How the Forbidden City map works
The palace is laid out on a straight north to south axis, and the visit follows it. You enter at the Meridian Gate (Wumen) in the south and walk north. You leave through Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east. The museum describes the visit as a one-way route from south to north. That does not forbid stepping back inside a courtyard to take a photo or let a group pass.
The Meridian Gate is the only entrance today. Tickets are booked in advance under your real name, and you show the original passport you booked with. The page on tickets and reservation explains the steps. The page on the Meridian Gate covers the security check and the approach.
The route along the central axis
The sequence below is one way to walk the axis, taken from the palace plan. It does not promise that every building on it can be entered.
| Stop | Name | Part of the palace |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meridian Gate (Wumen) | Entrance, south |
| 2 | Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) area | Outer court |
| 3 | Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) | Outer court |
| 4 | Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) | Outer court |
| 5 | Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian) | Outer court |
| 6 | Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong) | Inner court |
| 7 | Hall of Union (Jiaotaidian) | Inner court |
| 8 | Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong) | Inner court |
| 9 | Imperial Garden | North end |
| 10 | Shenwumen | Exit, north |
The three large halls of the outer court come first and are the ceremonial heart of the palace. The inner court behind them is where court life took place. The architecture page explains the halls in more detail.
Our picks: tours along the route
Guided walks that follow the central axis, or combine the palace with the old lanes nearby.
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 visits, ticket bundles and private tours, with live prices and availability.
Choose a route length
The museum separates visitor trails into three categories.
The two-hour trail
Stay on the main axis, from the Meridian Gate through the three outer halls to the inner court and out at the north gate. It suits a short stop in a Beijing day.
The half-day trail
Add the side courtyards and one or both extra galleries. You can look into more halls and still have the afternoon for Jingshan Park or Wangfujing.
The full-day trail
This is for people who want to read the exhibition labels and walk the side palaces. The museum offers it as a trail category, not as a guaranteed walking time. Queues and security checks come on top.
These are categories from the museum, not measured walking times. A busy day makes every length longer, so build in a margin.
Side galleries and paid extras
Two galleries sit off the main axis and need their own ticket.
Treasure Gallery
It lies in the area of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong). The extra ticket costs CNY 10 in 2026, on top of the entrance fee.
Gallery of Clocks
It lies in the area of the Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxiandian). It also costs CNY 10 extra in 2026. Both galleries are optional and not part of the walk along the axis.
Galleries and exhibits →The main ticket costs CNY 60 from 1 April to 31 October and CNY 40 from 1 November to 31 March, as listed in 2026.
Closed areas in autumn 2026
The palace plan shows the open areas. Temporary closures come on top of it.
Wuying Dian
Closed since 19 October 2026 for conservation and a revision of its exhibition. No reopening date has been announced.
Yanxi Gong
Closed from 1 September to 31 October 2026 for protection surveys. The museum has announced the reopening for 1 November 2026.
The Gate of Supreme Harmony area
A construction barrier was announced from 3 August 2026, with no end date in the notice. This affects one part of the axis, not all large halls. Check the current notices before you go.
Before and after the walk
The route connects to places on both sides of the palace.
The Meridian Gate
The only entrance, the security check and the way in.
Architecture of the halls
What the great halls are and how they are built.
Jingshan Park
The hill north of the palace, a short walk after the north exit.
Jingshan Park lies north of the Forbidden City. Wangfujing, a pedestrian shopping district, lies east of it. Which exit suits you depends on where you go next. There is no museum car park, and the lane between Tiananmen and the Meridian Gate is a one-way approach from south to north.
Forbidden City route: frequently asked questions
Which direction do I walk?
From south to north. You enter at the Meridian Gate and leave at Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east. Short steps back inside a courtyard are not a problem.
How long does a visit take?
The museum offers a two-hour, a half-day and a full-day trail. These are route categories, not guaranteed walking times, because queues and security checks vary.
Can I enter every hall on the map?
No. The palace plan marks open areas, and some buildings are closed for conservation. Wuying Dian has been closed since 19 October 2026. Historic room descriptions do not show what is open today.
Are the Treasure Gallery and the Gallery of Clocks worth the extra ticket?
They are optional. Each costs CNY 10 on top of the entrance ticket in 2026. If you only have two hours, stay on the axis and skip them.
Where does the route end?
At Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east. Both serve as exits. The entrance stays at the Meridian Gate.