Historic site · BEIJING · UNESCO
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
故宫 · Gùgōng
About
The largest preserved imperial palace complex in the world, residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Forbidden City was the imperial residence from 1420, when the Yongle Emperor moved the Ming capital to Beijing, until the abdication of the last emperor Puyi in 1912. The complex covers 72 hectares and contains 980 surviving buildings arranged on a strict south-to-north axis. The southern outer court — Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony — was for state ceremony. The northern inner court — Palace of Heavenly Purity, Palace of Earthly Tranquility — was the imperial residence. The complex is now the Palace Museum, with the largest collection of Chinese art in the world.
Visits are tightly managed. Entry is online-only via the Palace Museum website (or a verified Chinese travel agent), with passport details required. Daily visitor cap of 80,000 — book at least 7 days ahead in peak season. Entry only through Meridian Gate (south); exit at Gate of Divine Might (north) onto Jingshan Park, which has the best aerial view of the palace.
How to get there
Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West, then walk through Tiananmen Gate. Allow 15 minutes from metro to entry.
When to visit
Morning entry (8:30am) is calmer than midday. Afternoon entries 2–3 hours before close are good light for photography but the imperial halls are dim.
Crowds: Avoid Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Domestic-tour-group volume peaks 10am–2pm.
Accessibility
The outer court is largely level. The inner court has uneven flagstones and steps; not fully wheelchair-accessible. Wheelchairs available at the entrance.
Gallery
Other attractions in Beijing
Itineraries featuring this site
- Beijing 3-day blitz — first-timer fast pass
3d · Three full days in Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven and the hutong lanes — the absolute core of the capital for visitors with limited time.
- Beijing weekend — 3 days in the capital
3d · Three days in Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Temple of Heaven — the irreducible core of the capital, managed at a pace that avoids pure exhaustion.
- Beijing in 4 days
4d · Forbidden City, Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, museums.
- Beijing + Shanghai — 5-day first-timer classic
5d · Two of China's three great cities in five days: imperial Beijing followed by the modern skyline of Shanghai, linked by a quick domestic flight or overnight train.
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