A Journey Through Time: The Forbidden City

When in Beijing, the Forbidden City is a must-see. It's very convenient to buy tickets and make reservations in advance on the mini program. The ticket price is affordable, RMB 60 in the regular season and only RMB 40 in the off-season. For visitors from the south, the Forbidden City was once only seen in TV dramas, but now, seeing it in person, the magnificent palaces and exquisite court artifacts are eye-opening and awe-inspiring. Every inch of land and every brick and tile here seems to tell the story of history's vicissitudes and glories. When visiting, you can choose to go directly to the palace you most want to see, or you can rent an audio guide on site to learn more about the history and culture of the Forbidden City. We entered from the East Gate and followed the signs to visit the Meridian Gate, the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Golden Water Bridge, the Gate of Virtue and Harmony, the Pavilion of Benevolence, the Left Wing Gate, the Sword Pavilion, the Treasure Gallery, the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, the Hall of Joy and Longevity (Great Yu Controls the Water), the Well of the Pearl Concubine, the Yin and Yang Road, the Gate of Transformation, the Palace of Prolonging Happiness, the Imperial Garden (Caisson, Intertwined Branches, and Embroidered Hill), and the Three Great Halls, before finally exiting through the Gate of Divine Might. This trip to the Forbidden City was very rewarding. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come back to visit this historical treasure trove.