With kids at the Forbidden City in Beijing

The former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty.

The Forbidden City is one of three ancient palaces still standing in modern China and is the largest ancient palace in the world. Just think about it , it is twice the size of the Vatican and thrice the kremlin’s size.

Largest and best-preserved palace complex in the world: Measuring 823 yards (753 meters) from east to west, and 1,051 yards (961 meters) from north to south, it covers an area 178 acres (72 hectares) and the living quarters inside are well preserve

It houses nearly 1 million cultural relics.

UNESCO World Heritage since 1987

the Bǎohé Diàn (保和殿, Hall of Preserving Harmony), which was used to receive the princes of vassal states, for New Year’s Eve banquets for high officials, and for the highest level imperial civil service examinations

Located in the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City (also named Palace Museum, Chinese Name: Gugong),

For almost five centuries, it served as the home of 24 Emperors and their households, and the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese imperial government.

The Forbidden City (Gugong) is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court, is home to the official buildings where the emperor carried out national affairs and publicly ruled. The northern section, or the Inner Court, was where he lived with his royal family

Quick Facts:

Location: in the center of Beijing

Opening hours Closed on Mondays

April to October 8:30 -5 PM

November to March 8:30 - 4:30 PM

Ticket price :

Entrance Ticket

April to October: CNY 60 November to March: CNY 40

Treasure Gallery

CNY 10 (in Palace of Tranquil Longevity, including the Opera Museum and Stone Drum Museum)

Clock and Watch Gallery CNY 10 (in Hall for Ancestry Worship)

1. Free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), each accompanied by an adult. 2. For minors between 6 and 18 years old, the admission ticket price is CNY 20 and the ticket for Treasure Gallery and Clock and Watch Gallery each is CNY 5. 3. Seniors elder than 60 can enjoy half price by showing a valid ID or passport. 4. The Annual Ticket (CNY 300 for 10 entries a year) is only applied to Chinese citizens.

How to get there: you can get ther by bus or subway. We opt for the subway

Subway: a. Take Subway Line 1, get off at Tiananmen East Station (Exit A) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), find the Tiananmen Tower, and then walk north to the Meridian Gate; b. Take Subway Line 2, get off at Qianmen Station (Exit A), walk north through the Tiananmen Square, pass the Tiananmen Tower, and then find the Meridian Gate further north.

Best time to visit: Spring and Fall

Tips:

The Forbidden City limits the daily number of visitors to 80,000, and we recommend individual visitors book tickets in advance online

Foreign visitors are required to provide passport numbers and full names when book tickets online.

However English service is not ready yet on the official booking website, so foreigners need to buy tickets through travel agencies or Chinese friends.

We didn't have any issue buying the tickets once we got there. Just be prepared to see huge crowd. We arrived very early and lined up and got our tickets in no time as we were prepared.

At the Imperial Garden.The imperial garden is the smallest of the eight areas of the palace. It is just north of the Forbidden City, facing the door of the divine prowess guarding the North entrance

At each of the four corners of the garden there is a pavilion. They symbolize the four seasons. The most famous one occupies the corner of the East. Built in 1535 and restored during the Qing Dynasty, it is the pavilion that symbolizes spring.

Where are you planning on going on your next trip? Have you been to the Forbidden City in Beijing? Let us know if you have any tips in the comments below. And if you like the post – don't forget to subscribe. You’ll be the first to hear about our updates .