The Palace Museum

I have visited this place five times now, and each visit offers a distinct experience. During my last trip, for instance, I visited the Hall of Treasures and the Clock Museum, though I seem to have forgotten the name of a third gallery I went to. I also toured the Imperial Garden. There has been a significant shift in accessibility over the years. Initially, visitors were actually allowed inside the hall to sit on the Dragon Throne. Later, access was restricted to standing outside the door to view the interior. Now, however, we are kept so far back that we cannot even get close to the entrance; we are only allowed to stand at the bottom of the stairs, making it impossible to see anything inside at all. However, many new areas have opened up that were previously inaccessible. Despite the restrictions in some places, my overall experience was still fantastic because I managed to see almost everything that was open to the public. I truly love this place and hope to have the chance to visit again.

The world’s largest ancient palace & if you only have an hour, here’s how to explore the museum without missing the important attractions! ********** 🕐 1-Hour Express Route (South to North Main Central Axis) Entrance: Meridian Gate (午门 / Wǔmén) Exit: Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门 / Shénwǔmén) 1️⃣ Meridian Gate (午门) • The grand southern gate & the main entrance. • Used by emperors for important ceremonies. ⏱️ 5 minutes — photo stop & orientation. 2️⃣ Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和门) • Leads to the outer court. You’ll first see vast open courtyards — impressive scale! ⏱️ 5 minutes walk. 3️⃣ Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿) • The largest & most important hall — where the emperor held coronations & state ceremonies. • Iconic yellow roofs & dragon throne inside. ⏱️ 10–15 minutes — must-see. 4️⃣ Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿) & Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿) • Smaller halls behind the main one — walk straight through the central axis. • Used for resting & rehearsals before ceremonies. ⏱️ 5–10 minutes walking & quick photos. 5️⃣ Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门) → Inner Court • Marks transition to private palace area. • You’ll glimpse the emperor’s residence (Palace of Heavenly Purity). ⏱️ 10 minutes — walk-through & short stop. 6️⃣ Imperial Garden (御花园) • Beautiful courtyard with ancient cypress trees & colorful pavilions. • Small but charming way to end your visit. ⏱️ 10 minutes — quick stroll & exit north. 7️⃣ Exit via Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门) • Leads out toward Jingshan Park, where you can climb for the best panoramic view of the Forbidden City (if you have an extra 15–20 minutes). ********** ✅ Tips • 🎟️ Buy tickets online in advance (they’re often sold out on-site). • 🕗 Enter from the south (Tiananmen–Meridian Gate) & exit north — it’s one-way only. • 👟 Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll walk around 2 km. • 📷 Skip side halls if short on time; focus on the central axis. • ☕ If you finish early, grab a quick drink at the Forbidden City Café near the exit 😎

The Palace Museum is an amazing place to visit. The buildings are beautiful, full of history, and very well preserved. Walking through the courtyards and halls feels like stepping back in time. The exhibits are interesting and help you understand China’s rich culture. It’s a must-see in Beijing, and definitely worth the visit.

Beautiful historical place. Huge to explore, might take hours if you want to explore all. Guide is important else nothing much to explore. The only entrance if you are not going from tiananmen is from donghuamen which is east side of the place and walk to the south from there. There is only one entrance to here. Prebooked ticket is recommended. I tried to book via wechat but need local number to book. I asked hotel staff assistance to book since I don't have local number

Massive and amazingly beautiful, was here Nov 2017, Jan 6th 2026 seconds. There are a lot of security screening cause the line build up. GPS recorded Guides very helpful. Still worth the wait.😍😍😍

Must, must visit place in Beijing. Very very big area. You should plan for one day tour here. If you are in a hurry, difficult to see all. Just run and take pictures. So, many buildings, so nice environment, so many colorful trees. Local people taking pictures in ancient Chinese dress - that looks great. Museum of clock- I have given some pictures. Museum of treasure - I have given some pictures. If you feel tired on your way, sit down, take rest. Better to bring your food during visit - if you are not local. Thanks at last

Booked tickets through the official website a day ahead. You can't buy them at the gates. A GPS recorded guide is included with the tickets, available in multiple languages at the booth before entering. There is a lot to see, a lot of ground to cover. If you're like me and like a leisurely pace indulging in history, details and FOMO, be prepared to spend more than a few hours here. It's a definite highlight for me. I came in early December and it was less crowded. Still busy but far from peak.

Visited the Forbidden City in the evening, and while the entrance was packed, the inside felt much more spacious and manageable. So glad we chose to come later in the day—we managed to catch the golden hour and the lighting was absolutely stunning across the palace grounds. If you're a foreign visitor, don’t forget to bring your passport. It’s required for entry, and there’s a simple security check including face scan and bag inspection. Once inside, take your time exploring. The palace complex is massive, and it's easy to lose your way, so wear comfy shoes and enjoy getting “lost” in history!