Forbidden City
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Forbidden City
Written by Matteo Updated Nov. 15, 2025
The Forbidden City in Beijing is said to be the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world. The home of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 to 1912), the Forbidden City was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1987.
The Forbidden City sits in central Beijing facing Tiananmen Square, and has been designated as a National Palace Museum. The Forbidden City is counted as one of the world's five Palaces (the Forbidden City in Beijing, the French Palace of Versailles, Buckingham Palace, the White House, and the Kremlin).
The palace of the Forbidden City is China's largest and most significant ancient architectural complex, with a total area of over 720 thousand square meters.
How to Visit the Forbidden City
Since the Forbidden City, as you know, has more than 9,999 buildings, it is very easy to get lost for one who is not familiar with Chinese architectural layout, though it is symmetrical. Now I will take you for a virtual tour around the mysterious palace complex. Follow me and don't get yourself lost!
Now start your tour in the Forbidden City from Wumen, called Meridian Gate in English. It is also named Five-Phoenix Tower, Wufenglou in Chinese, for it looks like a phoenix with five pavilion buildings up there.
It's the main gate and the south gate of the Forbidden City. Inside the Meridian Gate, there appear Inner Golden Water Bridges. Water flows beneath these white marble bridges.
The GoldenWaterRiver of this section is very gorgeous, well-decorated. The riverbed and the bank were paved with white stones. Decorative marble columns and banisters were established along the river.
Standing on the bridges, one can see a grand structure called Taihemen (Gate of Supreme Harmony), which is the most marvelous gate in the city and guarded by a couple of bronze lions in front.
On the square between Taihemen and Wumen, imperial honor guards proceeded with preparations before grand ceremonies.
The three main halls of the outer court, Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony), Zhonghedian (Hall of Central Harmony), and Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony), sit in line inside the gate. These halls all sit on three-tier marble terraces, with marble balustrades decorated.
A stone ramp carved with coiled dragons and clouds is located in the middle of the steps leading up to each hall. The ramp of Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony) is the largest one.
The first and grandest hall is Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony), where emperors executed their autocracy over the whole country. It is the place where emperors ascended the throne and granted formal interviews to officials, and important events were celebrated.
The hall was flanked by Wenhuadian (Hall of Literary Glory) and Wuyingdian (Hall of Martial Valor). The former, on the right side, used to be the study of the crown princes, where banquets and some rites were held.
The latter, on the left side, is the imperial press where many books were compiled and published, and where Li Zicheng, the famous peasants' uprising, ascended his throne after overthrowing the Ming dynasty.
On the North of Wenhuadian lies Wenyuange (Pavilion of Literary Source), the imperial library where the world's largest encyclopedia, Sikuquanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasures of Knowledge), was housed.
The library architecture has many Chinese cultural facts in its structure and decoration. Nanxundian (South Fragrance Hall) near Wuyingdian is where portraits of emperors of dynasties are kept.
Behind Taihedian is Zhonghedian (Hall of Central Harmony), a square building much smaller than Taihedian. It was the place where the emperor rested on his way to Taihedian and interviewed his ministers or officials from the Ministry of Rites, and rehearsals for ceremonies were also held here.
Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony), the second largest structure in the palace, is the rear hall of the Outer Court. Imperial banquets were often given here to entertain high officials. Emperors presided over the final stage of national examinations to select officials from intellectuals all over the country in this hall.
Getting out of the Baohedian, visitors will see Qianqingmen(Gate of Celestial Purity), which is the boundary of the Outer Court and the Inner Court. Inside the gate, the royal family resides.
In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi often heard reports from high officials and issued his orders under the gate. The Inner Court is divided into three parts. The three halls on the central axis are the main structures, and they are smaller in size than the three halls in the Outer Court, although they look the same in style.
Xiliugong (Six Western Palaces) and Dongliugong (Six Eastern Palaces) are also important structure complexes, where the emperors' concubines lived.
The first hall inside the Qianqingmen is Qianqinggong - Palace of Celestial Purity, which was originally the bedroom of emperors as well as their office. Emperors also gave banquets here.
Behind it is a smaller hall named Jiaotaidian (Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union), where empresses received greetings from other concubines. It was used to store the emperor and empress's imperial seals. The third hall on the central axis is Kunninggong (Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility), which was the empress' bedroom.
On the left side of the Inner Court, Yangxindian (Hall of Mental Cultivation) and Xiliugong (Six Western Palaces) stand from north to south. Yangxindian (Hall of Mental Cultivation) was an important hall in the palace since Emperor Yongzheng; most emperors later lived and attended to state affairs here.
North of Yangxindian, there locates Xiliugong (Six Western Palaces) is located, which consists of Yongshougong (Palace of Eternal Longevity), Yikungong (Palace of the Queen Consort), Chuxiugong (Palace for Gathering Elegance), Taijidian (Hall of the Supreme Pole), Changchungong (Palace of Eternal Spring), and Xianfugong (Palace of Universal Happiness). The former three are on the right and the latter three on the left of an alley which goes from north to south.
