Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City: A Season-by-Season Guide
Snow-dusted roofs in January, peach blossoms in April, golden ginkgo in November — the Palace Museum changes i…
Read guide紫禁城Beijing · UNESCO World Heritage · Built 1420
Step Into 600 Years of Imperial Majesty
The Palace Museum — the legendary Forbidden City — is the world’s largest palace complex and its most visited museum. Plan the perfect visit: opening hours, tickets, routes, highlights and tips from millions of travelers.
1420Completed under the Ming dynasty
72 ha980 buildings, 8,700+ rooms
1.86 MImperial artifacts in the collection
19 MVisitors a year — the world’s most visited museum
故宫博物院
The Forbidden City
The World’s Largest Palace Complex
For nearly 500 years, the Forbidden City was the beating heart of imperial China — home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, their courts and their secrets. Behind 10-metre walls and a 52-metre moat lies a city of golden roofs, marble terraces and nine thousand rooms, aligned on a single sacred north–south axis.
Since 1925 it has been the Palace Museum, guarding 1.86 million treasures: imperial clocks and jades, gleaming throne halls, and the priceless architecture itself. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage Site, and travelers rate it 4.9/5 — one visit and you will understand why.
- Walk the imperial central axis through three great throne halls
- See the Gold Cup of Eternal Stability in the Treasure Gallery
- Catch sunset over the roofs from the Corner Tower moat
Photo highlights
A Glimpse Behind the Walls
What to see
Palace Highlights You Cannot Miss
The Three Great Halls
Supreme, Central and Preserving Harmony — the imperial throne rooms on their marble terraces, the heart of the empire for 500 years.
Hall of Mental Cultivation
From Yongzheng onward, emperors lived and ruled here. The study where the Qing dynasty was governed — frozen in time.
Treasure Gallery
Golden cups, imperial seals, jade carvings and the Nine-Dragon Screen in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
The Corner Tower
Seventy-two ridges above the moat — the most photographed building in Beijing, magical at sunrise and dusk.
Plan your visit
Everything You Need Before You Go
Real-name e-tickets, seasonal hours and a smart route make all the difference in a palace this size.
Opening hours
Peak season (Apr–Oct) 8:30–17:00, off season (Nov–Mar) 8:30–16:30. Last entry about 50 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays.
Getting there
Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East or West, then a 15-minute walk north to the Meridian Gate — the only entrance, at the south end.
Good to know
Bring your passport for entry, comfortable shoes for 5 km of marble, and a bottle of water. No re-entry once you leave.
Traveler reviews
What Visitors Say About the Palace
4.9
/ 5
Read more on Trip.com
Just need to go through a security check. Be smart and pick the lane(s) with less crowd — the rush can be huge at times. Take your time to enjoy the moment at every corner of the palace, don’t rush through just to get it done. The whole visit could take 3–5 hours depending on how much you appreciate the history. Bring…
An incredible experience! The sheer scale and beauty of the Palace Museum are astonishing. Having a tour guide made all the difference — hearing the history, the stories of the emperors, and the architectural secrets brought the entire Forbidden City to life. Without a guide it is easy to get lost in the sheer size, bu…
The Forbidden City was the last historical landmark I visited in Beijing, and it was truly amazing. The place is incredibly huge — I spent about six hours exploring it. Walking through it felt like stepping back in time and experiencing centuries of Chinese history. I decided to visit wearing traditional Chinese clothi…
The Forbidden City was, without a doubt, my favorite place in Beijing! The palace is incredibly grand, and it is hard to believe how massive and beautiful it is until you see it in person. I had watched Story of Yanxi Palace three times before coming, so visiting the real palace felt like stepping into the drama — I ke…
Visiting the Forbidden City was one of the highlights of our trip to China. From the moment you step through the massive gates, you feel the scale and history of this place. The architecture is incredibly well preserved, with rich colors, intricate details and perfectly aligned courtyards that seem to go on forever. I…
Beautiful place, but prepare for waiting an hour in the line. Great experience with Trip.com as well. The Forbidden City is hard to explain with words and cannot be captured well enough with photos — it definitely must be felt and experienced.
From the blog
Travel Tips & Palace Stories
Forbidden City Tickets 2026: Prices, Booking Rules & How to Skip the Line
The Palace Museum sells no tickets at the gate — everything is booked in advance under your passport. Here are…
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Perfect Routes Through the Palace: 2 Hours, Half Day or Full Day
The Forbidden City is a 961-metre-long city of nearly 9,000 rooms. Whether you have two hours or a whole day,…
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10 Fascinating Facts About the Forbidden City
Why are there no trees in the outer court? Why do the roof beasts matter? From the 9,999.5-room legend to the…
Read guideBeyond the Palace Walls: Jingshan Park, Beihai & the Best Nearby Sights
Exit the north gate and you are standing in the middle of Beijing’s historic heart. Here is what to see within…
Read guideWhere to Take the Best Photos of the Forbidden City (Spots, Times & Settings)
Golden roofs, red walls and perfect symmetry — the palace is a photographer’s dream. These 12 spots (and the e…
Read guideReady to Walk Through 600 Years of History?
Skip the queue with a timed-entry e-ticket — admission from $13.93, instant confirmation, just bring your passport.