Stepping into the Forbidden City on a May morning, the wind is still cool, the golden glazed tiles gleam under the early sun — you will understand why this place is known as the largest well-preserved palace complex in the world. The palace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420–1924) spans 720,000 m² right in the heart of Beijing, preserving nearly 1,000 buildings and over 9,000 rooms rich in ancient Chinese spirit.

Starting your journey from the Meridian Gate, you will pass through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony – the three great ceremonial halls. Looking up at the golden dragon winding around the ceiling of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, hearing the sound of leather shoes tapping on the white marble – it feels as if you are a minister attending the imperial court ceremony. The deeper you go to the north, the quieter the space becomes: the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the imperial garden with ancient cypress trees over 400 years old.

The architecture here is a masterpiece of feng shui: a straight north-south axis, every golden-tiled roof reserved for the emperor, and the bright red corridors symbolizing the fire element. Don’t miss the Treasury and Clock Gallery to the east – where exquisite treasures, and intricate mechanical clocks gifted by European missionaries are kept.

Visitor tips: The Forbidden City opens from 8:30 AM to 5 PM (summer), closed on Mondays. Admission is about 60 RMB (~210,000 VND), plus 10 RMB for the Treasury. Book tickets online 7 days in advance through the official website en.dpm.org.cn due to a visitor limit of 80,000 per day. It is advisable to go early in the morning to avoid the sun and crowds, and prepare comfortable flat shoes as the complex is vast – it takes about 4–5 hours to explore fully. An English audio guide is available for 40 RMB.

Stepping out of the Shenwu Gate at the north entrance, climbing up Jingshan Hill directly opposite will provide the best panoramic view of the Forbidden City. In the moment when the golden sunset blankets the rooftops, you will understand why every brick here has its own story.

Content generated by AI. Illustrative image: iVIVU.com. Reference information: Beijing travel guide – iVIVU & Official website of the Palace Museum en.dpm.org.cn.