The Palace Museum

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, served as the imperial residence for China's Ming and Qing dynasties. This guided tour takes you through its vast complex of courtyards, ceremonial halls, and ornate pavilions that once housed emperors and their courts. You'll discover architectural masterpieces like the Corner Tower, a unique structure featuring a nine-ridge roof design that showcases traditional Chinese engineering.

Inside the Treasure House, you'll find an extraordinary collection of imperial artifacts including a 14-centimetre red coral lion, 130-centimetre Dongzhu court beads, and the gold Fengtianzhibao seal. The Clock and Watch Museum displays intricate timepieces from Britain, France, and Switzerland, decorated with figures and animals that create elaborate movements beyond simple timekeeping. Available in small group tours of around 15 people or larger groups of about 30, this experience offers morning and afternoon departure times with English-speaking guides.

Your guided tour begins at the entrance to the Palace Museum, where you'll meet your English-speaking guide and fellow group members. You'll walk through the succession of courtyards and ceremonial halls that formed the heart of imperial China, learning about the dynasties that ruled from within these walls. Your guide will explain the architectural significance of structures like the Corner Tower while sharing stories of court life and imperial ceremonies.

The tour includes visits to both the Treasure House and Clock and Watch Museum, where you'll see collections ranging from Buddhist items and ornaments to mechanically sophisticated timepieces from Europe and China. Tour duration and specific route may vary depending on your group size and departure time. Some ticket options combine the Palace Museum tour with access to nearby Jingshan Park, while others offer the chance to dress in traditional Hanfu or Qing Dynasty costumes complete with period makeup and accessories.