The world’s largest imperial palace turned national museum in Beijing 🇨🇳
An awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City enchants visitors with its sprawling ancient architecture and imperial treasures. Once strictly off-limits to all but the emperor and his court, today this 15th-century walled palace welcomes the public as the Palace Museum.
Constructed from 1406–1420, the Forbidden City served as the seat of power for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. For nearly five centuries it was the exclusive home of the imperial family and the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. In 1987, the palace complex was declared China’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its outstanding significance and influence on architecture.
Covering 720,000 square meters (178 acres) with 980 surviving buildings, the Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world. Its design follows strict Feng Shui principles along a north-south axis: huge courtyards and majestic ceremonial halls in the Outer Court (south), and quieter living quarters and gardens in the Inner Court (north). The iconic red walls, yellow-glazed roofs, and carved dragons exemplify the grandeur of Chinese imperial architecture.
Since 1925, this formerly forbidden palace has operated as a public museum. The Palace Museum houses over 1.8 million artworks and artifacts from the imperial collections. Visitors can admire priceless treasures in the historic halls — from paintings, calligraphy, ceramics and jade to ornate clocks, costumes, bronzes and imperial furnishings. Special exhibits like the Treasure Gallery and Clock Exhibition showcase the most valuable relics of the Ming and Qing emperors.
With around 15–17 million visitors a year, the Forbidden City is the world’s most-visited museum. Crowds are heaviest mid-morning, so it’s best to book tickets online in advance (required, using your passport) and arrive early or later in the afternoon. The site is closed on Mondays (except holidays), and daily visitors are capped at 80,000 for preservation. Wear comfortable shoes to explore the vast grounds. After touring the palace, don’t miss the panoramic view of the golden rooftops from Jingshan Park hill just outside the north gate.
Address: Forbidden City (故宫) — 4 Jingshan Front Street
Fun fact — Legend claims the Forbidden City was built with 9,999 rooms to approach heavenly perfection, but modern surveys count around 8,700 rooms.
