Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a walled and moated rectangular complex covering roughly 72 hectares at the center of Beijing's north-south axis, immediately north of Tiananmen Square. Visitors enter through the Meridian Gate and follow the central line of the complex through the Outer Court's three great halls -- the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony -- raised on a three-tiered marble terrace and used for state ceremonies and enthronements. Beyond lies the Inner Court, where emperors and their households lived, including the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, along with the more intimate Imperial Garden at the complex's northern end. Side galleries house the Treasure Gallery, with jewelry, jade, and gold objects from the Qing court, and the Clock and Watch Gallery, displaying elaborate mechanical clocks gifted to or made for the emperors. A full visit covers roughly 3 to 4 hours at a walking pace, moving from the Meridian Gate north to the Gate of Divine Might, and most visitors budget extra time for the Treasure and Clock Galleries, which require separate tickets. Photography is unrestricted in the outdoor courtyards, and the best vantage points are the elevated terrace in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony looking back toward the Meridian Gate, and Jingshan Park's central pavilion just north of the Gate of Divine Might, which frames the entire roofline from above. Crowds build quickly after 9:00 AM, especially along the narrow central corridor between the Meridian Gate and the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and are heaviest on weekends, national holidays, and Golden Week in early October, when the site can sell out days in advance. Arriving at the 8:30 AM opening on a weekday spreads visitors more evenly across the site. Because Beijing's summers are hot and humid, and the central halls offer little shade, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; winter visits are colder but far less crowded.