China Travel

Along with the Great Wall, the Forbidden City is one of the must-see sites in Beijing. In the afternoon sunshine, the red walls and golden roof tiles cast a glow across the vast courtyards of this symbol of China's mighty imperial past.

If pressed for time, try to spend at least half a day exploring; if you have more time, consider return trips—the Forbidden City's stately spaces and myriad treasures are best lingered over.

Try to avoid weekends and holidays when crowds peak. If you're in a hurry, a tour guide can help you understand the significance of what you're seeing; if you have time, you might choose to explore on your own with a guidebook.

The world's largest palace complex, the Forbidden City (Gugong or Zijincheng) covers 720,000 square meters (0.3 square miles). The southern Tiananmen Gate—one of four gates connecting the palace to the outside world—serves as the main entrance.

After passing through it, you'll come to an interior gate, the Meridian Gate (Wumen) that leads to the heart of the complex. Beyond the Meridian Gate, a vast courtyard extends toward the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

Thereafter, the complex is divided into two sections: the Inner Court's imperial living quarters and the Outer Court. The Outer Court begins with the massive Hall of Supreme Harmony (it's China's largest wooden structure).

This was a key site for the imperial court, where the highest-level official business took place, including ceremonies like the enthronement of the Crown Prince, the Emperor's birthday celebration and imperial marriages.

The hall is decorated with thousands of dragons, a traditional symbol of imperial power. Beyond lies the Midway Hall of Harmony, where the emperor prepared for public appearances. It was also used by the Emperor to take up agricultural matters—a crucial responsibility in times when poor harvests and the specter of famine could threaten imperial legitimacy.

The Inner Court truly begins with the Hall of Heavenly Purity, where the emperor, his concubines and eunuchs lived (eunuchs were deemed harmless around the emperor's consorts, though they often proved dangerous when it came to court intrigue and power games).

The emperor himself resided within the Hall of Heavenly Purity; during the Ming Dynasty, the Empress lived in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, with the Hall of Union standing between their quarters.

Finally, the Imperial Gardens lie beyond the Inner Court buildings, consisting of exquisitely landscaped grounds and more important structures, including the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Palace of Tranquil Longevity. A number of imperial artifacts are on view in various locations throughout the Forbidden City. Note that many buildings are being renovated and not everything is open to the public.