I. Core information (tickets, opening hours, transportation)
1. Ticket reservation
• Reservation channel: The only official channel is the "Palace Museum" WeChat applet. There is no on-site ticketing or third-party authorized platform. Be sure to make an appointment with the Palace Museum in advance.
• Reservation time: Tickets (including big tickets, treasure hall / watch hall) and special exhibitions will be on sale at 20:00 on the 7th before the visit. During the peak season (April-October), you need to work together. It is recommended to set an alarm clock to rush to buy the Palace Museum.
• Ticket price standard
Ticket type peak season (4.1-10.31) off-season (11.1-3.31) preferential policy
The entrance fee is 60 yuan / 40 yuan per person / free for Chinese citizens under the age of 18 (reservation is required, those under 14 years old need to be accompanied by an adult, and 1 adult is limited to 3 people); undergraduate students aged 18-24 and under 20 yuan / person; half price for the elderly over 60 years old
Treasure Museum 10 yuan / 10 yuan per person / free for people under 18 years old, half price for students and the elderly 5 yuan / person
Watch Museum 10 yuan / People 10 yuan / People's Treasure Museum
•Notes: Real-name system reservation, need to fill in ID card (mainland Chinese audience) or passport / Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan pass (non-mainland audience), the same certificate is limited to about 1 per day; unused tickets can be refunded before 24:00 on the 1st day before the visit (not counting the appointment), 20:00 on the day of the visit The previous ticket refund will be canceled once, and a total of 3 canceled appointments in 180 days will be suspended for 60 days.
2. Opening hours
Regular time
• Peak season (4.1-10.31): Open at 8:30, close at 16:00, close at 17:00
• Off-season (11.1-3.31): Open at 8:30, no admission at 15:30, and close at 16:30
• Special rules: the museum is closed every Monday (except for legal holidays); the entrance time of the Treasure Hall / Clock Hall is 10 minutes earlier than the gate (16:10 in the peak season and 15:40 in the off-season); some exhibition halls may be temporarily closed due to maintenance. You need to pay attention to the official website announcement of the Forbidden City in advance.
3. Traffic guide
• Public transportation: Subway Line 1 is preferred, exit from Tiananmen East Station (Exit A) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), and walk 10-15 minutes to the noon gate (the only entrance); you can also take bus lines 1, 2, 52, 59, 82 and other lines to Tiananmen East Station / West Station.
• Self-driving tips: There is no public parking lot around the Forbidden City. It is recommended to park the car in the parking lot near Wangfujing, Qianmen or the National Grand Theater, and then walk or transfer to the subway.
• Admission and exit: Only the noon gate (south gate) can be checked in, and the exit can be exited from Shenwu Gate (North Gate) or Donghua Gate (East Gate); Shenwu Gate is Jingshan Park, where you can climb up to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City, and Donghua Gate is close to Wangfujing Business Circle.
II. Must-see attractions and core highlights
The Forbidden City covers an area of 720,000 square meters and has more than 8,700 rooms. It is recommended to focus on the core area to avoid blindly running away:
1. Central axis (royal core, must take the route)
• Taihe Hall (Jinluan Hall): The largest and highest-level building in the Forbidden City. It is the place where the emperor's accession to the throne, the wedding and other ceremonies are held. The golden carved dragon wooden chair (dragon chair) in the hall is magnificent, and the glazed tiles on the roof and the arch painting show the royal style.
• Zhonghe Hall + Baohe Hall: Zhonghe Hall is the place to rest and receive officials ** before the emperor's ceremony; the "cloud dragon stone carving" on the back of the Baohe Hall is the largest royal road stone in the Forbidden City, with 9 dragons carved and exquisite craftsmanship.
• Qianqing Palace: the core area of the daily affairs and residence of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The plaque of "Zhengda Guangming" in the hall is a landmark landscape, and the imperial edict was once hidden behind it.
• Jiaotai Hall + Kunning Palace: Jiaotai Hall stores the "Twenty-five Treasures" jade seal. Kunning Palace used to be the queen's sleeping palace. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was changed to a place to sacrifice gods, retaining the characteristics of Manchu shaman **.
