How to Visit the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Beijing 2024/2025

Classic Central Axis of Forbidden City - About 2 Hours

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’s 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 hours.

This route starts from Meridian Gate. After entering the Meridian Gate, visit the outer court, inner court, and Imperial Garden in turn, and exit from the Gate of Divine Prowess at last.

Meridian Gate (午门), the front door (southern door) and the entrance of Forbidden City, will be reached through the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian’anmen 天安门, lying north of Tian’anmen Square). This is the best place to show the majesty of the empire, where the monarch would issue imperial edicts and the next year’s calendar, and pardon the prisoner of war. It’s also the punishment place for court officials. Passing through the Meridian Gate, across the Inner Jinshui River, you will reach the gate of the outer court - Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和门).

Outer Court was places where the emperors held important ceremonies and exercise their power. There are three main halls in the outer court. The first one is the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), the largest and most spectacular architecture in the Forbidden City and once used for the new emperor’s accession and other grand ceremonies, like the emperor’s birthday and wedding ceremonies. Next is the Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿), the transitional palace for the emperor to rest and rehearse etiquettes for the ceremonial events held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The last one is the Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿), 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. Don’t miss the 16.57m pavement behind the hall, which was made of a chunk of 200 tons white marble, and carved with dragons, seawater, and clouds.

Step down from the white marble base at the rear of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, a wide courtyard separates the outer court from the inner court.

Inner Court was once the imperial living quarters and the work place for the emperors. The door of the inner court is the Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门), where the officials waited for the military and administrative decisions from the emperor. Through the gate, the Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫) will reveal its true face to you. Total 14 Ming and Qing Emperors had lived here and handled state affairs. Keep walking north and you will arrive at the Hall of Union (交泰殿), famous as the Empress coronation room in Qing Dynasty. The northernmost palace is the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫), frequently appearing in Chinese palace TV series, was known by the public as the bedroom of the empress in the Ming Dynasty.

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.

Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门) is the north gate of Forbidden City. Since the Forbidden City was changed into the Palace Museum in 1925, the Gate of Divine Prowess was made as the front door of Palace Museum and the exit of Forbidden City.

For those who are willing to spend more time in the Forbidden City and are crazy about the museum items, there are more places waiting for your exploration. Generally speaking, besides the central line spots, the rest of the Forbidden City can be divided into four parts:

Hall of Martial Valour (武英殿): located in the west of the Gate of Supreme Harmony (west of the outer court), now changed into Gallery of Painting and Calligraphy (书画馆) and exhibits representative painting and calligraphy works from every historical period.

Hall of Literary Brilliance (文华殿): located in the symmetrical position of the Hall of Martial Valour, is the Ceramics Gallery (陶瓷馆) and exhibits ceramics through past dynasties.

Eastern Exhibition Area: on the eastside of the Forbidden City (east to the inner court), there are several permanent exhibitions worth your time. Collections exhibited in the Gallery of Clocks, the Treasure Gallery, and the Nine-dragon Screen represent the priceless art history of China.

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.

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.

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.

Six Western Palaces: refer to six palaces in the west of the inner court, and they are all presented in their original forms. The Six Western Palaces were once a residential area for the emperor’s concubines, and visitors could watch the original living scene of the royal family.

Normally, it’s suggested to visit the Hall of Martial Valour or Hall of Literary Brilliance first, then the Outer Court and Inner Court, and last, besides feasting on the splendid palatial architecture, it is highly recommended that you take some time to visit one or two galleries inside the Eastern Exhibition Area or to visit the Six Western Palaces.

>> Check more about What Treasures Are Collected in the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

Panorama from Jingshan Park - About 0.5 hour

When you finish the tour in the Forbidden City and get out through the Gate of Divine Prowess, you can go to Jingshan Park to appreciate the panoramic view of Forbidden City if you have extra time. There is only one road between Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. There are five pavilions in the park and the highest one is called Wanchun Pavilion (万春亭), where you can see the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and other sites along the Central Axis of Beijing. The park will charge 10 CNY ticket, and except for the panoramic view, the park itself is also a beautiful attraction to experience local life for local people often hold activities in here.

>> Check more about Forbidden City Photography Tips