On the right side of the Outer Court, viz. east side, there are Fengxiandian(Hall for Ancestral Worship), Zhaigong (Palace of Abstinence) where emperors practiced abstinence a few days before going to offer sacrifices at theTemple of Heaven or the Temple of Earth, and Dongliugong (Six Eastern Palaces)which consists of Jingrengong (Palace of Great Benevolence), Chengqiangong (Palace of Celestial Favour), Yonghegong (Palace of Eternal Harmony), Jingyanggong (Palace of Great Brilliance), Zhongcuigong (Palace of Purity) and Yanxigong (Palace of Lasting Happiness).
In a separate enclosure further east are two palaces which Emperor Qianlong built for his abdication. They are Ningshougong (Palace of Tranquil Longevity)and Huangjidian (Hall of Imperial Supremacy).
Further north, there are Yangxingdian (Hall of Temper Cultivation), Leshoutang (Hall of Joyful Longevity), and Yihexuan (Pavilion of Sustained Harmony). Now, most of these palaces on the east are exhibition halls displaying different curiosities.
North of the Inner Court is Yuhuayuan (Imperial Garden). Though small in size, it is exquisitely laid out with towers, pavilions, artificial hills, springs, rocks, old trees, flowers, and lawns - a replica of the gardens of southern China.
Just behind the garden is Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Might), the rear gate of the Forbidden City. On the gate, there was a drum and a bell. The bell used to toll 108 times to announce a new day while the drum rataplaned the time in the night.
The middle route (recommended): Meridian Gate → The Halls in Taihemen→ Qianqingmen→ Jiaotaidian→ Kunninggong→ Imperial Garden → Shenwumen
The East Route: Meridian Gate → the three Hall of Taihemen→ Qianqingmen→ Six Eastern Palace → Ningshougong→ Zhenfei Well
The West Route: Meridian Gate → The Hall of Taihemen→ Qianqinggong → Yangxin Hall→ Six Western Palaces
Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City
The best time to visit the Forbidden City is from late April to early June, and late August to the end of November. The weather in these months is good, with not too much rain. Late April to early June is springtime in Beijing. The spring blossoms in the Imperial Palace are gorgeous.
Forbidden City Layout
According to the theory of ancient Chinese astrology, the location of the palace is in transit, regarded as the Celestial Emperor, corresponding to heaven. There is an axis that runs through the Forbidden City, and this represents the royal supremacy. The three main halls, the imperial harems, and the imperial garden are all situated on this central axis.
Rooms on both sides of the axis are symmetrically distributed in many palaces do not lack magnificence. These rooms can be divided into two parts - the outer court and the inner court.
The outer court consists of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserve as the three main halls; Wenhua Hall and Wuying Hall are the two wings.
The inner court consists of the Hall of Celestial Purity, the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union, and Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility, and the six rooms on the east and west for its two wings. There is a strict and orderly layout.
At the four corners of the Forbidden City lay delicate and exquisite turrets, which were for observation and defense. The Forbidden City is built in a square shape, and the inner city is surrounded by a 10-meter-high, 3400-meter-long wall. Outside the wall is a 52-meter-wide moat.
Meridian Gate
The Meridian Gate, in Chinese, is the southern entrance of the Forbidden City. Since Chinese emperors believed that they were sons of Heaven and should live in the center of the universe, and they believed the Meridian Line went through the Forbidden City, the gate was named so.
The grand gate, consisting of five openings, is the largest gate and main gate of the Forbidden City, 35.6 meters high and surmounted by five pavilions, named Wufenglou, viz. FivePhoenixTower.
In FivePhoenixTower, there are drums which were used to announce emperors' departure to the Temple of Heaven and bells which were used to announce their departure to the AncestralTemple. Both tolls announced that the emperor was going to receive his ministers in Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony).
There were strict rules to follow when people entered the Forbidden City. Entering through the central opening was the emperors' exclusive privilege, while their empresses were allowed to go through the opening once on their wedding day.
The top three in the national examinations, presided over by emperors on the final stage, would be honored to strut through the arched hole after receiving the emperors' interview. The east opening was for the ministers, while the west opening was for the royal family. The other openings were for petty officials. Ordinary people were forbidden to enter the city.
In ancient times, emperors would bestow food to ministers on days of important Chinese solar terms. On the first of October on the solar calendar every year, emperors would issue the following year. After wars, Emperors would receive captives themselves here. Also on the left side of the Imperial Way, which goes through the central opening, baculine penalty would be executed on those who offended the emperors.
Gate of Supreme Harmony
Behind the Meridian Gate, Wumen, you can see five bridges and the courtyard beyond. Further north in the center, it is Taihemen, the Gate of Supreme Harmony.
The river is called the Inner Golden River, and the bridges are called the Inner Golden River Bridges. The central bridge is reserved for emperors exclusively. The two flanking it are reserved for royal family members, while the two outside are for ordinary officials.
The bridges are well decorated with marble balustrades carved with motifs of dragon and phoenix. The river serves as a fire hydrant in case of fire, as well as decorations.