• Royal Garden: the end of the central axis, the representative of the royal garden, with pavilions and pavilions, strange flowers and stones. It is a good place to take photos and rest.
2. East and West Six Palaces (the secret realm of the harem, a must-visit for in-depth tours)
• East Six Palaces: including Jingren Palace (currently temporarily closed), Chengqian Palace, Zhong Cui Palace, etc., which used to be the place where concubines lived, with exquisite architecture, and some palaces have special exhibitions (such as bronze museums and painting museums).
• West Six Palaces: Chuxiu Palace and Yikun Palace are the most famous. The Empress Dowager Cixi once lived here for a long time. There are more Qing Dynasty court furnishings in the palace, and you can intuitively feel the life scene of the harem.
• Treasure Hall + Watch Hall: You need to buy a separate ticket, which is extremely cost-effective! The Treasure Museum has goldware, jade, jewelry and other rare treasures, such as the "Queen's Phoenix Crown"; the watch museum displays Chinese and foreign exquisite watches, some of which can be demonstrated regularly, which is ingenious.
3. Featured highlights
• Jiulong Wall: Located in Ningshou Palace District, it is the most exquisite of the three existing Jiulong walls in China. The nine dragons have different shapes and bright colors, and the wall details can be called artistic treasures.
• Corner Tower: a unique building in the four corners of the Forbidden City, with beautiful shapes and beautiful outlines, especially suitable for shooting in the evening or at night. The reflection in the water is like a fairyland.
• Gold-plated copper jars: distributed around important palaces such as Taihe Hall and Qianqing Palace. It is called "Menhai", which has both firefighting and decorative functions. The scratches on the tank body are the historical imprint of the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China.
III. Classic play routes
1. Central Axis Essence Tour (3-4 hours, suitable for time-stressed / first-time punching)
Noon Gate → Taihe Gate → Taihe Hall → Zhonghe Hall → Baohe Hall → Qianqing Gate → Qianqing Palace → Jiaotai Hall → Kunning Palace → Royal Garden → Shenwu Gate (you can go directly to Jingshan Park to climb the scenery).
2. In-depth panoramic tour (5-6 hours, suitable for history lovers)
Wumen → Wuying Hall (Ceramic Hall) → Taihe Gate → Three Major Halls (Taihe, Zhonghe, Baohe) → Qianqing Palace Area → East Six Palaces → Treasure Museum → Kowloon Wall → West Six Palaces → Imperial Garden → Clock Museum → Shenwu Gate.
IV. Tips for playing
1. Travel time: Peak season (April-October) is densely crowded, and it is recommended to choose weekdays or non-holidays; off-season (January-March) with few people and low ticket prices, and the winter snow scene contrasts with the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City, which has a different charm.
2. Admission tips: Make an appointment in the morning (check the ticket at 12:00 at the latest), and enter as soon as the museum opens at 8:30 to avoid the peak of people. At this time, the light is suitable for shooting the three major halls, and the visiting experience is better.
3. Explanation service: The Forbidden City has a deep history. It is recommended to rent an electronic interpreter (about 40 yuan/unit) or hire a manual tour guide (200-300 yuan/hour, can be grouped) to avoid "only looking at the architecture without knowing the history".
4. Equipment preparation: wear comfortable sports shoes (walking more than 20,000 steps per day); bring sunscreen, hat and umbrella in summer, and keep warm in winter; mobile phones and power banks are essential, and there are no free charging facilities in the Forbidden City.
5. Food and rest: Only in the Imperial Garden, the Treasure Museum and other areas in the Forbidden City have simple meals and drinking water. The price is relatively high. It is recommended to bring your own snacks and water; the rest areas are distributed around each palace, and you can rest your feet at any time when you are tired.
6. Civilized tour: no smoking, pets, use flash to take photos (cultural relics exhibition area); do not touch ancient buildings and cultural relics, abide by the "one-way tour" rule, and do not jump in line.
