Forbidden City Beijing

Had a chance to visit the Forbidden City in Beijing this trip. Of course, this is a place where many many TVB shows are based on. It was VERY HOT weather (this is July 2018) and hence it sorted of hampered the enjoyment of this amazingly magnificent place.

First up, please do buy your ticket online. For example, I bought it online at Klook (link). This allows you to skip the queue. Also, even though I chose the afternoon tour and supposed to arrive at 12 noon, I managed to get in at around 11 plus. Perhaps just too many people. If you have the ticket (just need to show the ticket on your phone), you just need to join the “Ticket Check” queue.

Secondly, the method I used to go there is to go to subway station you can go to is Tian An Man East. But do not go into Tian An Man. Instead walk up S Chizi Street and after a damn long walk (in the hot weather) and avoid all the invitations to any shops, you will reach a junction. Follow the crowd into the side road and you will see this moat.

And you will reach the side gate. There will be a tram there to take you to the main gate but you can also walk (I did…).

And ta ta… the main gate to the magnificent Forbidden City.

A panorama view:

In this picture, the “Ticket Check” is to the RIGHT hand side of this area:

After clearing the check, you can just follow the crowd in or rent a listening device to listen to the description of the place at each specific point:

Or if you feel rich, you can hire a guide:

And the walk in..

So many people:

Rushing to see the Emperor’s throne:

Panorama View:

Sun-dial:

And the dear Emperor’s throne:

A much better view:

It is a very big and very huge place:

Another place to take good shots of the Forbidden City is to go to the nearby (not so nearby.. quite a walk, Point C on the map) Jing Shan Park. Walk to the top of the park (not a difficult walk…) and you will find 3 places with a view of the Forbidden City. At the highest place (which has the most people), you can take photos like these: