The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City has a length of 961m from south to north, a width of 753m from east to west, and 10-meter-tall city walls surrounding the palace. Outside the city is a moat that has a width of 52m, guarding the city in conjunction with the walls. Just like a Chinese old saying goes “ramparts of metals and a moat of hot water—an impregnable city.” The Forbidden City has four gates: Meridian Gate to the south, Gate of Divine Might to the north, East Glorious Gate to the east, and West Glorious Gate to the west. At each corner of the city walls stands a graceful corner tower that has many folk beliefs such as “9 beams 18 columns and 72 ridges,” describing its complex structure. Inside the city, buildings are divided into two parts; the outer court, and the inner court. The center of the outer court consists of three sets of halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of central Harmony, and Hall of Preserved Harmony. Combined, they are called by the name “the Three Main Halls,” where the national ceremonies are held. At flanks of the Tree Main Halls are another two sets of constructions, one is called Hall of Literary Glory, the other one is Hall of Martial Valor.

Construction and history

The center of the inner court is composed of Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the “Three Rear Palaces”, the front palace where the emperor and the empresses lived. Behind of the buildings is the imperial garden. At franks are Eastern Six Palaces and Western Six Palaces, which were the places the imperial concubines lived. In the east of the Eastern Six Palaces stand Buddhist architectures such as Hall of Bearing Heaven etc. Also in the west of the Western Six Palaces are some Buddhist temple architectures such as Buddhist Chapel, etc. Besides the outer court and inner court, there are two sets of buildings located in the Outer East Route and the Outer West Route. In the south of the Outer East Route is Xiefangdian, where the prince lived, commonly known as the “Southern Three Palaces”. In the north is the Emperor Emeritus’s palace, Palace of Tranquil Longevity, which was built under the imperial decree of Emperor Qianlong. In the south of Outer West Route were Hall of Benevolent Peace and Palace of Longevity and Health, where the empress Dowager lived. Another palace in the north for empress Dowager is Palace of Longevity and Peace; in proximity are some Buddhist temple constructions such as Hall of Braveness and Splendor, etc.

Hall of Supreme Harmony is the supreme facade of the Forbidden City, as the folk belief calls the “Golden Palace” of the inner court, where the emperor conducted the major ceremonies and events. It was first built in the year of Yongle in Ming dynasty (at the beginning of the 15th century), afterwards it encountered several disasters and reconstructions and its name was change to Hall of Imperial Models. When Qing dynasty made Beijing the capital city, the name Hall of Supreme Harmony was reused until today, because of its main theme of a harmonious world. Today’s Hall of Supreme Harmony was rebuilt and preserved in Kangxi period of Qing dynasty.

Palace of Heavenly Purity was the main palace where the emperor lived, and it was built and completed in Year of Yongle in Ming dynasty, at the beginning of the 15th century. This building also encountered several disasters and reconstructions. The existing construction was rebuilt in the third year of Jiaqing Period of Qing dynasty, 1798. The Chinese name of “Qianqing” means the “honest and upright imperial power.”

From Ming dynasty to the beginning of Qing dynasty, Palace of Heavenly Purity was the main palace for the emperor to live and to govern the affairs of the state; it’s also the temporary shelter for the emperor’s coffin after his death in order to finish his destiny as both an imperial noble and a living man. After Yongzheng period of Qing dynasty, Hall of Mental Cultivation became the emperor’s residence, but Palace of Heavenly Purity was still one of the main palaces for the emperors to govern the national affairs and hold some banquets or ceremonies for festivals and events. Feast Minds 1000, for example, was held here both in Kangxi Period and Qianlong Period.

Palace of Bearing Heaven, whose original name was Yongning Palace, is one of the Eastern Six palaces, used the current name since the fifth year of Chongzhen period,1623; with meaning of “all in the heaven’s name,” in order to correspond with Yikun Palace in the Western Six Palaces. During both the Ming and Qing dynasties, Palace of Bearing Heaven was the residence of the empress and imperial concubines including Empress Xiao-xian, the famous empress favored by Shunzhi Emperor of Qing dynasty, as well as Xianfeng Emperor’s birth mother (Daoguang Emperor’s empress Xiaoquancheng, Niuhuru).

Palace of Great Benevolence, original name was Chang An Palace, is one of the Eastern Six palaces. The name was changed to the current one since the Year of Jiajing of Ming dynasty (in the middle of the 16th century), with the meaning of “kindheartedness.”During both Ming and Qing dynasties, Palace of Great Benevolence was the residence of the imperial concubines. Tunggiya, birth mother of Kangxi Emperor of Qing dynasty was once living here and gave birth to HiowanYei here, and so were Yongzheng Emperor’s Senior Concubine Xi (birth mother of Qianlong Emperor) and Guangxu Emperor’s Zhenfei.

Gate of Heavenly Purity is the front gate of Forbidden City’s inner court. It was first built in Yongle period of Ming dynasty (at the beginning of 15th century) and rebuilt several times. The current building was built in the third year of Jiaqing period of Qing dynasty (1798). During the Qing dynasty, the emperors had been holding the court personally here, and Kangxi Emperor was the most diligent one. Every morning at Chen Shi (around 8’oclock), the emperor took his imperial seat at the center inside the gate and got ready for the courtiers to make their statements, then made his own imperial statement in response. At the franks of Gate of Heavenly Purity are glazed screen walls standing both in the west and east. In front of the gates are golden lions and golden water tanks, and inside the gate there is a walkway in high platform leading to the Danbi right in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, as an imperial road for the emperor.

Best Touring Route

The Palace Museum prepares a one-way system of the touring route for the visitors to enter Meridian Gate at the south and exit in the Gate of Devine Might.

The ideal touring route in the Forbidden City for the visitors is to enter from Meridian Gate, go along the central axis and visit in turn the Golden Water Bridge, Gate of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserved Harmony, Gate of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and Imperial Garden. Afterwards, through the left door of the Imperial Garden, you can visit the Eastern Six Palaces in turn, which are Palace of Gathered Elegance, Palace of Earthly Honor, Palace of Eternal Longevity, Palace of Universal Happiness, Palace of Eternal Spring, Hall of Supreme Being (also called Qixiang gong), and then go through the inner right door to the Gate of Heavenly Purity Square, head off east through the inner left door to visit Eastern Six Palaces, which are Palace of Prolonging Happiness, Palace of Eternal Harmony, Palace of Great Brilliance, Palace of Celestial Favor, Palace of Accumulated Purity. Afterwards visitors could go down the east Chang An Avenue back to the Gate of Heavenly Purity Square and then go east through the Jingyun men; enter the Huangji men to visit Hall of Imperial Supremacy, Palace of Tranquil Longevity, Theatrical Stage, Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies, Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, the Qianlong Garden, the Zhenfei Well, and then go through Shunzhen Gate. Walk west to exit from the Gate of Devine Might to end the trip of the Imperial Palace.

Quick Touring Route of the Imperial Palace

Middle route: Meridian Gate→ Gate of Supreme Harmony and Three Halls→ Gate of Heavenly Purity→ Palace of Heavenly Purity→ Hall of Union→ Palace of Earthly Tranquility→ Imperial Garden→ Gate of Devine Might

East route: Meridian Gate→ Gate of Supreme Harmony and Three Halls→ Gate of Heavenly Purity→ Eastern Six Palaces→ Palace of Tranquil Longevity→ The Zhenfei Well

West route: Meridian Gate→ Gate of Supreme Harmony and Three Halls→ Gate of Heavenly Purity→ Hall of Mental Cultivation→ Western Six Palaces

If you only have half a day for the trip, middle route would be suggested to you.

The Imperial Palace is such a grand place where so many great events happened, one needs to spend time frequently visiting this splendid historical heritage to have a profound understanding of its magnificence during every season of the year. It takes at least a half day here for an express tour, so if you’ve got enough time, an all-day-long tour would be suggested because it would be an interesting experience spending your whole day in the palace from opening time to closing time.

Half- day- tour:

Three Halls and Three Back Palaces on the central axis of the Forbidden City, and if it’s possible, an extra visit to Hall of Mental Cultivation and Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

All- day- tour:

First, enter through Meridian Gate to visit Three Halls on the central axis of the Forbidden City, then the Hall of Literary Brilliance and Hall of Martial Valor. In the afternoon to visit Three Back Palaces, Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Imperial Garden, Hall of Ancestry Worship and finally the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

1. Middle Route

Touring route:

Meridian Gate——Inner Golden Water Bridge——Xiehe men and Xihe men——Hall of Literary Brilliance——Hall of Martial Valor——Taihe men——Ti-ren-ge building and Hong-yi-ge building——Hall of Supreme Harmony——Hall of Central Harmony——Hall of Preserved Harmony——Gate of Heavenly Purity——Palace of Heavenly Purity——Hall of Union——Palace of Earthly Tranquility——Imperial Garden——Gate of Devine Might

Brief introduction:

You enter the Forbidden City through Meridian Gate, and then go along the central axis onthe black bricks north to the Gate of Devine Might, from the Outer Court to the Inner Court, from the Three Halls to Three Back Palaces, the towering and solemn constructions would definitely take your breath away for its stateliness and uniqueness. This is the middle road of the Imperial Palace.

Touring time: Around 1 hour

Tips for Middle Route:

1. Only taking the middle route would be suggested when you don’t have enough time.

2. Touring in an irregular way won’t be a great idea. If possible, you can have a tour guide explain the history of Imperial Palace and its construction techniques to you. Since there are many inefficient tour guides in the palace, it’s better for you to hire one from tour guide office at Meridian Gate or Gate of Devine Might.

3. Don’t forget to visit the city wall and the moat, for they are all great story-tellers of the palace and the moat in sunlight is very beautiful.

4. Please do not bring any damage to the culture relics in your tour because they cannot be copied.

2. East Route

Touring Route:

Palace of Gathered Elegance——Hall of Manifest Harmony——Palace of Earthly Honor——Palace of Etermal Spring——Hall of Supreme Being——Palace of Eternal Longevity——Tishun tang——Hall of Mental Cultivation——Grand Council

Brief Introduction:

In the west of Three Back Palaces are Western Six Palaces surrounding there in groups, where you can reach here from the Qiongyuan west gate at the south-west corner of Imperial Garden. And this is the west route, along which you’ll be able to appreciate the original appearance of Palace of Gathering Elegance when it was in Express Dowager Cixi’s 50s’ birthday, also the mural of A Dream of Red Mansions in Palace of Eternal Spring, Dragon and Phoenix Bed in Tishun tang and the place where two empress dowagers had attended to state affairs behind a screen in Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Touring time: About half an hour

3. West Route

Touring Route:

Palace of Accumulated Purity——Palace of Great Brilliance——Palace of Eternal Harmony——Palace of Prolonging Happiness——Palace of Abstinence——Hall of Ancestral Worship

Brief Introduction:

In the east of Three Back Palaces are Eastern Six Palaces surrounding there in groups. Along east route, there are the residences of crown prince and Empress Longyu and exhibits of jade articles as well as gold and silver vessels.

Touring time: Half an hour or so

Useful Information

The best tourism Season: April- October

Touring time: About 3 hours

Ticket price in busy season: 60 yuan

Ticket price in off season: 40 yuan

Ticket price for Treasure Hall: 10 yuan

Ticket price for Clock Museum: 10 yuan