The courtyard beyond covers a space of 10,000 square meters. There are no trees on the square since in ancient China, emperors considered themselves the Son of Heaven, born to reign over the country, so they should occupy the highest position. Nothing was allowed to overwhelm the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the highest building in the Forbidden City, and trees were no exception. Certainly, there are many other stories about this strange arrangement.
You will be astonished when you are informed that the ground in the palace was laid in a very special way - seven layers lengthwise and eight layers crosswise, totaling fifteen layers to protect assassins from digging tunnels into the palace. And the bricks were specially made to sound nice when walking on.
The rooms on each side were said to serve as warehouses for storing such items as fur, porcelain, silver, tea, silk, satin, and clothes.
Taihemen, north of the square, is the main gate of the Outer Court and fairly grand. The gate is guarded by a couple of gilded bronze lions, which were intended to show imperial dignity. The east one is male, with its front right paw put on a ball, meaning imperial power extended worldwide. The lioness on the west puts its front left paw on a lion cub, indicating a prosperously growing family.
The gate is an important place where emperors' wedding ceremonies were usually held, and in October of the first year under the reign of the Qing dynasty, Emperor Shunzhi announced an act of grace.
Three Great Halls
The imposing Three Great Halls are built on broad terraces and decorated with carved pillars. The ornamental Dragon's head at the base of each pillar serves the practical purpose of water drainage. If you visit the palace on a rainy day, you will witness the magnificent sight of 1,142 dragons on the three terraces simultaneously spitting rainwater from their mouths.
Three flights of steps, the middle of which is decorated with slabs of exquisitely carved marble, connect the three terraces along the central Imperial Way. The stairs to the north of the Hall of Preserving Harmony are the most spectacular of all.
Large marble panels are framed with an order of flowers and ocean waves. In the center, a sea of curled clouds set off groups of nine (the imperial number) coiling dragons (the emperor's symbol) rising from their midst. These stone carvings are considered to be some of the finest in China.
Hall of Supreme Harmony
Entering Taihemen, you will see Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony) across the spacious square, which covers a space of 30,000 square meters. Sitting on a three-tier marble terrace, the grandest timber framework ever in China will overwhelm anyone.
The hall was first built in 1406 and was repaired many times later. As the heart of the Forbidden City, the so-called Golden Carriage used to be the place where emperors received high officials and practiced their rule over the nation. Also, grand ceremonies would be held to celebrate the new emperor's ascending to the throne, the emperors' birthdays and wedding ceremonies, and other important occasions such as the Winter Solstice, the Chinese New Year, and dispatching generals into war fields.
Along the three-tier terrace stairs, there are 18 bronze Dings, a kind of ancient Chinese vessel, to represent 18 provinces of the nation then. On the terrace, which was luxuriously balustraded, a bronze crane and a bronze tortoise can be seen.
They were put there to expect everlasting rule and longevity. The marble Rigui, an ancient timer in the east, and the Jialiang, an ancient measuring vessel in the west, were put there to show that emperors were just and fair. In front of the hall, there are a couple of gilded bronze vats, which were used to hold water in case of fire. Behind the hall stands.
Since the Hall of Supreme Harmony was a symbol of imperial power, it was the highest structure in the Ming and Qing dynasties in the nation; no other buildings were allowed to be higher than it.
The heavily glazed hall is 35.02 meters high and 37.44 meters if rooftop decoration is counted, and 63.96 meters in width and 37.2 meters in length respectively. There is a total of 72 pillars standing in six rows to support the roof. Gates and windows were embossed with clouds and dragons.
Inside the hall, the floor was paved with special bricks which were fired long ago and then soaked in tung oil to be polished. As a symbol of imperial power, the sandalwood throne, standing on a two-meter-high platform, is located in the center of the hall and enclosed within six thick gold-lacquered pillars painted with dragons.
The golden throne is carved with dragons all over. Around the throne stand two bronze cranes, an elephant-shaped incense burner, and tripods in the shape of mythical beasts. The hall is heavily painted with dragons, having an aura of solemnity and mystery. In the middle of the ceiling is the design of two dragons playing with pearls.
They were made of glass and painted with mercury. The pearl was said to be able to detect any usurper of imperial power. If anyone who was not the descendant of the Emperor Huang Di usurped the throne, it would drop down and strike him to death.
Hall of Central Harmony
Zhonghedian, the Hall of Central Harmony, was originally built in 1420 and restored in 1627 and again in 1765. It is square rather than rectangular, like the other two in the Outer Court. It is the smallest of the three main halls in the Outer Court.
It served as a restroom when emperors were going to present ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony on their way there. Here, they would interview their ministers of right. Annually, before their departure to important sacrifice rites held at the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, etc., emperors would browse elegiac addresses in the hall.
Before their departure to the Temple of Ancestor Farmer, they would also inspect seeds and farming tools they would use in the ceremony. In the Qing dynasty, it was prescribed that the imperial genealogy should be revised every ten years. The ceremony of presenting the revision to the emperor and His Majesty's approval would also be held here.
Inside the hall, you can see that there is a golden unicorn on each side of the throne in the center of the hall. The couple of golden unicorns, called luduan in Chinese, were believed to be capable of traveling 9,000 kilometers a day and speaking many languages.