The Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿) and its marble forecourt. Attribution pending — source to be confirmed.
The Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
If you do one thing in Beijing, do this. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties — nearly 1,000 buildings behind 10-metre walls, right in the middle of the city. It's also the one sight you must book tickets for in advance, so read this before you go.
What the Forbidden City actually is
Built between 1406 and 1420, the Forbidden City served as the home of 24 emperors and the ceremonial and political heart of China for almost 500 years. It's the world's largest surviving wooden palace complex — over 980 buildings across 72 hectares (720,000 m²) — now the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. You don't visit it like a museum; you walk through the actual seat of imperial power.
Before you go — the part that trips people up
- Book ahead — no on-site tickets. Since 2017 the Forbidden City has sold tickets online only. Book through the official WeChat mini-program "故宫博物院" (Palace Museum) or its website, up to 7 days ahead — tickets release at 20:00 Beijing time and sell out on holidays. Foreign visitors who don't use Chinese apps can book via Trip.com or ask a hotel concierge. Daily cap is 80,000, so don't count on a same-day slot.
- Real-name + passport. Your passport number is tied to the ticket. Bring the same passport on the day — they scan it at the gate. No passport, no entry.
- Closed on Mondays. The palace is shut every Monday (except national holidays and parts of July–August). Plan around it — a Monday in Beijing is a Forbidden City-free day.
- Opening hours. April–October 08:30–17:00 (last entry 16:00); November–March 08:30–16:30 (last entry 15:30). Arrive early — it's huge and the light is best in the morning.
- Prices. Peak season (Apr 1–Oct 31) ¥60, off season (Nov 1–Mar 31) ¥40. The Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) and Clock Gallery (钟表馆) are each ¥10 extra and worth it. Children under 1.2 m enter free.
- Get connected first. You need mobile data before you arrive — Google Maps and most Western apps don't work in China. See "Prepare before you leave" below.
How to get there
The Forbidden City sits between Tiananmen Square (south) and Jingshan Park (north), in central Beijing.
- Metro. Line 1 to Tiananmen East (天安门东) or Tiananmen West (天安门西). From Tiananmen East, Exit B, walk north through Tiananmen Gate (security check — bring your passport) to the Meridian Gate.
- By car / taxi. Ask to be dropped near the Zhongshan Park (中山公园) or Working People's Cultural Palace (劳动人民文化宫) side entrances to skip the Tiananmen Square security queue, then walk to the Meridian Gate.
- Entry gate — Meridian Gate (午门). Everyone enters through the Meridian Gate on the south side. You cannot enter from Tiananmen Gate itself or from the north.
Inside — the route that works
You enter at the Meridian Gate (午门) and walk north, exiting at the Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门) on the north side. The classic one-way loop:
- Meridian Gate (午门) → cross the Inner Golden Water Bridge.
- Outer Court (外朝) — the three great ceremonial halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿, the throne hall), Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿), Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿). This is the "wow" stretch.
- Inner Court (内廷) — the emperor's living quarters: Gate of Heavenly Purity, Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫), Hall of Union (交泰殿), Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫).
- Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) and Clock Gallery (钟表馆) — turn east into these side courtyards for the rooms full of imperial gold, jade and mechanical clocks. Each is a separate ¥10 ticket; do them if you have time.
- Imperial Garden (御花园) — a compact formal garden near the north end.
- Exit north at the Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门) — straight out into Jingshan Park for the classic rooftop-overview photo.
Tickets & prices
Buy online before you go. The official channel is the "故宫博物院" WeChat mini-program or website; Trip.com works if you can't read Chinese. Bring your passport — the gate scans it against your booking.
| Ticket | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Admission (peak, Apr–Oct) | ¥60 | Palace entry, book online |
| Admission (off-peak, Nov–Mar) | ¥40 | Palace entry, book online |
| Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) | ¥10 | East-side courtyards, imperial gold & jade |
| Clock Gallery (钟表馆) | ¥10 | Mechanical clock collection |
| Audio guide | ¥20 | Or use the free official app |
Inside the palace — what foreign visitors should know
- Language. Major halls have English captions, but most signage is Chinese. Rent the audio guide (¥20) or use the official Palace Museum app — the stories make the rooms matter.
- Internet / Great Firewall. Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail don't work without a workaround. Use Amap (Gaode) or Baidu Maps for navigation. Set up data before you land.
- Payment. Your ticket is already prepaid online; inside, souvenir stalls and cafés take Alipay / WeChat Pay, and some take cards. Cash is hit-or-miss. Set up international Alipay before the trip — see our Alipay & WeChat Pay guide.
- Toilets. Western toilets exist but squat toilets are common, and paper isn't always provided. Carry your own tissue.
- Photos & drones. Hand-held photos are fine in the courtyards (no flash, no tripods in some halls). Drones are banned — it's a no-fly heritage zone.
- Crowds. It's one of the most visited sites on earth. Go on a weekday, arrive at opening, and drift into the inner courtyards where it thins out.
- Guides. Licensed English-speaking guides cluster near the entrance (agree a price first, roughly ¥300–500 for a tour); or use the audio guide. Ignore "guides" who approach you outside the gates.
- Health & safety. You'll walk several km on stone under open sky — comfy shoes, water, and sun protection in summer. Shade is limited in the big courtyards.
- Etiquette. Don't touch the painted walls or climb on relics; stay behind barriers in the halls. It's a former imperial seat — quiet and respectful reads well.
Exit north through the Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门) straight into Jingshan Park — don't backtrack south to find it. And buy the separate Treasure Gallery ticket; the rooms of imperial gold and jade are what most first-timers skip and later wish they'd seen.
Watch out for — scams & complaints
- Touts near the gates. People offering "cheap Forbidden City tickets" or "emperor tours" outside are not official. Only use the official booking channels. Unlicensed guides also hover near the entrance — a licensed guide shows a badge.
- Tax refund. Not handled inside the palace. China's departure tax refund applies to eligible goods from participating shops and is claimed when you leave the country.
- Complaints. For any problem, call 12345 (the government service hotline) or use the on-site complaint desk.
Prepare before you leave
- Book your ticket 7 days ahead — set a reminder for 20:00 Beijing time on the release day.
- Data first. Buy an eSIM or enable roaming before you fly, so you have data the moment you land — see our eSIM & internet guide.
- Maps & payment. Install Amap / Baidu Maps and register international Alipay — see our payment guide.
- Check the Monday closure and the season's hours before you go.
When to go
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) have the best weather and light. Avoid National Day (Oct 1–7) and Spring Festival, when it's at capacity. A weekday morning in shoulder season is calmest.
Foreigners' top worries, answered:
Tickets: book online 7 days ahead — no on-site sales.
Payment: Alipay / WeChat Pay — set them up before the trip.
Crowds: weekday morning, head to the inner courtyards.
Scams: only use official booking; ignore gate touts.
Monday closure: it's shut every Monday — plan around it.