Forbidden City Travel Tips
Tip # 01: Try to Avoid Weekends or Chinese Holidays
The Forbidden City is a must see highlight for every first time visitor to Beijing. Be prepared for crowds of people visiting this complex.Try to avoid visiting the Forbidden City on weekends or public holidays.On these tourist peak days, the hoards of tourists are so thick that you could hardly see anything at all.Many tour groups ( most domestic ones) seem to aggregate and move about with their whistles, banners, and colored caps.In many cases, you have to elbow your way to see and take pictures.We also recommend you come here either early in the morning or in the later afternoon ( not too late to be allowed to enter the museum ) to beat the crowds, enjoy the Forbidden City as it once is before the masses turn up and ruin your photo opportunities.
Tip # 02: Choose the Right Entrance
There are two entrances to the Forbidden City – the southern gate ( Meridian Gate – Wumen) and northern gate (Gate of Divine – Shenwu Men). The southern gate is linked to Tiananmen Square on the south.You have to enter Forbidden City from its southern gate and exit from its northern gate, which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route.Monday is closed.Note: Basically Monday is closed for Forbidden City, but Monday is still open during Chinese Public Holidays.
Tip # 03: Entry Ticket Information
The Museum accepts Master Card, Visa, and PayUnion cards for ticket purchase.You need to show your passport to buy your entrance tickets. Forbidden City Ticketing Purchase is based on real name policy.April 1st – October 31 ( 8:30 – 17:00 )Last Entry at 16:10Tickets sold until 16:00Entrance ticket:RMB 60November 1st – March 31 (8:30 – 16:30)Last Entry at 15:40Tickets sold until 15:30Entrance Ticket: RMB 40There are some exhibits within the complex that require additional tickets to access such as the Treasure Gallery and the Clock and Watch Gallery.Treasure Gallery : RMB 10;Clock and Watch Gallery: RMB 10
Note:
1. Forbidden City is closed for the entire day every Monday, except the Chinese national public holidays and the summer vacation from Jul 01 to Aug. 312. Forbidden City Ticketing Purchase is based on real name policy;3. You need to show your passport to buy your entrance tickets;4. Free of charge for children under 1.2 meters, each required to be escorted by an adult；5. Special 20 yuan tickets are available for China’s elementary, middle school, and university students(including foreign students studying in Chinese universities) with valid student I.D. or certified letter from school administrator (including students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, excluding graduate and adult education students);6. Seniors over 60 years old are entitled to half price by showing a valid ID or passport.
Tip # 04 View the Turrets of Forbidden City and its surrounding moat.
When touring Forbidden City, many people miss visiting the magnificent turrets of Forbidden City and its surrounding moat. There are four beautiful turrets of the same structure on the four corners of Forbidden City.Each turret tower has nine girders, eighteen columns and 72 ridges. The two turrets on the northeast and northwest corners offer the best photo opportunity.The turrets are inaccessible to visitors. People usually finish their visit to Forbidden and exit from its north gate. Then turn either right for the northeast turret tower or left for the northwest turret tower outside Forbidden City.
Tip # 05: Move up to Jingshan Park ( A Panoramic View of Forbidden City)
Jingshan Park is not to be missed, a visit during your tour in Beijing. Jingshan just sits across the north gate of Forbidden City. After finishing your visit of Forbidden City from south to north, you exit from Forbidden City’s north gate.Raising your head, you will find a pavilion with three-layered eaves perched on a hill. The hill is called Jingshan Hill ( Coal Hill or prospect Hill).Jingshan Hill is an ideal place to have a panoramic view of Forbidden City and Beijing as whole.
Tip # 06: Choose Your Right Transportation
How to Get to Forbidden City (Just north of Tiananmen Square )By Bus:For going to the southern gate ( Wu men), take bus No.1, 10, 120, 126, 2, 20, 37, 4, 52, 59, 728, 802, or Te 1, to “Tian’an Men East” (Tian’an men dong). Or take bus No. 1, 10, 22, 37, 4, 5, 52, 728, 802, or Te1, to “Tian’an men West” (Tian’an men xi).By Subway ( going to the south gate ):Metro Line 1: dropp off at Tiananmen West or Tiananmen East Station, walk north through the Tiananmen Tower (Gate of Heavenly Peace), and then you’ll find the Meridian Gate (south gate) of the Forbidden City.Metro Line 2: drop off at Qianmen Station and walk north through the Tiananmen Tower.
