The Forbidden City, Beijing. Walk Among Emperors in China’s Imperial Heart

The Forbidden City, Beijing. Big, Impressive, and Easier Than You Think

If you are in Beijing, the Forbidden City is one of those places you kind of have to see. Not because it’s “famous”, but because it actually helps you understand how China worked for hundreds of years. It is huge, yes, but it is also surprisingly straightforward once you are inside.

What the Forbidden City actually is

The Forbidden City was the home of China’s emperors for more than 500 years. It was built in the early 1400s and used by 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today it’s officially called the Palace Museum, but most people still just call it the Forbidden City.

You enter from the south and walk straight through a long line of courtyards, halls, and gates. This was very intentional. Power, hierarchy, and control are baked into the layout. Even if you know nothing about Chinese history, you can feel it just by walking through.

What it’s like to visit

The first thing you notice is the scale. Everything is wide, open, and very symmetrical. Big halls, huge courtyards, and endless roofs with yellow tiles. After a while, some of it can start to blend together, but the main halls are genuinely impressive.

Inside some buildings there are exhibitions with furniture, clothes, paintings, and everyday objects from palace life. Some are more interesting than others. I mostly stuck to the main route and skipped smaller side rooms once it started to feel repetitive.

How much time you actually need

I think 2 to 3 hours is a good sweet spot. Less than that feels rushed. More than 4 hours can get tiring unless you are very into history.

It is easy to combine with Tiananmen Square before, or Jingshan Park after. Jingshan is especially nice if you want a simple overview of the palace from above.

Practical things you should know

• Tickets must be booked online in advance. There is a daily visitor limit, and tickets often sell out. You need passport details to book, and your passport is scanned at the entrance.
• I booked my ticket through etripchina.com, which was straightforward and worked fine for me:
  https://www.etripchina.com/ticket/forbidden-city-ticket-booking.htm
• Price: Around 60 RMB in peak season, cheaper in winter. Some extra exhibitions cost a little more.
• Opening hours: Usually from around 8:30 in the morning, with last entry mid-afternoon depending on the season. Closed on Mondays (except public holidays).
• Wear good shoes. You will walk more than you expect.

Is the Forbidden City worth it?

Yes. Not because it’s fun or interactive, but because it gives context. After visiting, Beijing makes more sense. The scale, the planning, and the way the city was built around power and order.

If you go in expecting a calm walk through history, you will enjoy it. If you expect constant highlights, you might get bored.

For a first trip to Beijing, this is one of the few places I would genuinely call essential.