The Palace Museum is the largest and best preserved wooden palace complex in the world. The Museum, also called the Forbidden City, is located in the center of Beijing. It is considered a jewel in the central axis of Beijing.

The Forbidden City has a length of 961 meters from north to south, and a width of 753 meters from east to west. Surrounded by a 10m high wall on all sides and with a 52m wide moat outside the city, the Forbidden City is as solid as a city built of gold. There are four city gates in the Forbidden City, Wumen Gate to the south, Shenwu Gate to the north, Donghua Gate to the east, and Xihua Gate to the west. At each of the four corners of the city wall, there is an elegant turret. It is said to have 9 beams, 18 columns and 72 roof ridges, which describe the complex structure. The buildings of the Forbidden City are divided into two parts: the outer courtyard and the inner courtyard. In the center of the outer courtyard are located the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserved Harmony, collectively known as the three halls, which are the places where the great ceremonies of the country were held. To the left and right of the three halls are complemented by two groups of buildings: the Hall of Literary Glory and the Hall of Military Eminence.

In the center of the inner courtyard are the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union and Peace, the Hall of Earthly Tranquility, collectively known as the three back palaces, which were the main palaces where the emperor and the queen lived. empress. The Imperial Garden follows behind them. The six eastern palaces and the six western palaces are lined up on both sides of the three rear palaces. They were where the emperor's concubines lived and rested. To the east of the six eastern palaces are Buddhist temple buildings such as the Hall of the Vault of Heaven. And to the west of the six western palaces are buildings such as the Zhongzheng Temple. Outside the outer courtyard and the inner courtyard, there are also two other parts: Eastern Outer Path and Western Outer Path. South of the Eastern Outer Road is Xiefang Hall, where the prince lived, commonly known as the three southern palaces. To the north is the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, built by the Qianlong Emperor for his father. To the south of the Western Outer Road are Cining Palace and Shoukang Palace where the Dowager Empress lived. In the north, in addition to the Shou'an Palace where the Dowager Empress lived, there are also Buddhist temple buildings such as the Yinghua Hall.

Have a palace snack at Wanchun Jinfu Tea House

The Wanchun Jinfu Tea House is located in the East Courtyard of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility of the Forbidden City. In ancient times, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the bedroom of the empress. When you feel tired after touring the Forbidden City, you can have an “Empress Snack,” which is a very special experience.

Go to the store and order a cup of Wanchun Jinfu latte. With the Chinese character "Fu (happiness)" on the coffee, it is very easy to take cute photos. Then order some palace cakes. Each one has traditional characteristics. They are very pretty and delicious.

Address: East Courtyard of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility of the Forbidden City, Beijing

Business hours: 08:30-16:00

Contact number: 18511806586'

See imperial treasures in the Treasure Gallery

The Treasure Gallery is located in the area of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou Gong) in the Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum. Most of the Qing Dynasty treasures collected by the Palace Museum were produced by the Imperial Workshop (Zao Ban Chu), an imperial institution in charge of manufacturing in the Forbidden City. And some treasures were offerings from officials at festivals and ceremonies.