V. Peripheral linkage recommendation
• Jingshan Park: Shenwu Gate is just outside. Climbing to the top of the Wanchun Pavilion can overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City. It is the best location to shoot the central axis of the Forbidden City. The ticket price is only 2 yuan.
• Tiananmen Square + National Museum: It is a 15-minute walk from the Forbidden City. After visiting the Forbidden City, you can visit it on the way and feel the blend of history and modernity.
• Qianmen Street + Dashilan: a gathering place for delicious food and old brands. You can taste Beijing roast duck, fried noodles and other special delicacies and buy souvenirs.
VI. Food recommendation
• Forbidden City Ice Cellar Restaurant: Located next to Cining Palace, it was transformed from the ice cellar of the Qing Dynasty. Chinese and Western food are provided here, so that visitors can experience the feeling of eating royal food in the Forbidden City. The per capita consumption is about 77 yuan.
• Forbidden City Corner Cafe: Located in the west fence room outside the Shenwu Gate, it is an Internet celebrity cafe. In addition to coffee, there are also special desserts such as Qianli Jiangshan Roll and Yangxin Roll, which are about 54 yuan per capita.
• Wanfu Spring Afternoon Tea: Located in the Forbidden City, you need to pick up the number online in advance. Recommend "Persimmon Ruyi" and "Wufu Birthday" and other snacks, which are both beautiful and delicious, suitable for taking photos and punching in.
• Four Seasons Minfu Roast Duck Store (Forbidden City Store): Located at No. 11 Nanchizi Street, it is the "king of cost-effectiveness" in the Beijing roast duck industry, and the only restaurant where you can enjoy the Forbidden City's corner while eating roast duck. The roast duck is freshly roasted and sliced, with crispy skin and tender meat. The store also provides Beijing-flavored snacks such as pea yellow and fried sauce noodles, which cost about 100 yuan per person.
• Heyan Meat Pie (Donghuamen): It is within walking distance from Donghuamen of the Forbidden City, located at No. 159-2, Beiheyan Street. The signature "roasted duck meat pie" combines roast duck with meat pie. The skin is crispy and the meat filling is fragrant and juicy. It costs about 60 yuan per person.
• Dahai Bowl・Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles (Forbidden Palace Store): Located at No. 52 Donghuamen Street, it specializes in the old Beijing fried sauce noodles. The noodles are chewy, the sauce is moderately salty and fragrant, and the side dishes are rich, about 60 yuan per capita.
VII. Accommodation recommendation
There are a variety of accommodation options near the Forbidden City, from high-end luxury hotels to special homestays. Here are some recommendations:
High-end hotel
• Wangfu Peninsula Hotel: Located in Goldfish Hutong in Dongcheng District, next to Shenwu Gate of the Forbidden City. The hotel perfectly combines classical and modern. Some rooms overlook the Forbidden City, and the price is between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan per night.
• Beijing Waldorf Hotel: Located at No. 5-15, Goldfish Hutong, Dongcheng District, in the core area of Wangfujing, within walking distance of the Forbidden City. The hotel combines traditional Chinese elements with modern luxury style, starting from 2902 yuan per night.
• Beijing Hotel Raffles: Located at No. 33 East Chang'an Street, near the Wangfujing Business District, it is a five-star hotel with a long history. Some rooms overlook the beautiful scenery of the Forbidden City, and the top bar can enjoy the city skyline.
Budget hotel
• Hanting Hotel (Beijing Tian'an Store): It is very close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It is convenient to travel. You can also walk to Wangfujing and Houhai, and the price is affordable.
• Jinjiang Inn Beijing Wangfujing Store: Located in Dongcheng District, Beijing, 700 meters from Wangfujing Street and about 2 kilometers from the Forbidden City, with convenient transportation and affordable prices, suitable for tourists with limited budgets.
• Beijing Tiananmen Wangfujing Pedestrian Street Yaduo Hotel: Located in Dongcheng District, about 1.7 kilometers from the Palace Museum and a 4-minute walk from Wangfujing Street. The hotel is fully equipped and provides free WiFi and other services.
