Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

The main southern entrance and largest gate of the Forbidden City. Emperors announced calendar and military victories here. Five arches represent the five Confucian virtues.

The largest and most important hall where emperors held grand ceremonies, coronations, and state events. Standing approximately 30 meters tall on a three-tiered white marble platform, it houses the iconic Dragon Throne. Built during Emperor Yongle's reign and rebuilt during Kangxi period after fire damage. The hall features elaborate dragon motifs on columns, ceiling caissons, and screens, symbolizing supreme imperial power.

Site of imperial examinations (highest-level palace examination) during Qing dynasty. Similar in style to the Hall of Supreme Harmony but smaller, featuring a throne inside. The rear stairway showcases the largest carved stone slab in the palace (over 200 tons), depicting dragons among clouds. Also served as a venue for ceremonial rehearsals and imperial banquets.

The largest hall in the Inner Court, located on the northern end of the central axis. During the Ming Dynasty, it served as the emperor's bedroom with nine rooms and 27 beds (emperor would randomly choose a different bed each night for security). After Emperor Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty, emperors moved to the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin Dian), and this palace became a venue for receiving ministers, holding audiences, and state banquets. The famous plaque 'Upright and Bright' (正大光明) hangs above the throne, symbolizing just and honest imperial rule.

Located at the northernmost end of the central axis, this elegant garden served as the private recreational space for emperors and empresses for reading, tea appreciation, and strolling. Though compact, it showcases masterful layout integrating buildings, rockeries, and water features. Key structures include Qianqiu Ting (Pavilion of Thousand Autumns, square plan with circular roof), Chengrui Ting and Fubi Ting (twin pavilions flanking small arched bridges over square fish ponds), and Jiangxue Xuan (Bower of Crimson Snow, where Kangxi and Qianlong composed poetry). The garden features ancient cypress trees over 400 years old and symmetrical four-corner pavilions forming a balanced composition with the central axis buildings.

Located in the Ningshou Palace area, this exhibition showcases approximately 400 exquisite pieces carefully selected from the Palace Museum's collection of over 1.8 million artifacts. The gallery is divided into themed sections: jewelry, gold and silverware, jade artifacts, and gemstone bonsai. Notable treasures include the Phoenix Crown of Empress Xiaojing (height 35.5cm, weight 2.95kg, adorned with over 3,400 gemstones and pearls - considered one of China's finest phoenix crowns), the Gold 'Everlasting Unity Cup' (pure gold with elephant trunk feet, twin dragon handles, inlaid with pearls and sapphires), and magnificent jade mountain carvings depicting landscapes and figures. Separate ticket required (¥10).

Located in the former Fengxian Hall area and opened to the public on January 17, 2019, this exhibition features 82 exquisite timepieces from the 18th and 19th centuries - including 21 Chinese-made clocks and 61 Western clocks from Britain, France, and Switzerland. Many pieces feature complex mechanical systems such as writing automatons, moving figurines, elephant-drawn carriages, and combined functions of timekeeping, music performance, and animated displays. The Qing emperors were particularly fascinated by these mechanical wonders. Separate ticket required (¥10).