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故宫
The Forbidden City, Beijing's imperial palace complex, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's largest ancient palace, offering a profound journey through 500 years of Chinese imperial history and architecture.
Book tickets online at 8 PM Beijing time (7 AM EST) days in advance—they sell out fast. Enter from the East Gate (Donghuamen) to avoid the main bottleneck at the Meridian Gate. Climb Jingshan Park hill (CNY 2) right after your visit for the classic panoramic view of the golden roofs. Arrive at 8:30 AM when gates open—you'll have about an hour of relative calm before crowds peak.
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Apr-Oct, last entry 4:00 PM); 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Nov-Mar, last entry 3:30 PM); closed Mondays (except national holidays)
CNY 60 (about $8.50) high season; CNY 40 (about $5.60) low season
3-4 hours
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