Forbidden City - Most Magnificent Imperial Palace in the World

The quadrate Forbidden City is a sprawling complex, and stretches 961m from south to north and 753m from west to east, covering an area of 112 hectares, with nearly 10,000 rooms, which all were wooden structures decorated with yellow-glazed tile roofs and bluish-white marble bases. Enclosed by a four-story high city wall, which is surrounded by a 52m moat, the strongly fortified castle has one gate in each direction, and each corner of the quadrate is equipped with a delicate Corner Tower (角楼). To emphasize the supremacy of the emperor, according to the ancient imperial capital’s construction principle, ceremonial halls for emperors to handle state affairs (outer court), imperial living quarters (inner court), and imperial garden are aligned from south to north along the central axis of Forbidden City (the same axis of Beijing city, which was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2024). Besides the central line spots, the rest of other buildings are located on both sides of the axis.

The outer court occupies a vast area in the southern part of the Forbidden City, where was places of the emperors held important ceremonies and exercise their power. The palaces here are magnificent and solemn, with the Meridian Gate, the Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和门) and the three major halls - Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿) and Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿) as the central axis, the Belvedere of Embodying Benevolence (体仁阁) and the Pavilion of Spreading Righteousness (弘义阁) are auxiliary on both sides, the Hall of Literary Brilliance (文华殿) and the Hall of Martial Valour (武英殿) at the east and west respectively.

Gate of Supreme Harmony is the gateway to the outer court of the Forbidden City, where was the place of the emperor held morning court sessions. It is located on the white marble base, with two largest bronze lions in the Forbidden City.

Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest and most spectacular architecture in the Forbidden City, and is commonly referred to as the Hall of Golden Chimes (金銮殿), where once used for the new emperor’s accession and other grand ceremonies, like the emperor’s birthday and wedding ceremonies.

Hall of Central Harmony was the transitional palace for the emperor to rest and rehearse etiquettes for the ceremonial events held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Hall of Preserving Harmony once used for state banquets on New Year’s Eve and Lantern Festival, and for palace exams to select the top 3 of the imperial exam.

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The inner court in the northern part of the Forbidden City, was once the imperial living quarters and the work place for the emperors. Here the emperor and the empress's living palaces - Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫) and Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫) are the center, and the east and west are distributed the Six Eastern Palaces (东六宫) and Six Western Palaces (西六宫) where the emperor's concubines live, as well as the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (宁寿宫) and Palace of Compassion and Tranquility (慈宁宫) where the living palaces for the emperor’s father and the former emperor’s concubines.

Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门) is the gateway to the inner court of the Forbidden City, where the officials waited for the military and administrative decisions from the emperor.

Palace of Heavenly Purity is the main hall where the emperor handle state affairs and resides. Total 14 Ming and Qing emperors had lived here. After the Yongzheng Emperor (雍正皇帝) of the Qing dynasty, the emperor's living palace was moved to the Hall of Mental Cultivation (养心殿), which became one of the important palaces for holding important ceremonies.

Hall of Union (交泰殿) located between Palace of Heavenly Purity and Palace of Earthly Tranquility, was the coronation room of the empress in Qing dynasty.

Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the living palace of the empress in the Ming dynasty. In the Qing dynasty, it was mainly used as the wedding room for the emperor and empress and also the palace for Buddha worship.

Imperial Garden (御花园) is located at the north of the inner court. Slight small than 2 football fields, the garden was the pleasure ground for the emperor and his harem. Verdant pines, cypresses, and bamboo were dotted with artificial hills and rocks, forming an evergreen landscape architecture in Forbidden City.

Nine-dragon Screen (九龙壁) is located in the northeastern part of the palace and stands in the big courtyard outside the Gate of Imeprial Supremacy (皇极门), the porcelain screen was built in 1772, 3.5 metres high and 29.4 metres wide, which is a masterpiece of art and symbolism. This stunning piece of imperial art is a testament to the imperial grandeur that once reigned supreme.

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Forbidden City Gallery

The Gallery of Clocks (钟表馆) is located in south of the Hall for Ancestral Worship (奉先殿). The clocks displayed here, mainly crafted by European masters during the 18th and 19th centuries, are not just timekeeping devices but also work of art. They showcase the advanced European clock-making techniques of that era and the Chinese royal family's high regard for foreign craftsmanship. These clocks often combine precise mechanical structures with ornate decorative artistry. Some even feature complex functions like music boxes and automata, representing a perfect blend of technology and art.

The Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) is located in the area of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (宁寿宫). It vividly reflects the luxury and artistic taste of ancient Chinese royalty. The exhibits include gold and silverware, exquisitely carved jade, sparkling jewels, and delicate embroidery, all epitomizing the essence of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. This gallery is a rare find for foreign visitors interested in different cultures and art history. The collection not only displays the artisans' superb skills but also reflects the lifestyle and aesthetic preferences of the ancient Chinese imperial court.

