北京故宫

Why this place

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace from 1420 to 1912 — 24 emperors, 980 surviving buildings, all laid out on a single north–south axis behind walls and a moat. It is the largest preserved palace complex in the world, and it is also the physical expression of Chinese imperial cosmology: the emperor at the centre of the world.

What to see

• The central axis: the Meridian Gate, the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the inner palaces
• The Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery, for the imperial collections
• The eastern and western six palaces, quieter and more domestic
• Jingshan Park opposite, for the classic view down over the roofs
• The Palace Museum's rotating exhibitions, which often show the best pieces

What to eat

• There is little food inside — eat before you go or in the surrounding hutongs
• Zhajiangmian and Beijing dumplings in the nearby lanes

How to plan

A full day, and book the ticket online days ahead.

Best time

April–May and September–October; go at opening time in any season

Practical tips

• Closed on Mondays, and tickets must be bought online with a passport — same-day entry is usually impossible
• Enter from the south (Meridian Gate) and exit north into Jingshan, which is the natural route