Beijing Forbidden City Ticket with Optional English Online guide

Nestled in downtown Beijing, the Forbidden City, former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, is now the Palace Museum. Historical Development Built in 1406–1420 (Yongle reign), it housed 24 emperors. Post Puyi’s abdication, an antiquities hall opened in 1914. He was expelled in 1924, and the Palace Museum officially opened on Oct 10, 1925. It became a national cultural relics unit in 1961 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Architectural Layout Covering 961m×753m, it has a 10m wall, 52m moat, four gates and corner towers. Divided into Outer and Inner Courts: the former’s Three Great Halls held grand ceremonies; the latter’s Three Palaces were imperial residences, with the Imperial Garden and Eastern/Western Six Palaces (for concubines) nearby. Cultural Value One of the world’s five great palaces, it is China’s largest intact ancient complex ("9,999 and a half rooms", the "Sea of Palaces")—a peerless masterpiece and humanity’s priceless heritage.