361 Post BoxGate of Supreme Harmony.The former Palace Museum Post Office closed in 2006, but since 2013 there has been a post box at the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Postcards and letters posted here will be postmarked "Palace Museum". Postcards can be purchased from souvenir shops within the Forbidden City.
Go next
If, like many visitors, your odyssey through the Forbidden City takes you from south to north and you leave via the latter gate, you may want to visit one of nearby parks and relax before you head back to where you're spending the night. Admission to Jingshan Park , just across Jingshan Front Street, costs ¥2 and gets you to the top of 45-meter (150-foot) Prospect Hill, the highest point in the ancient city of Beijing, built from the earth removed to create the moats. If you don't mind the climb, retracing the steps of the Chongzhen emperor, who hanged himself at the hilltop to end the Ming Dynasty in 1644, you'll get a lovely view over the palace you just spent the last few hours walking through, and (given clear enough weather and minimal smog) Tiananmen Square beyond and much of the rest of central Beijing. The park will be crowded on major tourist days due to its proximity to the North Gate, however. Up for some more walking after you've refreshed yourself with a drink from one of the trucks outside the North Gate, and you'd rather not climb? Turn left and follow the moat or the street to the main entrance of Beihai Park , 500 m (800 ft) to the west. This much larger park (admission: ¥20) features a large beautiful lake with boats you can rent, restaurants, and the White Pagoda on Qiónghuá Island at the center, which offers a similar view to Jingshan's. It's a little less touristy, and on a nice weekend afternoon you'll find plenty of locals here taking it all in, giving it a similar vibe to Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London. The Mukden Palace in Shenyang is a lot farther away, but if your journey through China takes you into Manchuria you might want to make arrangements to visit it as well. It was added to the Forbidden City's inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2005, as the other major surviving imperial palace in China. Built by the Qing emperors, who hailed from that region, it was modeled on its Beijing original, but features touches of Manchurian and Tibetan architecture as well. In addition to the main museum in Beijing, the Palace Museum also operates a branch in Hong Kong, where numerous artifacts from its collection are on display. If you have enough time on your hands, consider heading to Taipei to visit the National Palace Museum, where many of the Emperor's treasures originally housed in the Forbidden City are on display. Flights from Beijing to Taipei take around 3 hours. This district travel guide to Forbidden City****usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page. --- Hidden categories:
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