Beijing, China Travel Guide
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Forbidden City & Palace Museum
Palace Museum in Beijing
Overview: The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is one of the five most recognized and significant palaces in the world. It was named a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. This 74 hectares complex is the largest palace complex in the world. For a little over 500 years (until 1924), it was home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors.
The Forbidden City is rectangular in shape and protected by 10 ft high walls. These walls, the surrounding 6 feet deep moat, the 800 buildings and nearly 10,000 rooms inside the walls separated the Ming and Qing dynasties from the public. Some of the gates and structures from the southern tip of the Forbidden City to the northern part are the Meridian Gate, Gate of Supreme Harmony, Gate of Complete Harmony, Gate of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, Imperial Gardens and finally, Gate of Divine Prowess.
It’s worth noting that the entrance to the Forbidden City does not start at the bridges and gates which are just north of Chang’an street, which runs between Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The gates past the bridges are actually known as Tiananmen Gate. Go up (north) a little further along the central walkway and you’ll pass Upright Gate and then Meridian Gate, which is the entrance to the Forbidden City.
Ticket counter
Location: The Forbidden City is located in the Fentai district just adjacent to Dong Chen District. Also, it’s flanked by Tiananmen Square to the south.
Cost: Able-bodied Folks: 40 Yuan from Nov to March, 60 Yuan from April to Oct 31
Handicap Folks: FREE!
A self-guided tour tape and earpiece costs 40 Yuan
Wheelchair access in Palace Museum
Accessibility: In 2004, the Forbidden City was not very accessible. Today, after a some major renovations, the Forbidden City is handicap accessible. The Forbidden City’s physical entrance really starts from the Tiananmen Gate on Chang’An Ave, which is at the southern end of the Forbidden City or the northern end of Tiananmen Square. You will under a couple of bridges along a walkway. There are a few bridges in front of Tiananmen Gate. The bridges are accessible and so is the walkway and the gates.
The gates and various sections along the main, center walkway through the city have ramps. The ramps are placed on the right side of the gates and temples or halls. The ramps have carpet and are designated as wheelchair accessible. At the top of each hall, the handicap entrance through the hall doorways or thresholds are to the right again.
A couple of challenges might be 1) The entrance to the Forbidden City has some rails dividing the entrance lines. The rails might be a tight squeeze for a extremely large and wide motorized wheelchair. Scooters and manual wheelchairs are fine. 2) The main challenge maybe the long ramps up to each gate and section within the Forbidden City. The ramps are long and somewhat steep. If you are alone and have to push yourself and don’t have much strength, the ramps will be difficult. Otherwise, the Forbidden City is accessible and ready to go for wheelchairs!
Getting There: Depends on where you’re staying. If you’re staying within the 2nd Ring Road, walk, wheel. Otherwise, cab it! If you are staying within a couple of kilometers, it might be difficult finding a cab that will take you such a short distance.