Introduction
The Forbidden City, officially named the “故宫博物院” (The Palace Museum), is located at the central axis of Beijing. It served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with over seventy large and small palaces and more than nine thousand rooms. In 1987, it was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The collection inside mainly consists of imperial treasures from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Forbidden City is 961 meters long from north to south, and 753 meters wide from east to west. It is surrounded by a 10-meter-high city wall on all sides, with a 59-meter-wide moat surrounding the outer perimeter.
Best Time to Visit
On an autumn afternoon, the red walls stand in contrast, and if the timing is right, one might encounter the falling ginkgo leaves, fluttering like butterflies in the air, creating an atmosphere of pure romance.
There is also the Forbidden City in the winter snow, dressed in a cloak of silver, serene and elegant.
Tour Route
The Palace Museum follows a one-way travel rule from south to north, with visitors entering through the Meridian Gate (Wu Men). After the visit, they can exit through the Shenwu Gate or the East Gate. Before your visit, you can explore the virtual tour of the Forbidden City online, allowing you to experience it as if you were there in person.
There is no suitable English name, so the palace names in the following route will be presented in Chinese characters.
2-Hour Tour Route
1 午门（the Meridian Gate (Wu Men)） → 2 太和门 → 3 弘义阁 → 4 太和殿 → 5 中和殿 → 6 保和殿 → 7 乾清门 → 8 乾清宫 → 9 交泰殿 → 10 坤宁宫 → 11 御花园 → 12 神武门（the Shenwu Gate）
This route mostly follows the central north-south axis of the Forbidden City, entering from the southern Meridian Gate and exiting from the northern Shenwu Gate. If you store your luggage at the entrance (Duanmen), simply inform the staff that you will be exiting from Shenwu Gate, and you can retrieve your luggage there.
Half-Day Tour Route
1 午门（the Meridian Gate (Wu Men)） → 2 文华殿（书画馆） → 3 太和门 → 4 太和殿 → 5 中和殿 → 6 保和殿 → 7 奉先殿（钟表馆）→ 8 乾清宫 → 9 交泰殿 → 10 坤宁宫 → 11 养心殿 → 12 西六宫区 → 13 御花园 → 14 神武门（the Shenwu Gate）
One-Day Tour Route
1 午门（the Meridian Gate (Wu Men)） → 2 武英殿 → 3 文华殿（书画馆） → 4 太和门 → 5 太和殿 → 6 中和殿 → 7 保和殿 → 8 乾清宫 → 9 交泰殿 → 10 坤宁宫 → 11 养心殿 → 12 西六宫区 → 13 御花园 → 14 东六宫区 → 15 奉先殿（钟表馆） → 16 宁寿宫区（珍宝馆、戏曲馆） → 17 神武门（the Shenwu Gate）
Photos and Videos
Basic Information
Is it free? No
Opening Hours: Off-season (November 1 – March 31): 8:30-16:30; Peak season (April 1 – October 31): 8:30-17:00
Luggage Storage: Yes (and Free). The luggage storage is located at the Visitor Service Center on the west side of Duanmen Square（端门广场）, and the luggage pickup is at the east side of the Shenwu Gate Square（神武门外广场东侧） and the north side of the East Gate Square（东华门外广场北侧）.
Items prohibited for storage in the luggage service: cash, watches, computers, digital products, jewelry (gold, silver, etc.), and other valuable items, as well as flammable, explosive, fragile, perishable, smelly items, and food.
Customer service phone number: 400-950-1925 (must be dialed from mainland China)
Working hours: 08:00-20:00 (open year-round)
| Item | Price | Description |
| Ticket | ￥40（Approx. USD 5.6） | Senior citizens aged 60 and above are entitled to a half-price ticket. Chinese citizens under the age of 18 can enter for free, but an appointment is still required. |
| Clock and Watch Hall (Fengxian Hall) | ￥10（Approx. USD 1.4） | No reservation is required, and tickets can be purchased on-site. |
| Treasure Hall | ￥10（Approx. USD 1.4） | No reservation is required, and tickets can be purchased on-site. |
The Palace Museum has not authorized any third-party organizations or individuals to sell tickets. It is recommended to book tickets and exhibitions through the official channel, the “故宫博物院” WeChat Mini Program.
For more information, please refer to the “Visitor Guidelines of the Palace Museum(Chinese)“.
Transportation Options
The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing and is very accessible by subway or taxi.
By subway, you can take Line 1 and get off at Tian’anmen East Station. From Exit A, walk around the Tian’anmen Tower and head north for about 500 meters to reach the Meridian Gate (ticket entrance) of the Forbidden City. Alternatively, you can get off at Tian’anmen West Station on Line 1, take Exit B, and walk diagonally through Zhongshan Park to reach the Meridian Gate. Both stations have corresponding bus stops, so you can also take a bus if there is a suitable route.
Important Notes
The Palace Museum is closed on Mondays (except for statutory holidays). Same-day tickets are not sold, and all visitors (including those with discounts and accompanying persons) must make real-name reservations in advance. Annual pass holders must register at least one day in advance for their visit. Tickets are limited on weekends and holidays, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance.
Mainland Chinese tourists can only use their ID cards to make reservations, while non-mainland Chinese tourists can use the Hong Kong and Macau Resident Permit, the Taiwan Resident Permit, the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Resident Residence Permit, the Permanent Residence ID for Foreigners, or a passport to book tickets and go through ticket inspection. Each document can only reserve one ticket per visit date.
There are no rental power banks inside the Forbidden City, so it is recommended to bring your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you see the ginkgo leaves fall?
It usually happens around November each year.
Is the afternoon enough time to visit the Forbidden City?
It’s best to go earlier in the afternoon; otherwise, you may find yourself being rushed out before you’ve had a chance to explore much. It’s recommended to visit in the morning.
How long does it take to walk from East Gate (东华门) to Meridian Gate (午门)?
It takes about 10 minutes.
When can you see the snowy scenery of the Forbidden City?
The snow scene can be seen from November to February the following year. It’s best to check the weather forecast.