The Forbidden City (Gugong)

The Forbidden City, also called Gugong (故宫), sits at the heart of Beijing. It was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The complex covers about 720,000 square meters. It contains more than 70 palaces and 8,707 rooms — the largest and best-preserved ancient palace complex in the world. In total there are 980 buildings and over 8,700 rooms.

It is considered the foremost of China's five great palaces and is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

The Forbidden City was completed in 1420 and was home to 24 Chinese emperors. The last emperor to live here was Puyi, the final emperor in Chinese history.

Seven must-see highlights

1. Meridian Gate (午门) — This is the main gate of the Forbidden City.
2. Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿) — One of the central buildings of the palace, where emperors held major ceremonies such as coronations, imperial weddings, and important state rituals. Famous emperors like Kangxi and Qianlong held their enthronement ceremonies here. The square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony can hold tens of thousands of people.
3. Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫) — Used by emperors for daily business and meetings with high officials; it also served as the sleeping quarters for some emperors.
4. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫) — Originally the empress's residence, it was later repurposed for certain shamanic ceremonies.
5. Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) — One of the Palace Museum’s permanent exhibition halls. The museum holds over one million artifacts; the Treasure Gallery displays a selection of the most precious items. Around 400 treasures are on regular display. There is an extra entrance fee (about 10 RMB), but it’s worth a visit.
6. Clock Gallery (钟表馆) — Houses the imperial collection of clocks and watches. A small extra fee (about 10 RMB) is required to enter.
7. Imperial Garden (御花园) — The palace garden where the imperial family relaxed and walked. It features classic Chinese garden scenery and is a good spot for photos.

The Forbidden City is one of China’s most famous attractions. Visits usually require advance booking. I recommend hiring a guide who knows Chinese history — listening to the stories while you walk through makes the visit much more enjoyable.