Forbidden City >> Tours
Forbidden City Tours
Access
The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing, north to the Street of Everlasting Peace and south to the Front Street of Prospect Hill. The bus stops of Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City are very near to the South and North Gates of the Museum, the only two gates open to the public. One could also come to the Museum via subway or taxi. The nearest subway stations are East of Tian'anmen and West of Tian'anmen. The taxi generally charges RMB￥10 within 4 kilometers and RMB ￥1.6 every another kilometer.
Opening Hours
The Forbidden City opens at 8:30. From 16 April t0 15 October, it stops selling tickets at 16:00 and closes at 17:00. From 16 0ctober t0 15 April, it stops selling tickets at 15:30 and closes at 16:30.
Tickets
From l April t0 31 0ctober, an admission ticket costs RMB ￥ 60. From l November t0 31 March, an admission ticket costs RMB ￥40. The Gallery of Treasures and the Gallery of Clocks and Watches charge extra fees. The ticket for entering each gallery costs RMB ￥10.
Best Visiting Routes
There are two main routes to visit the Forbidden City:
(1) From south to north, i.e. The Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Gate of Origination, the Meridian Gate (the South Gate), the Three Front Halls, the Complex of Tranquility and Longevity, the Three Rear Palaces, the Six Eastern Palaces and the Six Western Palaces, the Imperial Garden, the Gate of Spiritual Valor (the North Gate).
(2) From north to south, i.e. The Gate of Spiritual Valor (the North Gate), the Imperial Garden, the Three Rear Palaces, the Six Eastern Palaces and the Six Western Palaces, the Complex of Tranquility and Longevity, the Three Front Halls, the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Meridian Gate (the South Gate), the Gate of Heavenly Peace.
Services
Bag Check
To make your visit more convenient, you may check your bag free of charge at the South or North Gate of the Museum and get it back at either the South or North Gate according to your need.
Public Umbrella
As soon as you enter the Forbidden City, you may get a yellow umbrella for sun shading or rain sheltering. When you leave the Museum, our staff will retrieve it.
Guide
At the South and North Gates, one may f\nd tour guides and audio tour, which is recorded in over ten languages and whose rent is RMB￥10
Restroom
Free four-star restrooms with air-conditioned lounges are available at the west side of the Meridian Gate, south side )f the Gate of Prospering Fortune, both sides of the Gate of Heavenly Purity and the Imperial Garden as well as the north side of the East Alley.
Broadcasting Station
If you visit the Museum together with your friends but get lost, you could try to find your friends with the help of the broadcasting station located at the east side of the square Before the Gate of Heavenly Purity. Its telephone number is 85117245.
Post Office
If you would like to post your belongings or postcards back home, please come to the post office in the courtyard behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Police Substation
If you run up against difficulty or emergency, please call 85117555 0r 85117557. Police will help you.
Visitor Center
If you do have any questions about the Museum, please come to the visitor center in the Arrow Pavilion. Its telephone number is 85117243.
First-Aid Station
If you do not feel very well, please come to the first-aid station located near the Gate of Chastity and Obedience. Lts telephone number is 85117425.