Forbidden City 故宫Gùgōng

Why go to Forbidden City

Home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors, the Forbidden City is the world's largest surviving ensemble of historic wooden palace buildings, a procession of gates, marble terraces and golden-roofed halls laid along Beijing's north–south axis. The great ceremonial halls are only the beginning: the quieter side courts, the Treasure Gallery and the Hall of Clocks reward anyone who strays off the central line.

The story

Completed in 1420, the palace stayed closed to ordinary people for about five centuries. Look up at the little guardian beasts lined along the roof ridges: their number signals a building's rank, and in imperial times only the Hall of Supreme Harmony was allowed ten.

What to see at Forbidden City

• Meridian Gate 午门: The palace's main southern entrance, a U-shaped gate tower with projecting wings, where you pass from the city into the Outer Court.
• Hall of Supreme Harmony 太和殿: The first and grandest of the three great halls, raised on a triple marble terrace and used for the biggest state ceremonies; the crowd at its door is the price of the best-known view in the palace.
• Hall of Clocks 钟表馆: In the Hall of Ancestral Worship on the east side, a collection of more than a thousand mechanical clocks made in the palace workshops and imported from Britain and elsewhere.
• Treasure Gallery 珍宝馆: In the Ningshou Palace area at the north-east, a showcase of imperial jade, gold and jewelled objects.
• Palace of Heavenly Purity 乾清宫: The first and largest of the three Rear Palaces, home of the Inner Court where the Ming and Qing emperors lived and worked.
• Imperial Garden 御花园: A compact formal garden at the palace's northern end, with old cypresses, rockeries and pavilions, just before the Gate of Divine Prowess.

How to visit Forbidden City

Enter by the Meridian Gate and follow the one-way route from south to north, leaving by the Gate of Divine Prowess on the north side. The central line of the three great halls and the Rear Palaces takes about three to four hours; the Hall of Clocks and Treasure Gallery are entered separately, so decide whether you want them when you book. With only half a day, keep to the central axis and the Imperial Garden; with a full day, add the side courts and the east-side galleries.

How to get to Forbidden City

Take Metro Line 1 to Tian'anmen East or West and walk north through Tian'anmen; you enter by the Meridian Gate on the south side and leave by the north gate.

Where to stay

Base yourself in the Dongcheng hutongs around Wangfujing, Nanluoguxiang or Qianmen, all within walking distance of the palace and with Metro Line 1 close by.

What to eat

• Beijing roast duck 北京烤鸭: Crisp-skinned duck carved at the table and rolled in thin pancakes with sweet bean sauce, found in restaurants around Qianmen and Wangfujing.
• Pea-flour cake 豌豆黄: A smooth, pale-yellow sweet of pressed pea flour, traditionally served in the imperial kitchens and still sold in old-style Beijing pastry shops.

Tips for visiting Forbidden City

• Book timed tickets online several days ahead with your passport: none are sold at the gate, daily numbers are capped, and you show the same passport at entry.
• The palace is closed on Mondays except public holidays, so plan your Beijing days around it.
• After exiting, cross to Jingshan Park and climb its hill for the classic view over the golden roofs.

Nearby

• Beihai Park 北海公园 under 10 km
  A former imperial lake garden crowned by a white Tibetan-style stupa on its island
• Tiananmen Square 天安门广场 under 10 km
  A vast ceremonial square below Tian'anmen gate, where the national flag is raised at dawn
• National Museum of China 中国国家博物馆 under 10 km
  Ancient bronzes, jades and porcelain in a vast museum beside Tian'anmen Square
• Prince Gong's Mansion 恭王府 under 10 km
  A Qing courtyard mansion and rock garden, home first to a corrupt minister, then a prince
• Qianmen Street and Dashilar 前门大街·大栅栏 under 10 km
  A pedestrian avenue below Qianmen gate and a lane of shops trading since Qing times
• Shichahai 什刹海 under 10 km
  Three linked lakes ringed by hutongs and lakeside bars, with open-air skating in winter

Also within 30 km: Zhongshan Park 中山公园 (under 10 km), Imperial Ancestral Temple 太庙 (under 10 km), Pudu Temple 普度寺 (under 10 km), Dagaoxuan Hall 大高玄殿 (under 10 km), Jingshan Park 景山公园 (under 10 km), Imperial Historical Archives (Huangshicheng) 皇史宬 (under 10 km).

Trips with Forbidden City

• China in 10 days on a first visit: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Suzhou 10 days · Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Suzhou
• Two weeks in China: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai 14 days · Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Leshan, Guilin and Shanghai
• North China’s heritage line: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an 9 days · Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi'an

On the map

Open Forbidden City on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Wikipedia (Chinese)