The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, is one of the most visited museums in the world, receiving more than 17 million visitors every year. Here we have listed four tour routes cater to different visitors.
One-day Tour
Recommended reason: Suitable for people with enough time and want to know the Forbidden City better
Route:
The Meridian Gate(Wu men) - Painting and Calligraphy Gallery - Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian) - Ceramics Gallery - Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) - Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) - Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) - Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) - Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) - Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) - Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) - Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) - Area of Six Western Palaces - Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan) - Area of Six Eastern Palaces - Hall of Clocks - Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian) - "The Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Qing Imperial Opera" - Area of Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou gong) - Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
Half-a-day Tour (Plan A)
Recommended reason: Most common route, special for Six Western Palaces
Route:
The Meridian Gate (Wu men) - Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian), The Ceramics Gallery -Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) - Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) - Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) - Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian), Hall of Clocks - Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) - Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) - Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) - Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) - Area of Six Western Palaces (Xi liugong qu)- Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan) - Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
Half-a-day Tour (Plan B)
Recommended reason: Most common route, special for Six Eastern Palaces
Route:
Meridian Gate (Wu men) - Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian): Painting and Calligraphy Gallery - Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) - Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) - Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) - Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) - Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) - Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) - Area of Six Eastern Palaces (Dong liugong qu) - Hall for Abstinence (Zhai gong) - Outer Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery and Stone Drum Gallery - Inner Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery, Opera Gallery, and the Well of Consort Zhen (Zhenfei jing) - Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
2-hour Tour
Recommended reason: Suitable for people with kids or elderly people, have less time or prefer fewer walking
Route:
The Meridian Gate (Wu men) - Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men) - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) - Treasures from the Qing Palace - West corridor rooms to the south of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) - Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian) - Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian) - Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men) - Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong) - Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian) - Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong) - Imperial Garden (Yuhua yuan) - Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
