FC06: Half Day Forbidden City Tour by Public Transport

The Forbidden City is axially symmetrical, with the most important and grandest palaces and halls on the central axis and less important ones on two wings. A tour along the central axis is a must, needing 2 hours or so. If you have more time, include some essences on the two wings. Below is a classic half-day tour along central axis with some important sites on two wings. 

 This is a guided tour by eco-friendly public transport. If you need a private car, feel free to contact our travel consultants to arrange it for you.

At the appointed time today, our experienced English-speaking guide will pick you up from your own booked hotel and escort you to the Forbidden City directly by subway or bus. He or she will choose the best way to travel there, according to the location of your hotel.

 By Subway: Take subway line 1 to Tian’anmen East or Tian’anmen West Station. On arrival, get out from exits B and you will see the Tian’anmen Tower. The Forbidden City is right behind it.
 By city bus: You need to take city buses 1, 2, 5, 52, 59, 82, 120, or Sightseeing Bus Line 1 or 2 to Tian’anmen East or Tian’anmen West stop, then walk northward to get there.

Meridian Gate (Southern Gate) → Inner Golden Water River Bridge → Hall of Literary Glory → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserved Harmony → Hall for Ancestry Worship → Gate of Heavenly Purity → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Hall of Mental Cultivation → Six Western Palaces → Imperial Garden → Gate of Divine Prowess (Northern Gate)

 Admission fee: April - October: CNY60; November - March: CNY40
 Opening Time: April - October: 8:30 - 17:00; November - March: 8:30 - 16:30; it is closed on every Monday except public holidays.

The guide will accompany you to enter from the only entrance, the southern Meridian Gate. Inside, you will see five white marble bridges above a winding river immediately. It was dug out for fire protection and flood control.

Then head east to visit the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian). It was where emperors held reading reports on learning classic Chinese books. The scholars' papers after the final imperial examinations were also graded here. It is now used to exhibit some of the best paintings and calligraphies of China. 

Turn west to the central axis, the guide will lead you to the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen), the gate to the Outer Court where emperors held state affairs. It was here that the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) held morning courts. 

Behind it, is a big square and the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), the grandest palace of the whole royal palace is on its northern end. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is where the emperors held important national events and ceremonies.

Keep moving north along the central axis, you will see the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) and Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian) one by one. Before the big events and ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, emperors would get dressed in the Hall of Preserved Harmony and take a rest in the Hall of Central Harmony. In the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), the Hall of Preserved Harmony was also where the final imperial examinations were held. 

Coming out of the Hall of Preserved Harmony, the visit to the Outer Court will be over and go on to the Inner Court, the residential area of the royal palace. 

First, you are recommended to see the Hall for Ancestry Worship (Fengxiandian) on the east wing, actually a temple.

Next, follow the guide back to the central axis and walk through the Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqingmen) to admire the three main palaces of the Inner Court, namely Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian), and Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong) from south to north. 

Palace of Heavenly Purity was the residence of the emperors. In Ming Dynasty, it was divided into 9 rooms on two floors and equipped with 27 beds. No one knew which bed the emperor would sleep on, by which way to ensure his safety. In the Qing Dynasty, it was used as the office and banquet hall by the emperors. Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the residence of the empresses and later used as a place of sacrifice and the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union in front of it was where empresses accepted greetings on their birthdays. 

When the Palace of Heavenly Purity was used as office and banquet hall by the emperors, they live in the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian) on the west wing and next to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. After visiting the three main halls in the Inner Court, the guide will show you around there. To its north, is the Six Western Palaces (Xiliugong), the residences for the imperial concubines. By visiting it, you will know better about their daily lives. 

Return back to the central axis, you will encounter a scenic place, Imperial Garden, the back garden for imperial families to have fun. It is behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

Coming out of the Imperial Garden, you will reach the northern gate of the Forbidden City, Gate of Divine Prowess, the ending point of this half-day Forbidden City tour. 

Getting out, the guide will lead you back to your hotel by city bus or subway. He or she can also send you to somewhere else in the city per your request.

Public Transport outside the Northern Gate of the Forbidden City

No subway is available. City buses stopping by include lines 58, 101, 103, 109, 124, 128, night 13, Wangfujing Tourism Line, Xidan Tourism Line, and Sightseeing Lines 1, 2 and 3.