The flowers are blooming in the Forbidden City!

My Forbidden City adventure: An ultra-detailed guide Hey everyone! I recently visited the Palace Museum, which I had been dreaming of for so long, and I was completely blown away by the charm of this ancient palace! Now, I'm sharing my travel guide with you, so you can also have an amazing trip to the Forbidden City. Make sure you prepare in advance 1. Ticket booking: Be sure to book in advance via the "Palace Museum" WeChat mini program. Tickets are released 7 days in advance at 20:00, so set an alarm to waitlist! Especially during holidays, tickets are extremely popular. I booked a week in advance, and I almost didn't get one. 2. Opening hours: Closed every Monday throughout the year (except for public holidays). Peak season (April 1–October 31): open from 8:30–17:00, last entry at 16:00; Off-season (November 1–March 31 of the following year): open from 8:30–16:30, last entry at 15:30. Plan your time accordingly, and don't arrive to find it closed. 3. Ticket price: CNY 60/person in peak season, CNY 40/person in off-season; Treasure Gallery and Clock and Watch Gallery tickets are sold separately, CNY 10/person each. There are discounts for students and seniors, so remember to bring your relevant ID. 4. Transportation guide: Take subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East Station, exit from Exit C, and walk for about 10 minutes to reach the Meridian Gate (the entrance to the Forbidden City). If you take the bus, there are many bus lines to Tiananmen East Station and Tiananmen West Station. Tips for entering the park 1. Avoid peak times: Try not to choose weekends and holidays, as it's terribly crowded. If you have time on a working day, I highly recommend going on a working day. If you can only go on the weekend, go early to queue up, or enter the park around 13:00 to avoid the peak entry time around 10:00 in the morning. 2. Fast entry: If you don't want to queue for too long, try walking from Donghua Gate to the Meridian Gate, as this route is relatively less crowded. If you enter from Tiananmen, the security check queue may be a bit longer. Recommended routes 1. Full-day tour route (deep tour, approx. 8 hours): - Meridian Gate: The south gate of the Forbidden City, and also the starting point of the visit. You can also climb the city tower to see the scenery and special exhibitions, but it's very crowded, so take the opportunity to take photos quickly. - Gate of Supreme Harmony: After passing through the Meridian Gate, this is the prelude to entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The architecture is grand and solemn, and you can feel the royal majesty. - Hall of Supreme Harmony: One of the core buildings of the Forbidden City, where the emperor held grand ceremonies. It's super spectacular, and the interior is beautifully decorated, so be sure to take your time to appreciate it. - Hall of Central Harmony: Located between the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, it's where the emperor carried out ritual activities. Although it's not big, the architecture is exquisite. - Hall of Preserving Harmony: Mostly used for banquets and palace examinations. The architectural style is unique, and you can imagine the scene of ancient palace examinations here. - Qianqing Gate: The gate of the inner court. After passing through this gate, you can feel the privacy and luxury of royal life. - Palace of Heavenly Purity: The emperor's bedroom, where you can learn about the emperor's daily life. The furnishings inside are very particular. - Hall of Union: The place where the empress received the canonization and celebrations. It forms the "Three Palaces of the Rear" with the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. The decoration is very exquisite. - Palace of Earthly Tranquility: The place where the empress lived. It's now also a famous food check-in point in the Forbidden City. You can try the Forbidden City afternoon tea. Peanut cheese and waxberry drink are very good, with an average cost of about CNY 50 per person. - Imperial Garden: The largest garden in the Forbidden City, with pavilions, terraces and open halls, small bridges and flowing water. If you're tired from walking, take a break here, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and feel super relaxed. - Six Eastern Palaces (such as Yanxi Palace and Jingren Palace): The residences of the concubines of the harem. Each palace has its own story, and you can feel the atmosphere of ancient court life. - Treasure Gallery: A must-see! It displays all kinds of rare treasures. Although you need to buy an extra ticket, it's definitely worth the money. You can see many rare treasures. - Clock and Watch Gallery: Displays exquisite ancient clocks and watches, the integration of Chinese and Western clock and watch technology, which makes people marvel at the wisdom of the ancients. - Gate of Divine Might: The north gate of the Forbidden City, and also the end of the visit. From here, you can go to Jingshan Park to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City. 2. Half-day tour route (highlights tour, approx. 3–4 hours): - Meridian Gate: Start your Forbidden City tour. - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Hall of Preserving Harmony: Quickly tour the three main halls on the central axis and feel the solemnity of the Forbidden City. - Palace of Heavenly Purity - Hall of Union - Palace of Earthly Tranquility: In-depth understanding of the royal life of the inner court. - Treasure Gallery: Focus on visiting and admiring ancient treasures. - Imperial Garden: Take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the garden. - Gate of Divine Might: End the half-day trip. Photo check-in points 1. Jinshui Bridge inside the Gate of Supreme Harmony: With the bridge and the palace as the background, any photo will look good. 2. Red wall on the north side of the Meridian Gate: The classic red wall background makes portraits super atmospheric. 3. Railings on the south side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony: You can take a panoramic view of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is super shocking. 4. East Courtyard of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility: Go around 3pm, the light is good, and you don't have to queue, so the photos are great. Helpful tips 1. Dress comfortably: The Forbidden City is very large, and you have to walk a lot, so be sure to wear comfortable sneakers or flats, otherwise your feet will hurt a lot after a day. 2. Sun protection: There is almost no shade in the Forbidden City. If you go in summer, apply sunscreen, wear a hat and sunglasses, otherwise you will get tanned. 3. Luggage storage: If you have large luggage, you can store it at the storage area at the Meridian Gate, and pick it up at the Gate of Divine Might 2 hours later, which is very convenient. 4. Plan exhibitions in advance: There are many special exhibitions in the Forbidden City that need to be booked in advance. Check the official website or mini program before you go, and plan the exhibitions and palaces you are interested in, so you don't miss the exhibitions you want to see. 5. Observe the regulations: Smoking, climbing ancient buildings, and touching cultural relics are prohibited. Protect cultural heritage and be a civilized tourist. Okay, that's all for my Palace Museum travel guide. I hope it can help those who want to go to the Forbidden City. I wish you all a wonderful time in the Forbidden City and feel the unique charm of this ancient palace!