Supreme Harmony
The throne hall.
Melvin Loi from Macau, Macau — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jacob Ehnmark from Sendai, Japan — CC BY 2.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0 · N509FZ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0
The imperial palace complex in the heart of Beijing, built between 1406 and 1420, home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors and the centre of power in China for some 500 years until 1924; it is the largest surviving royal palace complex in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It was called «forbidden» because no one could enter without the emperor's permission. Halls and vast courtyards with gleaming yellow roofs and red walls follow one another along a single axis, and it is said to have 9,999 rooms, though researchers have counted about 8,886. Today it is run by the Palace Museum, which shows huge collections of imperial treasures, from porcelain and paintings to clocks, jewellery and furniture, in the palace halls themselves; among the best-known buildings is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, home of the throne. Tickets are CNY 60 from April to October and CNY 40 in winter and must be booked in advance with your name and passport number; it is closed on Mondays, per visitor guides. Entry is by the south gate only; allow half a day. Avoid the National Day holiday week, 1–7 October, when crowds are extreme.
The throne hall.
Red walls.
In the museum.
Heart of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square
Jingshan ParkAn imperial park of 23 hectares directly north of the Forbidden City, once a pri11 minutes walk4.5
Beihai ParkA former imperial garden north-west of the Forbidden City, first built in the tw15 minutes walk4.6
Tiananmen SquareA vast square in the heart of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen, the «Gate of H16 minutes walk4.5
Wangfujing StreetBeijing's best-known shopping street, a broad pedestrian avenue east of the Forb17 minutes walk4.3Yes. Tickets are booked ahead with your name and passport number and are rarely sold at the gate; it is closed on Mondays, per visitor guides.