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🏯 Beijing · Attraction
The Forbidden City故宫
600 years of imperial China in 9,999 rooms
600 years of imperial China in 9,999 rooms
The world's largest palace complex — 180 acres, 980 buildings, 600 years of imperial history. The Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today the Palace Museum houses over 1.8 million artifacts, making it one of the world's greatest art collections.
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Address: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
The easiest way to reach The Forbidden City is by Didi (China's ride-hailing app, similar to Uber). Download the Didi app and link your international credit card before arriving in China. Show the driver the Chinese name: 故宫.
Metro is also available for most attractions — check the city metro map and look for the nearest station. All metro signs in Beijing are bilingual (Chinese and English).
Citizens of 54+ countries including the USA, UK, EU nations, Canada, and Australia can visit China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. The Forbidden City is fully accessible during a visa-free transit stay.
Read the Full Visa-Free Guide →The most scenic section — with a toboggan slide descent
Where emperors prayed for good harvests since 1420
The soul of old Beijing — ancient lanes unchanged for centuries