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Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Complete Visitor Guide

600 years of imperial China, roughly 9,000 rooms, one unforgettable afternoon

The Meridian Gate (Wumen), the south entrance of the Forbidden City, against a clear blue sky

The Forbidden City — officially the Palace Museum — is the largest surviving imperial palace complex in the world and the single most important sight in Beijing. For nearly 500 years it was the walled home and seat of government of 24 emperors, and today it holds over a million treasures inside 980 buildings. This guide covers everything a foreign visitor needs: how to book with a passport, what it really costs, when to go, and the one-way route that saves you both time and steps.

Quick Facts

Opening hours
08:30–17:00 (Apr–Oct) · 08:30–16:30 (Nov–Mar)
Last entry
16:10 (Apr–Oct) · 15:40 (Nov–Mar)
Closed
Mondays (except public holidays)
Suggested time
3–4 hours; half a day is ideal
Ticket price
CNY 60 peak (Apr–Oct) · CNY 40 off-peak (Nov–Mar)
Best season
Autumn (Sep–Oct) for clear skies
Booking
Required — passport and advance reservation
Entry point
Meridian Gate (south) — one-way, exit at the north

How to Book Tickets with a Foreign Passport

Foreign visitors cannot simply queue at the gate. Tickets are sold online in advance and are tied to your passport number, so book before you fly — especially in peak season, when the daily quota sells out within minutes.

  1. Book on the official Palace Museum ticketing site (bookingticket.dpm.org.cn) or its WeChat service. Ignore third-party resellers charging a markup.
  2. Enter the exact passport number of every visitor. One passport, one ticket — the passport is checked at the entrance.
  3. Tickets are released on a rolling basis, normally about 7 days ahead; check the official site for the current release window and set an alarm for peak season.
  4. Choose a timed entry slot. Arrive within your slot; latecomers may be turned away on busy days.
  5. Bring the same passport you booked with. Foreign visitors enter through the Meridian Gate (Wumen) on the south side.

Getting There

By metro

Metro Line 1 to Tian'anmen East (Exit B) or Tian'anmen West (Exit B), then a 10–15 minute walk north through the Tian'anmen area to the Meridian Gate.

By taxi

Show the driver 故宫博物院 午门 (the south entrance). Do not ask for the 'exit' side — the complex is one-way and the north gate only lets people out.

Entrances

Enter at the Meridian Gate in the south, exit at the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) in the north. Walking back south afterwards is not possible inside the walls.

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What to See Inside

Hall of Supreme Harmony

The largest and most ceremonial building in the palace, raised on a three-tier marble terrace. This is where emperors were enthroned and where the grandest state rituals took place.

The Imperial Gardens & Nine-Dragon Screen

North of the three main halls, the Qianlong Garden area and the glazed Nine-Dragon Screen reward anyone who walks past the mid-point instead of turning back.

Treasure Gallery (Ningshougong)

A separate small ticket unlocks imperial jewellery, gold vessels and ceremonial regalia. It is the single best upgrade inside the complex.

Clock Gallery (Fengxiandian)

Hundreds of mechanical clocks, many gifts from European courts — an unexpected and genuinely charming collection.

A 600-Year Imperial Palace

Construction ran from 1406 to 1420 under the Ming emperor Yongle, using timber floated down from the south-west and stone hauled in on winter ice roads. For the next five centuries it served as the residence and administrative heart of the Ming and then the Qing dynasties — 24 emperors in total.

The complex covers about 72 hectares inside a moat and a wall roughly ten metres high, arranged in a strict north–south axis: ceremonial halls in front, private living quarters behind. The folk figure of '9,999 and a half rooms' is a legend; the documented count is around 980 surviving buildings.

The last emperor, Puyi, remained in the inner court until 1924, and the Palace Museum opened to the public in 1925. UNESCO listed the site as a World Heritage Site in 1987, and it now holds more than a million registered artefacts — a large share of them never on display at any one time.

Suggested Route

  1. 1. Meridian Gate Start with the ticket and passport check. Do not linger — the crowds here are heaviest in the first hour after opening.
  2. 2. The Three Great Halls Walk straight up the central axis through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Central Harmony and Preserving Harmony. This is the most photographed stretch in China.
  3. 3. Treasure Gallery and the eastern galleries Branch east after the first three halls. Buy the small Golden Gallery ticket here and explore the Ningshougong area while the central axis is still packed.
  4. 4. Inner court and the imperial gardens Continue north into the private quarters, the residential halls and finally the garden — one of the oldest surviving imperial gardens in China.
  5. 5. Exit north and climb Coal Hill Leave via the Gate of Divine Prowess and cross the road to Jingshan Park. A short climb gives you the postcard view back over all those golden roofs.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Do not treat the palace as a loop — it is strictly one-way south to north, so see everything you want before you exit.
  • Skip the paid audio guide. The official Palace Museum app is free and generally better, and there is decent free Wi-Fi near the entrance.
  • Avoid the midday crush: the first hour after opening and the last 90 minutes before closing are noticeably calmer.
  • Do not book a Monday. The museum closes weekly, and this catches a surprising number of travellers.
  • Bring your passport even if you have the e-ticket — it is the actual key to entry.

Combine It With

Jingshan Park → The classic rooftop panorama — 15 minutes north, best at sunset. Beihai Park → A lakeside imperial garden with boating, an easy pairing for the afternoon. Tian'anmen Square → Directly south of the entrance; needs its own free reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?

Yes. Tickets are sold online against your passport number, normally released about 7 days ahead, and there is no walk-up window for foreign visitors. In peak season the daily quota sells out quickly, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

How much is a Forbidden City ticket?

CNY 60 from April to October and CNY 40 from November to March. The Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery each cost an extra CNY 10 and are bought inside the complex.

Is the Forbidden City closed on Mondays?

Yes, it closes every Monday except during national public holidays and during the peak summer period when special arrangements may apply. Always confirm on the official site before you travel.

How long does it take to visit?

Three to four hours is realistic for the main route, and half a day if you add the Treasure Gallery, the gardens and a climb up Coal Hill for the overlook.

Which entrance should I use?

Enter only at the Meridian Gate on the south side and exit at the north. The route is one-way, so plan what you want to see before you leave the central axis.

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