How to Visit the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is now one of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden-structure architectural complexes in the world! It's right at the heart of Beijing's central axis and served as the imperial palace where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived. Many tourists visiting Beijing consider a trip to the Forbidden City a must-do, given its enormous fame.
So, no matter when you go, it's always packed with people. Plus, the Forbidden City is so vast that you can't possibly explore every nook and cranny-it's just impossible. So, how should you tour the Forbidden City? Let me give you some simple tips.
Open Hours and Ticket Prices of the Palace Museum
The Forbidden City is closed every Monday, and ticket reservations can be made as early as 8:00 PM, seven days before the intended visit day. Separate tickets are required for the Clock and Treasure Gallery, priced at CNY10 each.
The Forbidden City follows a one-way visiting route from south to north. You can only enter through the Meridian Gate and must exit through the Gate of Divine Prowess or the East Flowery Gate upon completing your visit.
| Entry Time | Last Entry Time | Closing Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak Season: April 1 to October 31 | |||
| 8:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 | CNY60 |
| Low Season: November 1 to March 31 | |||
| 8:30 | 15:30 | 16:30 | CNY40 |
How to Buy the Forbidden City Ticket
Method 1: You can visit the official ticket-selling website of the Palace Museum to buy tickets.
Method 2: You can also choose to book a Beijing trip with China Travel. We will do our best to assist you in securing tickets to the Palace Museum. On the day of your visit, a professional local guide in Beijing will accompany you on a tour of the Palace Museum, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of its history and the stories behind it.
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Highlights in the Forbidden City
In the Forbidden City, you can not only experience the beauty of oriental symmetry but also enjoy various treasure exhibitions. If you still have energy after coming out of the Shenwumen Gate, you might as well climb up to Jingshan Park to take in the panoramic view of the Forbidden City.
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.
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.
Best Route to Visit the Forbidden City
There's a saying that goes like this: "The Forbidden City (when referred to in the context of modern tourism, often synonymous with the open areas for visitors) shows an open stance, while the Forbidden City seems locked away by the passage of time."
When you step into the Forbidden City, the palaces you can visit have all been meticulously restored. Meanwhile, it's the areas that are closed to the public and off-limits to visitors that retain the most authentic appearance of the Forbidden City. Next, I'll plan several routes for you to deeply explore the Forbidden City based on different durations of your visit.
Route 1: 2-Hour Sightseeing
Route: Meridian Gate - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Preserving Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Gate of Heavenly Purity - Palace of Heavenly Purity - Hall of Union and Peace - Palace of Earthly Tranquility - Imperial Garden - Gate of Divine Might
Start your journey through the Forbidden City from the Meridian Gate. After passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you'll arrive at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where grand ceremonies were held. Then, visit the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony one after another.
Go through the Gate of Heavenly Purity to enter the Inner Court. There, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Union and Peace, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility will appear before you in order. These were the living quarters of the emperor and empress.
Next, take a stroll in the Imperial Garden. Enjoy the pavilions, terraces, towers, as well as the rare flowers and exotic plants.
Finally, exit the Forbidden City through the Gate of Divine Might. Along this route, you can appreciate the grandeur and solemnity of the buildings along the central axis of the Forbidden City and feel the majesty and grandeur of the royal palace.
Route 2: Half-Day Sightseeing
Route: Meridian Gate - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Hall of Preserving Harmony - Hall of Ancestral Worship - Palace of Heavenly Purity - Hall of Union and Peace - Palace of Earthly Tranquility - Hall of Mental Cultivation - Western Six Palaces Area - Imperial Garden - Gate of Divine Might
Enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, pass by the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and take a look at the three grand halls: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Then, head to the Hall of Ancestral Worship, which used to be a place for the imperial family to hold sacrificial ceremonies.
Next, make your way to the Inner Court and visit the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Union and Peace, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to experience the unique features of these three rear palaces. After that, go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see where the emperor carried out his daily routines.
Later, take a stroll around the Western Six Palaces to get a sense of the living atmosphere of the imperial concubines. Finally, wander around the Imperial Garden and exit through the Gate of Divine Might. By following this route, you can fully appreciate the architectural beauty and cultural heritage of the Forbidden City.
Route 3: One-Day Sightseeing
Route: Meridian Gate - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Hall of Preserving Harmony - Palace of Heavenly Purity - Hall of Union and Peace - Palace of Earthly Tranquility - Hall of Mental Cultivation - Western Six Palaces Area - Imperial Garden - Eastern Six Palaces Area - Hall of Ancestral Worship - Palace of Tranquil Longevity - Gate of Divine Might
Enter the palace through the Meridian Gate, and pass through the Gate of Supreme Harmony to visit the Three Great Halls. Then, proceed into the Inner Court and tour the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility in order.
After that, head to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to explore where the emperor handled government affairs and lived. Next, stroll through the Western Six Palaces area, the Imperial Garden, and the Eastern Six Palaces area to get a feel for the layout and living atmosphere of the imperial concubines' quarters.
Later, visit the Hall of Ancestral Worship. Finally, leave the palace through the Gate of Divine Might after passing by the Palace of Tranquil Longevity. By following this route, you can learn about various aspects of ancient imperial life, such as politics, daily living, and sacrificial rituals.
How to Get to the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is located in the Dongcheng District, Beijing, right north of Tiananmen Square. If you want to visit the Forbidden City, you need to take transportation to Tiananmen first. Then, walk northward from Tiananmen.
After passing through it, you'll reach the Meridian Gate. This walk takes about 10 minutes, and only pedestrians are allowed and vehicles are not permitted on this route.
- By Subway: Take Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen West Station or Tiananmen East Station.
- By Bus: Take Bus 1, 2, 5, 52, 82, 120, Sightseeing Bus Line 1, or Sightseeing Bus Line 2, and get off at Tiananmen West Station or Tiananmen East Station.
From Daxing Airport to the Palace Museum
- By Subway: Take the Daxing Airport Line at the airport and get off at Caoqiao Station. Then transfer to Line 10 and get off at Gongzhufen Station. Finally, transfer to Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen East Station. Exit from Exit B. The journey takes 90 minutes and costs CNY40.
- By Car: It takes 70 minutes and costs CNY160.
From Capital Airport to the Palace Museum
- By Subway: Take the Capital Airport Line at the airport and get off at Dongzhimen Station. Then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Jianguomen Station. Finally, transfer to Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen East Station. Exit from Exit B. The journey takes 80 minutes and costs CNY30.
- By Car: It takes 60 minutes and costs CNY90.
From Beijing South Railway Station to the Palace Museum
- By Subway: Take Line 4 at the railway station to Xidan Station, then transfer to Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen East Station. Exit from Exit B. The journey takes 50 minutes and costs CNY4.
- By Car: It takes 50 minutes and costs CNY30.
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Best Time to 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 fewest 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.
Related Reading: Beijing Weather
How to Avoid the Crowds in the Palace
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 Museum
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 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.
Beijing Forbidden City Tour
Since the Forbidden City limits the number of daily visitors, tickets are often in short supply and hard to get. I suggest you book your trip with China Travel. We will do our utmost to help you secure tickets.
In addition to visiting the Forbidden City, you have to pass through Tiananmen first. Individual visitors need to spend a long time queuing up for security checks there. However, tourists who join a travel agency can enter Tiananmen through a special channel, which can save them a lot of time.