The Forbidden City in a nutshell
The Forbidden City is the former imperial palace in the center of Beijing. Jingshan Park lies to the north of it, the shopping streets of Wangfujing to the east. Today the palace is home to the Palace Museum, which keeps the historic halls open to visitors and shows art and clocks in separate galleries.
The Beijing part of the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The palace in Shenyang joined the same listing in 2004, so Beijing does not have two palaces in the list.
You enter only through the Meridian Gate (Wumen) on the south side. You leave through Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east. For the south side, subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West is the usual approach. Check the current station exit on the day.
What this guide covers
This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Palace Museum, the city of Beijing or any tourism authority, and it does not sell the museum's tickets. It explains how the booking works, when the palace is open, how to walk through it from south to north and what else is worth your time nearby.
You find the ticket prices and the passport rule on the tickets page, the hours and closed days on the opening hours page, and a comparison of guided visits on the tours page. Further pages cover the halls, the history, the last emperor Puyi, the Meridian Gate, the museum galleries, Jingshan Park, visa-free entry to China, the weather and the districts for a hotel.
Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall are separate places with their own rules. They get a short mention here, no more.
Our picks: Forbidden City tours
A licensed guide, the central axis with the Treasure Gallery, and a rickshaw ride through the hutongs.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Forbidden City and hutongs by rickshaw
An English-speaking guide, tickets for the Forbidden City and the Royal Treasure Museum, and a rickshaw ride through Nanluoguxiang. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →
Central axis and Treasure Gallery with a guide
Three hours with an English-speaking guide, with the Forbidden City and Treasure Gallery tickets included. Hotel transfer and tips are extra; the lunch menu only comes with the lunch option.
Check availability →Forbidden City with a licensed guide
An English-speaking licensed guide and the Palace Museum entry are included. The trip to Tiananmen, the ride back to the hotel and tips are not.
Check availability →Forbidden City tours and tickets
Guided walks, private guides and combinations with Tiananmen Square or the Great Wall, with live prices and availability. Check what each tour includes before you book.
Plan your visit
Start with the tickets and the opening hours, then pick the pages you need.
Tickets and reservation
Prices for 2026, who pays less and how the passport booking works.
Tours compared
Ticket only, group walk, private guide or a day with Tiananmen and the Great Wall.
Opening hours
Season times, last entry, the Monday closure and the current closures.
Map and route
The one-way walk from the Meridian Gate in the south to the north exits.
Architecture
The three great halls of the outer court, the inner court and the golden roofs.
History
From the Ming builders to the museum opening in 1925.
The last emperor
Puyi, his abdication in 1912 and the years he still lived in the palace.
The Meridian Gate
The only entrance, the security check and the two exits.
Palace Museum
Treasure Gallery, Clock Gallery and exhibitions with their own booking.
Jingshan Park
The hill north of the palace with the classic view over the golden roofs.
Visa-free entry to China
Which countries, how many days, and the 240-hour transit.
Best time to visit Beijing
Monthly weather and the public holidays that fill the palace.
Where to stay
Districts around the palace and what matters for the entrance.
Good to know in 2026
Points where older guides and websites are out of date.
No regular day tickets
The museum asks for a real-name booking and your original passport. Do not plan on buying a ticket at the gate.
Tickets and reservation →Children are not free everywhere
Free entry under 18 is described for Chinese citizens and for foreign minors with permanent residence in China. Check the child rate on the booking page for your own case.
Who pays what →Last entry is early
The last main entry is 16:00 from April to October and 15:30 from November to March. Monday is closed, apart from public holidays.
Opening hours →Some halls are closed
Wuying Dian has been closed since 19 October 2026. Yanxi Gong is closed from 1 September to 31 October 2026, with the reopening announced for 1 November 2026.
Current closures →Visa-free is dated
Visitors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can enter for up to 30 days, with the current rule running to 31 December 2026. US citizens are not on that list. Check the rules with the embassy before you travel.
Visa-free entry →Forbidden City: frequently asked questions
Is the Forbidden City the same as the Palace Museum?
Almost. The Forbidden City is the historic palace complex. The Palace Museum is the museum founded inside it, with the historic halls and the art collections.
How much does it cost to enter the Forbidden City?
An adult main ticket costs CNY 60 from 1 April to 31 October and CNY 40 from 1 November to 31 March, as listed in 2026. The Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery cost CNY 10 each on top.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. The museum sells no regular day tickets. You book a named ticket and bring the same original passport to the gate. Booking for a day opens 7 days before, at 20:00 Beijing time.
Which day is the Forbidden City closed?
Monday, apart from public holidays. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 08:30. Special openings on single Mondays are announced by the museum and are not a general rule.
Do I have to visit Tiananmen Square first?
No. The museum describes a route to the Meridian Gate that does not need a visit to the square. The square has its own reservation and security check.
How long does a visit take?
The museum offers a 2-hour route, a half-day route and a full-day route. Queues and security come on top, so allow more time than the route length alone.