The world's largest and most complete wooden palace complex, home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, housing over 1.86 million artifacts.
The Palace Museum, formerly known as the Forbidden City, was first built in 1406 during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty and completed in 1420. It served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912). Covering approximately 720,000 square meters with about 150,000 square meters of building area, it contains over 70 palaces and more than 9,000 rooms, making it the world's largest and best-preserved ancient wooden palace complex.
The Palace Museum was established on October 10, 1925, opening the Forbidden City to the public. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it now houses over 1.86 million artifacts spanning painting, calligraphy, ceramics, bronzes, jade, clocks, and treasures — a veritable treasury of Chinese civilization. Annual events such as the "Palace Museum Run" and "Lantern Festival Night at the Forbidden City" continue to breathe new cultural vitality into this ancient palace.
The palace layout strictly follows ancient Chinese feng shui principles and ritual conventions, organized along a north-south central axis with the outer court in front and inner chambers behind. The Three Great Halls — Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony — stand majestically on the central axis, symbolizing the supreme authority of imperial power. The glazed golden tiles on palace roofs shimmer in sunlight against vermilion walls, creating the world-famous "red walls and yellow tiles" landscape.
The largest and highest-ranking building in the Forbidden City — 11 bays wide, 5 deep, 2,377 sqm, 35m high. The golden dragon throne sits inside; three marble terraces and a vast courtyard stand before it. Used for coronations, empress investitures, and imperial edicts. The "Hall of Supreme Harmony" plaque was inscribed by Emperor Kangxi, and the coiling dragon ceiling is breathtaking. The emperor performed Heaven Worship ceremonies here on the Winter Solstice.
The Palace of Heavenly Purity is the first of the three rear palaces in the Inner Court, serving as the emperor's bedroom and daily administrative hall from the Ming Dynasty through the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The "Justice and Honor" plaque at the center was the Qing emperors' ancestral motto; behind it once hid the secret succession edict, bearing great political significance. A sundial and standard measure on the terrace symbolize imperial fairness. Behind it, the Hall of Union hosted imperial couple ceremonies, while the Palace of Earthly Tranquility served as the empress's quarters.
Located at the northernmost end of the Forbidden City, the Imperial Garden covers approximately 12,000 square meters. Built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, it served as a royal retreat for emperors. The garden features ancient trees, ornamental rocks, and over 20 structures including the Hall of Imperial Peace, Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs, Pavilion of a Thousand Autumns, and Crimson Snow Studio. The intertwined cypress trees, centuries old, have become a symbol of love. The garden blends northern imperial grandeur with southern elegance, blooming in every season — an essential stop on any Forbidden City tour.
Located in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity area, the Treasure Gallery is one of the most unmissable exhibitions in the Forbidden City. It showcases precious Qing Dynasty court collections including the Gold Cup of Eternal Stability, the Jade Mountain of Yu the Great, and the Tianhuang stone triple seal. The Qianlong Garden within this area is the most exquisite imperial garden in the palace, with pavilions and towers arranged with refined taste reflecting Emperor Qianlong's aesthetic. The Treasure Gallery requires a separate ticket (¥10), but is absolutely worth it.
The corner towers at the four corners of the Forbidden City are among its most iconic landmarks, especially the northwest and northeast towers, which appear spectacular reflected in the moat. With triple-eaved hip-and-gable roofs and cruciform ridges, the towers are masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture. The best time for photography is early morning or dusk, when golden light bathes the towers and creates stunning reflections on the water — a must-visit spot for photographers and influencers. The moat-side walkway is open all day and requires no admission.
Enter via Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony Square → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserving Harmony → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Imperial Garden → Exit via Gate of Divine Prowess. Follow the central axis northward for a quick overview of the most essential palace architecture — ideal for first-time visitors or those short on time.
Enter via Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony Square → Three Great Halls → Hall of Literary Glory (Ceramics Gallery) → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Imperial Garden → West Six Palaces (Palace of Gathered Elegance, Palace of Earthly Honor, etc.) → Palace of Compassion and Tranquility (Sculpture Gallery) → Exit via Gate of Divine Prowess. Covers both the outer court and inner chambers plus special exhibition halls for a comprehensive experience.
Enter via Meridian Gate → Hall of Martial Valor (Calligraphy & Painting Gallery) → Three Great Halls → Hall of Literary Glory → Treasure Gallery (Palace of Tranquil Longevity area) → Clock Gallery (Hall of Ancestral Worship) → Palace of Heavenly Purity → East & West Six Palaces → Imperial Garden → Exit via Gate of Divine Prowess → Jingshan Park Pavilion for Forbidden City panorama. Ideal for history enthusiasts — audio guide or professional docent recommended.
Professional Guided Tours: The Forbidden City offers multiple interpretation options: human guides (Chinese/English), electronic audio guides, and mobile app self-guided tours. Human guides come in 2-hour and 4-hour options priced at ¥100 and ¥200 respectively (groups of up to 5). Audio guide rental is ¥40 per unit — the best way to deeply understand the palace's history and stories.
Palace Museum Creative Shopping: The Palace Museum's cultural creative products are renowned nationwide, from imperial-style desserts at the Ice Cellar Restaurant to exquisite art books from the Palace Museum Press — each item carries deep cultural heritage. The Palace Museum Taobao store and physical shops offer bestsellers like the "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" series and the "Palace Cats" collection — unique travel souvenirs.
Hanfu Palace Photography: Visiting the Forbidden City in traditional Hanfu clothing has become a fashion trend. The red walls and golden tiles perfectly complement the flowing elegance of Hanfu, especially at the Hall of Supreme Harmony square, Corner Towers, and Imperial Garden. Multiple Hanfu rental shops near the palace offer one-stop services including costume, makeup, and photography.
Seasonal Highlights: Spring brings snow-white pear blossoms and blooming magnolias; summer features lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden; autumn paints the ginkgo trees golden against red walls; winter blankets the Forbidden City in snow, as if transporting you back in time. The annual "Chinese New Year at the Forbidden City" exhibition runs around the Spring Festival, while the "Lantern Festival Night" light show draws massive crowds.
Palace Dining & Coffee: The Forbidden City features the Ice Cellar Restaurant (converted from Qing Dynasty ice storage) and the Corner Towers Coffee among other unique dining options. Corner Towers Coffee offers palace-themed creative drinks like "Emperor Kangxi's Favorite Chocolate" — enjoying modern coffee within centuries-old architecture is a truly unique cultural experience.
Dining: Multiple restaurants outside the Gate of Divine Prowess; courtyard restaurants on Jingshan Front Street serve authentic Beijing cuisine. A 15-minute walk reaches Nanluoguxiang and Drum Tower area with diverse snacks and creative dining. Wangfujing Food Street is ~1.5 km away with heritage brands like Quanjude and Donglaishun.
Hotels: Options near the palace include the Beijing Hotel (5-star), Jingshan Guesthouse, and courtyard homestays in the Nanluoguxiang area. Staying nearby lets you walk to the opening ceremony and avoid tour group peak hours.
Shopping: The palace has its own creative shops, bookstores, and souvenir stores. Outside the Gate of Divine Prowess, Jingshan Front Street has specialty shops. Nanluoguxiang (20-min walk) has creative boutiques and handicraft stores; Wangfujing Street (one subway stop) has Beijing Department Store and more.
Nearby Attractions: Jingshan Park (across from the north gate), Beihai Park (15-min walk), Nanluoguxiang (20-min walk), Shichahai (25-min walk), Prince Gong's Mansion (30-min walk), Tiananmen Square (outside Meridian Gate), and the Working People's Cultural Palace (Imperial Ancestral Temple).
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