How to Leave Forbidden City After Visit
The Transportation at the North Gate of Forbidden City is a bit chaos. It is a bit tricky to use the public transport back to your hotel or other attractions you continue to visit afterwards. A little bit chaotic about the transport in the front of the north gate to Forbidden City when you finish your visit.After visiting Forbidden City and exit from its north gate, most of the visitors want to continue their day trips to other attractions or destinations in Beijing like Jinshan Park ( just opposite the north gate of Forbidden City), Wangfujing Street, Beijing Zoo, Summer Palace, Fragrance Hill, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall, Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station etc.But some of them are totally bewildered by the transporttation at Jinshan Front Street in front of the north gate of Forbidden City, which is inaccessible and blocked by fences on both sides of the road.Please read the following travel information to help plan your day trip:
Jinshan Park ( Prospect Hill or Coal Hill )Jinshan Park is just opposite the north gate of Forbidden City, but you are not allowed to cross the street. To visit Jinshan Park ( Prospect Hill ), you are advised to use the underpass 20 meters in the west.
Beihai Park BeijingThis park is approxi 800 meters west of the north gate of Forbidden City, just 10-minute walking.
Summer PalaceFirst take the underpass to cross the street and walk west to the Bus No.103 and get off at Beijing Zoo Station, then connect Bus 332 for Summer Palace.
Badaling Great WallWalk westward and find the Bus No.5 and drop off at Deshengmen, then connect Bus 877 for Badaling Great Wall.
Temple of HeavenWalk westward for 30 meters and take Bus 814 and get off at Dong Dan, Chongwenmen and Temple of Heaven.
Wangfujing Street or Beijing Railway StationWalk west for 30 meters and take trolley bus No.103 and get off at Wangfujiang or Beijing Railway Station.
Beijing West Railway StationTake the underpass to cross the street and Take bus 109 and get off at Xuanwumen, connect bus No.9 or 703 for Beijing West Railway Station.
Beijing South Railway StationWalk west for 500 meters and take Bus No. 05 and get off at Qianmen, connect Bus 20 for Beijing West Railway Station.
Tiananmen Square or Subway Line 01Walk west for 500 meters and take Bus No. 05
How to take a Beijing TaxiWalk west for 50 meters and call a cab.Taking a rickshaw at the north gate is a rip-off.Don’t ever take a Rickshaw at the north gate of Forbidden City unless you feel like getting lost and extorted.So if you visit Forbidden City by getting to a wrong gate (north gate), don’t use a local rickshaw to get back to the south gate, just walk to the right gate (south gate).For the same reason, if you exit from the north gate after visiting Forbidden City, don’t use a rickshaw for your next place.
Tip # 06: Well Schedule Your Visiting TimeThe Forbidden City is huge, covering an area of 72 hectares. Normally you should cruise through in two or three hours.Plan this together with Tiananmen Square, Jinshan Park or Beihai park. Please keep in mind that Tickets sold until 15:30(November 1st – March 31); Tickets sold until 16:00(April 01 – October).
Tip # 07: Hire a Legal Tour Guide or Audio GuidesThe Forbidden City is much worth visiting, but unless you know the history very well, you should use a Beijing Tour Guides. You are not advised to use the tourist guides around the entrance. They are self-employed tour guides.So, try to find a reliable travel agency for your tour guide services or the Recorded guide. The recorded audio guides: these are available for rent walking from south to north. There are numerous signs in English by each building. An actual book would probably better serve you if you want to understand what you are seeing.
Tip # 08: Dress for the Hot WeatherThere are very few trees with little shade the Forbidden City. It is super hot during the summer. So if coming here in summer, be ready to bring an umbrella for sun protection, bottles of water, and comfy walking shoes. Check Beijing Climate for more information.
Tip # 9 Wear Comfortable ShoesThere are lots of outdoor areas so you can’t do a lot of hiding from the sun or rain. Wear your most comfortable shoes.It’s a long walk! strollers and wheelchairs are available for free at the tourist guide service at both southern gate and the northern gate.
Tip # 10: Avoid Tour Vendors on the StreetThere are some tour vendors at each entrance selling their excursions to the Great Wall. Just ignore all handouts that will be forced upon you. Especially bus tours.
