Forbidden City

The Forbidden City in central Beijing is a large imperial palace complex that served as the Chinese imperial court from 1420 to 1912 and is now the Palace Museum. Construction began in 1406 and the complex was completed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty.

The site contains ceremonial halls, administrative buildings and the emperor’s private residences arranged along a central north-south axis; the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest ceremonial hall. The Palace Museum houses vast collections of imperial art, furnishings and historical artifacts.

Following the end of imperial rule, the complex was transformed into a public museum in the early 20th century and has been the subject of extensive conservation. The architecture, layout and decorative programs reflect Ming and Qing dynasty court culture and governance.

Situated immediately north of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, the Forbidden City occupies a central position in the city and is accessed by public transport and pedestrian routes through the surrounding urban core.

• Size: The complex covers roughly 720,000 square meters and contains hundreds of surviving buildings and halls; it is one of the largest palace complexes in the world.
• Visiting tips: Entrance is through timed-ticketing and security checks; the site is busiest mid-day and during national holidays, so early or late visits help avoid crowds.

What to See #

• Hall of Supreme Harmony: The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest ceremonial building in the outer court where imperial proclamations and major ceremonies were held during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
• Palace Museum galleries: The Palace Museum displays imperial collections, decorative arts and archaeological finds across exhibition halls within the former imperial apartments and administrative buildings.
• Inner Court and imperial gardens: The imperial gardens and the Inner Court include the smaller halls and residence spaces that formed the private quarters of the emperors and their families.