A Travel Note on the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City, Which Spans 600 Years

📍 Address: No. 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District, Beijing (Take subway Line 1, get off at Tiananmen East Station or Tiananmen West Station, and walk to the destination) 🎫 Ticket Information: - 🕙 Opening Hours: Peak Season (Apr 1–Oct 31): CNY 60/person Off Season (Nov 1–Mar 31 of the following year): CNY 40/person ❤ Separate tickets are required for the Treasure Gallery and the Clock and Watch Gallery (CNY 10/person for each) ❤ How to purchase tickets: Make a reservation 1–7 days in advance via the official "Palace Museum" mini program (no tickets are sold on site!) 🕒 Opening Hours: Peak Season: 8:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:10) Off Season: 8:30–16:30 (last entry at 15:40) Closed on Mondays (except for public holidays) 🍡 Recommended Snacks Nearby 1. Siji Minfu Peking Roast Duck (Forbidden City Branch) 🍽 The landscape view allows you to photograph the East Gate of the Forbidden City. The roast duck skin is crispy and the meat is tender. You need to queue up in advance! 2. Heyan Roubing (Donghuamen Branch) 🍽 The old Beijing beef pie and sesame sugar pie are amazing. The per capita consumption is CNY 30, which is cost-effective. 3. Forbidden City Corner Tower Cafe ✅ A popular place for Internet-famous photo ops. We recommend the "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains Roll" and "Chocolate, Emperor Kangxi's Favorite." 4. Dawanju (Wangfujing Branch) 🍽 The shredded pork with sweet bean sauce and noodles with soybean paste are authentic. It is a 15-minute walk away. ⚠️ Important Tips 1. Reservation! Reservation! No tickets are sold in the Forbidden City on the day of your visit. Be sure to purchase tickets online in advance and bring your ID card! 2. Avoid crowds: There are the fewest people when it opens in the morning or 1 hour before closing in the afternoon. The central axis (Hall of Supreme Harmony and Palace of Heavenly Purity) is the most crowded. 3. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking the entire time in the Forbidden City, and the stone roads are rough, so don't wear high heels! 4. Free baggage storage is available at the Meridian Gate entrance, and you can pick it up at the Gate of Divine Might exit. 5. Protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated. It is very sunny in summer and windy in winter. It is recommended to wear a hat and bring water (also sold in the museum). ✨ Personal Reflections Standing in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I could almost hear the sound of the bells and drums of the officials paying homage 600 years ago. The symmetrical aesthetics of the red walls and yellow tiles, and every carved beam and painted building, tell the story of the glory and loneliness of imperial power during the Ming and Qing dynasties. I love the corner tower in the sunset the most. The glittering moat reflects the golden light, and you can take great photos with just a snap. ❤ I regret that I didn't have time to visit the Treasure Gallery. Next time, I must see the phoenix crown inlaid with pearls! ❤ Recommended experience: Rent an electronic guide (CNY 20), or listen to stories with a tour guide, otherwise you may just be skimming the surface. ❤ A snow scene in the Forbidden City may be waiting for me to come again in winter. ❄️