Bucket list experience:
Beijing, China
Built in the early 15th century, the Forbidden City is a vast palace complex of regal halls, ceremonial courtyards, gardens and living quarters, that served as the home of Chinese emperors and their households for 500 years. Behind its vermilion walls was a closed-off world of antique ritual and intrigue, where the ‘Son of Heaven’ was tended to by an army of servants, eunuchs and concubines.
Today the palace complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest collection of heritage wooden buildings. Officially called the Palace Museum, many of the rooms have been given over to museum exhibits of imperial treasures, from priceless ceramics to Qing-dynasty furniture.
Its central location, historic importance and architectural beauty make this Beijing’s most popular site of interest for tourists.
Among the hundreds of buildings in the Forbidden City, the central Hall of Supreme Harmony is impossible to miss – it’s the largest building in the complex! Inside is the Dragon Throne used for the most important state occasions. The Hall sits on a triple-tiered terrace that mimics the Chinese character for a king.
Mao Zedong’s portrait hangs on the Gate of Heavenly Peace, right at the entrance to the Forbidden City, on the spot where he declared the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.
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Destination Guide >Ticket sales are online only, and with daily visitor numbers capped it is important to buy them in advance. Unfortunately, the official ticket website is only in Chinese, but there is a workaround – you can book your tickets using Trip.com, the popular hotels and flight booking website. Prices are the same as at the official ticket website. Your passport – effectively your ticket – will be scanned at the front entrance.
Official signage at the Forbidden City is limited, and many captions are in Chinese only. Exploring with a tour guide will help shed light on palace life and its colourful occupants. Local guides mill about the entrance, but expert-led organised tours (see recommendations below) are better and will also ensure you get a ticket.
Note – the Forbidden City is separated from Tiananmen Square by the Dongchangan Dajie thoroughfare – an underground walkway connects these two attractions.
It’s open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays.
Weekday early mornings or late afternoons are best, before or after the tourist hordes descend. Much of your time will be spent outdoors, so ideally visit in spring or autumn.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Beijing, China[1.4 miles]
Palatial guest rooms and Forbidden City views make this Beijing’s best hotel for a special occasion splurge. Its Wangfujing location puts the city’s central sights within walking distance.
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Beijing, China[1.6 miles]
Modish design hotel combining Kengo Kuma’s architectural invention with contemporary interiors and top dining.
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Beijing, China[1.7 miles]
Enjoying a central location and huge, all-suite rooms, the long-established Peninsula is a safe bet for a holiday splurge.
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Beijing, China[1.8 miles]
One of Beijing’s most stylish hotels, The Puxuan suits discerning grown-ups seeking a designer splurge. Convenient access to the sights, either by subway or on foot. Excellent restaurants and spa.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
China
A burgeoning megacity with one foot in the past, Beijing is a marvellous melange of UNESCO-listed heritage buildings set within an ever-more tech-forward cityscape. Come for the culture, the people, and of course the food.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Beijing, China[0.7 miles]
Beijing’s best park is also one of its only central hills, offering inspiring views of the Forbidden City. It’s also where elderly locals come to sing, dance and let off steam.
Best for ages: 13+ | £3
Beijing, China[1.1 miles]
Once the preserve of emperors, the sculpted surrounds of Beihai Park are dotted with fascinating temples, halls and pavilions, and crowned by the magnificent White Dagoba, towering over the central boating lake.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Beijing, China[1.5 miles]
Overlooked by a giant portrait of Mao Zedong, this vast and politically-sensitive public space sits at the very heart of modern China, both literally and symbolically.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Beijing, China[3.7 miles]
Beijing’s most spectacular religious site, this palatial temple complex is a reminder of China’s long and complex association with Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Beijing, China[1.5 miles]
Looking out over Tiananmen Square, this is China’s most iconic political building and the meeting place for the National People’s Congress. Inside, you can tour its vast Stalinist auditorium, complete with plexiglass red star in the ceiling. When it’s not in use, you can go in to see the vast Stalinist auditorium, complete with plexiglass red star in the ceiling.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Beijing, China[1.5 miles]
The National Museum of China contains a humongous cache of bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist art and jade dating back through the dynasties. The bombastic ‘Road to Rejuvenation’ exhibition traces China’s rise from the 1840-42 Opium War with Britain to the country’s 21st century space programme.
Best for ages: 13+ | £5
Beijing, China[1.8 miles]
Visitors line up in droves to shuffle past Mao’s embalmed corpse, on display in a mausoleum in the middle of Tiananmen Square. Guards keep the crowds moving through to the gift shop full of Mao-themed souvenirs.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Beijing, China[2.5 miles]
Beijing’s official timekeeper since the age of the Mongols, this splendid, 47-meter tall stone tower, facing its compatriot the Drum Tower, houses a gigantic copper bell said to weigh over 60 tons.
Best for ages: 13+ | £3
Round-ups that include this experience
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The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
