Most tourists enter the Forbidden City at the south gate – Meridian Gate(Wu men).
For one full day inside the Forbidden City, we suggest this route:
1. The Meridian Gate(Wu men)→2. “Painting and Calligraphy Gallery”, Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian)→3. “Ceramics Gallery”, Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian)→4. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→5. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→6. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→7. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→8. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→9. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→10. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→11. Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian)→12. Area of Six Western Palaces→13. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan)→14. Area of Six Eastern Palaces→15. “Hall of Clocks”, Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian)→16. “The Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Qing Imperial Opera”, Area of Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou gong)→17. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
1. The Meridian Gate(Wu men)→2. “Painting and Calligraphy Gallery”, Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian)→3. “Ceramics Gallery”, Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian)→4. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→5. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→6. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→7. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→8. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→9. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→10. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→11. Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian)→12. Area of Six Western Palaces→13. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan)→14. Area of Six Eastern Palaces→15. “Hall of Clocks”, Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian)→16. “The Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Qing Imperial Opera”, Area of Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshou gong)→17. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
For half day time inside the Forbidden City, we suggest this route:
1. Meridian Gate (Wu men)→2. Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian): Painting and Calligraphy Gallery→3. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→4. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→5. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→6. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→7. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→8. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→9. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→10. Area of Six Eastern Palaces (Dong liugong qu)→11. Hall for Abstinence (Zhai gong)→12. Outer Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery and Stone Drum Gallery→13. Inner Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery, Opera Gallery, and the Well of Consort Zhen (Zhenfei jing)→14. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
1. Meridian Gate (Wu men)→2. Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian): Painting and Calligraphy Gallery→3. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→4. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→5. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→6. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→7. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→8. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→9. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→10. Area of Six Eastern Palaces (Dong liugong qu)→11. Hall for Abstinence (Zhai gong)→12. Outer Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery and Stone Drum Gallery→13. Inner Court of Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshougong qu): Treasure Gallery, Opera Gallery, and the Well of Consort Zhen (Zhenfei jing)→14. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
If you only have two hours to visit Forbidden City, we suggest this route:
1. The Meridian Gate (Wu men)→2. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→3. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→4. “Treasures from the Qing Palace”/Western corridor rooms to the south of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→5. “Memory of the Old Palace”/Eastern corridor rooms to the south of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→6. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→7. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→8. Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men)→9. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→10. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→11. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→12. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan)→13. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
1. The Meridian Gate (Wu men)→2. Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men)→3. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian)→4. “Treasures from the Qing Palace”/Western corridor rooms to the south of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→5. “Memory of the Old Palace”/Eastern corridor rooms to the south of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→6. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe dian)→7. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe dian)→8. Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men)→9. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing gong)→10. Hall of Union (Jiaotai dian)→11. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning gong)→12. Imperial Garden (Yu huayuan)→13. Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men)
To book Beijing Forbidden City Admission Tickets, please check this link.