The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is the imperial palace for total 24 emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
It is one of the best-loved historical sites in China and testament to the greatness of Chinese history. It is 961m length from north to south, 753m wide from east to west, covering the 720 square meters. It consists of 980 buildings with 8,704 rooms, surrounded by 10m high city wall and 52m wide moat. The imperial city sets the four doors at each city wall as Meridian Gate, Gate of Divine Might, East Glorious Gate and West Glorious Gate. Among them, Meridian Gate at the southern end and Gate of Divine Might at the northern end are the access for visitors.
In ancient time, the Forbidden City is divided into two parts, the Outer Court/ Front Court an Inner Court/Back Palace. The Outer Court located at the south, mainly composed by the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony beside with Hall of Literary Glory, Hall of Martial Valor, where is the place used for ceremonial or political purposes. The Inner Court located at the north, mainly composed by Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, attached with Six Halls of Eastern and Western, and Imperial Garden. This section was the home of the emperor and his family, and was used for day-to-day affairs. The palaces of these 2 sections take up about 163 square meters.
As the world’s largest surviving palace complex and the UNESCO heritage site, the Forbidden City is a must-see for people arrive in Beijing.
Travel Tips
- Opening Hours: 8:30-16:30 (Oct, 15---Mar, 31) Tickets Sale Close at 15:30
8:30-17:00 (Apr, 01---Oct, 14) Tickets Sale Close at 16:00
- Admission Fee: RMB 60 (Apr, 16---Oct, 15)
RMB 40 (Oct, 16---Apr, 15)
- Transport:
First Way:
From Wumen (South of the Palace Museum and also the most important passageways)
Take the bus of No 1、2、10、20、82、120、37、52、126、802、203、205、210、728 or No 1 subway at the station of East Tian’anmen and walk across the Tian’anmen Square, and then you will get there.
Second Way:
From Shenwumen (North Gate of the Palace Museum and also the second passage for visitors)
Forbidden City Station: No. 101, No. 103, No. 109, No. 124 trolleybus and No. 202, No. 211, No. 685, No. 810, No. 814, No.846 bus
Jingshan East Gate Station: No. 111 trolley bus
Third Way:
From Donghuamen (East Gate of the Palace Museum and usually only open for staff members)
Donghuamen Station: No. 2, No. 82, No. 210 bus
Fourth Way:
From Xihuamen (West Gate of the Palace Museum and usually only open for staff members)
West China Gate: No. 5 bus.
Travel Line
- Middle Line: Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Union→ Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Imperial Garden →Gate of Divine Might.
- East Line: Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Gate of Heavenly Purity →Six Halls of Eastern →Tranquil Longevity→ Well of Concubine Zhen.
- West Line: Meridian Gate → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Six Halls of Western → Palace of Earthly Tranquility →Hall of Mental Cultivation → Shufang Room.