Forbidden City，Beijing


NOTE: It is unique in the world and you have to feel its grandeur if you are in China.

Built between 1406 and 1420 by the Ming emperor Yongle, the construction of the Forbidden City was a titanic undertaking, employing battalions of labourers and craftspeople.
Pillars of precious nanmu wood were floated from the jungles of southwest China to the capital, while blocks of quarried stone were hauled to the palace in winter over ingenious ice roads. Once built, the Forbidden City was governed by a stultifying code of rules, protocol and superstition; 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed China from its closed-off world, often erratically and haphazardly, until revolution swept them all away just a century ago. Despite its age, most of the buildings you see are post-18th-century Qing dynasty constructions and renovations – fire was a constant hazard, hence the enormous brass water vats everywhere.
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Open Hours: 8.30am-5pm Apr-Oct, to 4.30pm Nov-Mar, last entry 1hr prior to closing and it is CLOSED Monday.
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Official Website: www.dpm.org.cn
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Price: Nov-Mar ¥40, Apr-Oct ¥60, Clock Exhibition Hall ¥10, Hall of Jewellery ¥10, audio guide ¥40  ( USD$1.00 = around CNY ¥6.60,   2022.5.22)
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---Related Tourist Souvenirs ( Click your favourites to view )---

---Collection---

The Forbidden City brings together the most exquisite cultural relics in China, with a total number of more than 1.8 million pieces. Due to limited space, we cannot show you all of them. If you want to know more, please click this official link：https://en.dpm.org.cn/collections/

---Guide Map---

1. The Meridian Gate (Wu men)  
2. "Painting and Calligraphy Gallery", Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian)
3. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) 
4. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) 
5. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) 
6. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) 
7. "Hall of Clocks"   Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian)
8. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)
9. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) 
10. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) 
11. Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) 
 12. Area of Six Western Palaces or Area of Six Eastern Palaces
13. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan) 
14. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)

---Recommended Attractions（Total 12）---

1.Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)

At the northern end of the Forbidden City is the Imperial Garden, a classical Chinese garden with 7000 sq metres of fine landscaping, including rockeries, walkways, pavilions and ancient, carbuncular cypresses. At its centre is the double-eaved Hall of Imperial Peace. Nearby, the Lodge of Spiritual Cultivation is where British tutor Sir Reginald Johnston gave English lessons to the abdicated 'last emperor' Puyi. 

2. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) 

Before you pass through the Gate of Supreme Harmony to reach the Forbidden City’s star attractions, veer off to the west of the huge courtyard to visit the Hall of Martial Valour, where emperors would receive ministers. It houses a changing line-up of exhibitions. Just to the south is the Furniture Gallery, occupying an area known as the Southern Storehouses, which opened for the first time in 2018.

The Hall of Literary Brilliance complex to the east of the Meridian Gate was formerly used as a residence by the crown prince. It was rebuilt in 1683 after being destroyed by fire. It too hosts a changing line-up of exhibitions throughout the year, but is sometimes closed between November and March.

---Our Free Help---

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