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After the Forbidden City was renamed as the Palace Museum, the main function of it today is to serve as an open museum to showcase the lifestyle and artistic achievements of the ancient Chinese royal family to the public. The total number of collections in Palace Museum is about 1.86 million pieces, covering 25 categories, including paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, gold and silverware, jade, ceramics, furniture and other categories, of which precious treasures account for 90% of the total collection, that is, there are more than 8,000 first-class collections. Among them, Silk Tapestry of the Assembly of Immortals at Jasper Lake (缂丝瑶池集庆图轴), Gilded Silver Armillary Sphere (银镀金浑仪), Blue-and-white Celestial-sphere Vase with Underglaze-red Dragon-among-clouds Design and Qianlong Reign Mark (乾隆款青花釉里红云龙纹天球瓶), Golden Bell Chimes (金编钟-林钟), Carved Red Lacquer Box with Dragons Frolicking in the Sea Design (乾隆款剔红云龙纹圆盒) and so on are all precious cultural relics worth a visit.

☛ What Treasures Are Collected in the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) >>

Forbidden City Exhibition

In the Forbidden City, not only you can admire the permanent exhibitions of art collections such as clocks, treasures, calligraphy, paintings, ceramics, sculptures, etc., but also regularly hosts the temporary special exhibitions every year, which from showcasing specific collections to celebrating historical events. If you are interested in the history and culture of ancient China, you can visit the exhibition of The Qing Imperial Birthday Celebrations (天子万年——清代万寿庆典展), which located at the west corridor rooms to the south of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The imperial birthday was one of the most significant festivals in traditional China and the whole country participated. The exhibition consists of the grand celebratory spectacles for three Qing emperors and two empress dowagers, including the Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇帝 r. 1662-1722), the Qianlong Emperor (乾隆皇帝 r. 1736-1795) and the Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后 1835-1908).

Forbidden City is so large that you can spend all day wandering around the palace. However, most people have limited time to savor the beauty of it, hence, it is very important to choose a classic as well as a time-saving visiting route. Visiting along the central axis of Forbidden City is the best route which will only take about 2 ~ 3 hours. This route starts from Meridian Gate, then visit the outer court and inner court. Besides feasting on the splendid palatial architecture, you will also have the opportunity for one or two galleries or exhibitions if you are a fast walker, then the Imperial Garden in turn, and exit from the Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门). When you finish the tour in the Forbidden City and get out through the Gate of Divine Prowess, you can go to Jingshan Park (景山公园) to appreciate the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and other sites along the Central Axis of Beijing if you have extra time. There is only one road between Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.

Recommended Central Axis visiting route: Meridian Gate - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Hall of Preserving Harmony - Gate of Heavenly Purity - Palace of Heavenly Purity - Hall of Union - Palace of Earthly Tranquility - The Gallery of Clocks - The Treasure Gallery - Imperial Garden - Gate of Divine Prowess - Jingshan Park

☛ How to Visit the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) >>

Forbidden City is rightly located on the central axis of Beijing and at the center of Beijing city, and very close to Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) and Jingshan Park. You can easily go to the Forbidden City and transfer to other attractions in Beijing downtown by public transportation. If you get there by subway, you could take the metro line 1 to get off at Tiananmen East (天安门东) Station, then take Exit C and walk about 900m for 10 minutes, and enter the Forbidden City from the Meridian Gate.

• about 10 m (about 5 minutes on foot) from Jingshan Park
• about 1 km (about 10 minutes on foot) from Tiananmen Square
• about 4 km (about 10 minutes by car) from Temple of Heaven
• about 5 km (about 15 minutes by car) from Lama Temple
• about 15 km (about 25 minutes by car) from 798 Art District
• about 15 km (about 30 minutes by car) from Beijing Olympic Park
• about 20 km (about 40 minutes by car) from Summer Palace
• about 70 km (about 1.5 hours by car) from Mutianyu Great Wall

☛ How to Get to Forbidden City | Transportation Guide >>

☛ How to Transfer from Beijing Capital and Daxing Airports to Forbidden City >>

Although the Forbidden City is located in the center of the Beijing city, you may encounter troublesome traffic jam or language barriers along your way to the Forbidden City. If you want to get rid of the hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a Forbidden City tour package that covers sightseeing, dining, lodging, and transfer from us. As part of our valuable Beijing tour packages, our skilled driver and experienced guide will pick you up wherever you are in Beijing including the airport, train stations, and busy scenic areas, etc. It's time-saving and much more safe and you will be escorted all the way to the Forbidden City with comfortable travelling experience and professional travelling guidance. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us >>