Forbidden City one day play guide

The Forbidden City, now known as the Forbidden City in Beijing, was started by Zhu Di in the fourth year of Yongle (1406 AD) and completed in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420 AD). Located in the center of the central axis of Beijing, the palace covers an area of about 720,000 square meters, and the construction area is about 150,000 square meters. It is a rectangular city, 753 meters wide from east to west and 961 meters long from north to south. It is not only the essence of ancient Chinese court architecture, but also one of the largest and most intact ancient wooden structure buildings in the world.

Now tour the Forbidden City on a day trip

A day tour of the Forbidden City (Beijing’s Forbidden City) can be very fulfilling, and here is a recommended itinerary:

morning
Preparation for entering the park: It is recommended to arrive at the meridian gate of the Forbidden City (the main gate of the Forbidden City) at about 8:30 in the morning, when there are relatively few tourists, you can start the tour more calmly. Please bring your ID card and health certificate, and wear a mask as required.
Meridian Gate: As the main gate of the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate is the entrance for visitors. You can take photos here and simply understand the historical background of Meridian Gate.
Gate of Supreme Harmony and Hall of Supreme Harmony: Heading north along the central axis, you will first pass the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the largest palace gate in the Forbidden City, and the emperor’s way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony ceremony. Then enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony (commonly known as the “Imperial Palace”), which is the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held the grand ceremony, the building is large-scale and beautifully decorated.

Noon
Light lunch: You can have a light meal at one of the restaurants in the Palace Museum or nearby. Given that the dining experience at the Forbidden City’s restaurants can be crowded, it is recommended to prepare in advance or opt for takeout services.

PM
Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony: Continue along the central axis to the north, you can visit the Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony. The Hall of Harmony was the place where the emperor rested before going to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to hold ceremonies, while the Hall of Preservation of Harmony was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held ceremonies and banquets for foreign princes and nobles.
Dry Qing Palace and Palace of Earthly Tranquility: Next enter the inner court area, first visit the Dry Qing Palace, which is the place where the emperor deals with government affairs, the palace is luxuriously furnished and beautifully decorated. Then you can go to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, which is the place where the queen lives and conducts government affairs.
Imperial Garden: Behind the Palace of Kun Ning, is the “Palace back garden” of Ming Dynasty and the imperial garden of Qing Dynasty. Here planted a large number of ancient trees and rare flowers, as well as various buildings and rockeries, is the emperor and empress to rest and enjoy the scenery.
West Liugong District and East Liugong District: If you are interested in court life, you can go to the West Liugong District and East Liugong District, where the queens and concubines lived, you can feel the depth and mystery of the ancient court.
Watch Hall and Treasure Hall: Finally, you can visit the Fengxian Hall (now the Watch Hall) and the Ningshou Palace area (including the treasure Hall and the Opera Hall). The clock Hall collects a large number of precious ancient clock relics, while the treasure Hall displays a large number of precious cultural relics and works of art, reflecting the extensive and profound traditional Chinese culture.

At nightfall
Shenwu Gate: After the tour, you can exit the palace through Shenwu Gate (the north gate of the Forbidden City). Here is beautifully shaped, and Jingshan scenery, is a good place to take photos.
Surrounding tour: If time permits, you can also visit the scenic spots around the Forbidden City, such as Jingshan Park and Tian ‘anmen Square.
Matters needing attention
The Palace Museum is open from 8:30-17:00 in peak season (April 1 to October 31) and 8:30-16:30 in off-season (November 1 to March 31), closed on Mondays. Please plan your trip well in advance and arrange your time wisely.
Tickets to the Palace Museum need to be booked in advance and can be booked through the official website or related travel platforms. Peak season ticket price is 60 yuan/person (including treasure hall and watch hall), off-season ticket price is 40 yuan/person. Student ID card and other documents can enjoy 50% discount.
During the tour, please pay attention to the protection of cultural relics and public facilities, and do not touch or climb cultural relics exhibits. At the same time, please keep the environment clean and quiet and orderly.