Special homestay
• Jingli: Located at No. 16 Qianjing Hutong, Shichahai Street, Xicheng District, it is a courtyard homestay on the edge of the Forbidden City. Many stars have stayed here. The environment is exquisite and romantic, and the price is 699-1599 yuan/night.
• Sunshine room in the small courtyard next to the Forbidden City: Located on the east side of the Forbidden City in Dongcheng District, it is a clean and elegant small courtyard with two rooms, one of which is a sunny room with all-glass windows. It costs 898 yuan per night and can live for 4 people.
• Beijing meets Fuxi: Near Nanluoguxiang, there is an antique house, which retains the original taste of old Beijing. The price of a single room is 998 yuan/night.
VIII. Precautions
(I) Reservation and admission: prepare in advance to avoid running short
1. Reservations must be made in advance. There are no on-site tickets: the only official channel is the "Palace Museum" WeChat applet. Tickets can be snapped up at 20:00 on the 7th before the visit (you need to set an alarm clock in the peak season). Fill in the ID card/passport information with a real-name system. It is free for children under 18 years old, but you still need to make an appointment.
2. Strictly according to the time period of admission: the reservation is divided into "morning session (8:30-12:00)" and "afternoon session (12:00-16:00/15:30, depending on the off-peak season)", you need to check tickets from the noon gate (the only entrance) during the reservation period, and you may not be able to enter after the time.
3. Bring valid documents: When checking tickets, you need to show the original ID card (Chinese tourists) or passport / Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan pass (non-mainland tourists) at the time of appointment. Electronic ID cards are not universal for the time being, and you may not be able to enter if you forget your documents.
(II) On-site tour: abide by the rules and guarantee the experience
1. Follow the one-way route and do not go backwards: The inside of the Forbidden City is mostly one-way tour routes (such as the central axis, some areas of the East/West Six Palaces), and you need to follow the signs. If you go backwards, it is easy to congestion and you may miss the core scenic spots.
2. Prohibited items: drones, selfie sticks, folding stools, flammable and explosive goods, suitcases/backpacks of more than 50cm are prohibited from entering, and small luggage can be stored near the noon gate (charge, about 10-20 yuan/piece).
3. Civilized visit, do not touch cultural relics: it is forbidden to touch ancient buildings and cultural relics exhibits, and flash is prohibited to take photos in the exhibition hall (it will damage cultural relics); do not throw away garbage at will, and it is forbidden to climb rockeries and trees in the imperial garden and other areas.
4. Arrange the time reasonably and avoid peak hours: the peak season (April-October) is from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is the peak time for people. It is recommended to enter the museum at 8:30 a.m., or choose the afternoon (relatively few people); it is recommended to reserve 3-5 hours for a single trip to avoid rush.
(III) Other practical reminders: details affect the experience
1. Equipment and diet: wear comfortable sports shoes (walking more than 20,000 steps a day), wear sunscreen and umbrellas in summer, and warm clothes in winter; the price of catering in the Forbidden City is relatively high (such as 70+ per capita in the ice cellar restaurant), and you can bring your own snacks and water (non-glass bottles).
2. Explanation service selection: The Forbidden City has a deep history. It is recommended to rent an electronic interpreter (40 yuan/unit, available for rent at the entrance of the noon gate) or a manual tour guide (200-300 yuan/hour) to avoid "only looking at architecture and not knowing history"; do not follow the unqualified "wild guide" to avoid being deceived.
3. Exit and connect with the surrounding area: you can only exit from Shenwu Gate (North Gate) or Donghua Gate (East Gate). When you leave Shenwu Gate, you can go to Jingshan Park (you can climb high to see the panoramic view of the Forbidden City). Donghua Gate is close to Wangfujing; there is no public parking lot around. It is recommended to park at Qianmen/Wangfujing, and then transfer to the subway.
4. Pay attention to special announcements: The museum is closed every Monday (except for legal holidays). Some exhibition halls (such as the Treasure Museum and the East Sixth Palace) may be temporarily closed due to maintenance. Before departure, you can check the "open announcement" on the official website or applet of the Forbidden City to avoid emptying.