I previously have a post on if you only have time for one attraction in Beijing, which will you choose, The Forbidden City or The Great Wall. The poll can be found here. I chose The Forbidden City for various reason. And now, there is one more reason why you should choose the Forbidden City instead. I recently read an article from Business Insider (if I remember correctly), China is going to restrict the number of visitors to the palace. If this is true, you got to act fast.

 

 

The Beijing Forbidden City is extremely huge. You won’t be able to comb the entire palace even within a day. Depending on how much and how detail do you want to tour the palace and plan accordingly. I spent only half a day in the palace.

 

 

There are two entrance into the palace, either entered from Wumen (午门) or via the North Gate (北门). I chose to get into the palace via the Wumen.

In the palace, there are many halls such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), the Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserved Harmony.

 

 

Each and every halls are used for different purpose and it is very elaborated decorated.

 

 

Not only is the hall richly decorated, even the roof are.

 

 

Around the palace ground, you could see bronze cranes, tortoises

 

 

and lions.

 

 

There are decorations on the roof,

 

 

everywhere, it is decorated with great details.

 

 

 

Even the concubines are living in luxury.

 

 

The Ci Xi Dowager Empress rooms is the only area with a very westernised theme.

 

 

There is even a piano. Wonder if Ci Xi played the piano or it is more of a ornament.

 

 

Within the palace, there is also a garden, with some pavilions and towers for the concubines and emperor to enjoy themselves.

 

 

Finally, I exited via the North Gate (北门).

 

 

As I exited the palace, I saw the Jing Shan Park. You should be able to spot the pavilion, like the one in the photo.

 

 

It was a very tiring half day. I have written a post on the Great Wall as well, to read, click here. So now what would you choose if you only have time for an attraction when in Beijing? The Great Wall or The Forbidden City. I would encourage my read to poll.

 

 

The Forbidden City (故宫)

China, Beijing, Dongcheng, 景山前街4号

 

Opening Hours

 

Tuesday – Sunday 0830 to 1600; Monday 0830 to 1100

 

Getting There

 

By Subway:

• Line 1 – Tiananmen East station (天安门东站)

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Tip: You may want to bring along some water. And if you are going to spend an entire day, you may want to bring some food or snack. Though there are food outlet but there are only a few and are located mainly in the centre of the palace.