The Forbidden City in Beijing – History, Tips, and Travel Experiences

The Forbidden City, Beijing. After experiencing my very first jet lag and traveling over 14 hours by plane, we finally woke up to a new day in Beijing. The previous afternoon had already been quite an adventure—exploring a massive shopping mall (where I felt right at home) and tasting my first real Chinese soup, which, to my surprise, I loved from the first bite.

Now it was time for our first big adventure in the Chinese capital, and where else could it be but the most iconic part of Beijing—and arguably the whole country (apart from the Great Wall, of course): the Forbidden City.

But why is it called “Forbidden”? The name isn’t just for show. For centuries, this imperial palace was off-limits to ordinary people. Only the emperor, his family, and a select circle of courtiers were allowed inside its walls. Anyone else who dared to enter faced the death penalty. That’s how this mysterious and intriguing name came to be—the Forbidden City.
Essentially, it’s a massive palace complex that once housed the Emperor of China.

The Forbidden City – Getting There

Since our hotel was basically on the same main road as the Forbidden City itself, we decided it would be our first major stop. Just a few metro stations away and we found ourselves at Tian’anmen Square, located directly across from the main entrance.

And let me tell you—this isn’t just any public square. Tian’anmen is the largest city square in the world, covering more than 440,000 square meters and capable of holding up to a million people. And trust me, being part of that crowd heading toward the entrance… we felt tiny in comparison.

Our visit happened just two days before the start of Golden Week, a nationwide seven-day holiday beginning on October 1st, which marks China’s National Day. During this time, hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens get time off and travel around the country, so tourist spots become packed and security is tightened. That’s why, even during our visit, there were already heightened checks around Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City, and some areas were closed off.

But getting there wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. To get anywhere near the Forbidden City, we had to pass through multiple layers of security—X-ray scanners, metal detectors, baggage checks—it honestly felt like going through airport security. At several points we had to show our passports, while locals flashed their Chinese ID cards and scanned their faces. The whole process was slow and queues were long. For us, it was one of the first major culture shocks—something you’d never experience back home, not even at the biggest festivals.

First Steps into the Forbidden City

We slowly made our way toward the main gate, where we were met with a massive portrait of Mao Zedong. He was the founder of the People’s Republic of China and its first chairman (1949–1976). Mao remains one of the most controversial figures in Chinese history—for some, a symbol of resistance against imperialism and the unifier of the nation; for others, the man behind political campaigns like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which caused immense suffering and millions of deaths. His portrait has been hanging on the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian’anmen) since 1949, and thousands of visitors come to see it every day.

We explored the entire Forbidden City—this time without a guide, just with an audio device. We were given a small gadget with an earpiece, and whenever we approached a building, it would automatically start playing a narration. Of course, we chose the English version at first, but later we discovered—while passing one of the support centers in the complex—that they actually offered Slovak as well! I figured, “Why not?” But let me tell you—it sounded like it was read by Google Translate: monotone voice with a weird accent.

Even though I didn’t retain much from the narration, it was still amazing to experience technology recognizing our location and telling us something about the place we were standing at. And seeing the entire palace complex in person? Absolutely surreal. Massive buildings, nothing like what we have back home, and the culture was stunning.

Fun Facts from the Forbidden City

As we wandered through this massive complex, we started noticing details that revealed just how strict the rules used to be. For example, the path running right down the middle of the courtyard was reserved exclusively for the emperor. No one else—not even high-ranking officials or foreign dignitaries—was allowed to walk on it. Commoners had to use the side paths, to make it clear that the center belonged only to the “Son of Heaven.”

At one of the main gates, we saw the famous stone lions, traditional symbols of power and protection. These usually come in pairs: the male with a ball under his paw (representing power), and the female with a lion cub (symbolizing care for the dynasty).

After walking a few more meters, we came across a group of girls dressed in stunning traditional Hanfu attire. Hanfu is the original Chinese style of clothing that was worn for centuries before being replaced by more modern uniforms and Western fashion. Today, people typically wear it during holidays, festivals, or when taking photos at historic landmarks. Of course, we took a photo with them – and even though they were really petite, it was a pretty cool experience for us.

Another fascinating detail we noticed were the animal statues on the rooftops of the palace buildings. These weren’t just for decoration – they symbolized prestige and were believed to protect against evil spirits. There was a specific rule: the more statues, the more important the building. The maximum was ten small animals plus a dragon at the front, making eleven in total. Only the most significant structures had this “full set” – for example, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the emperor would receive guests.

How Much Time Should You Spend in the Forbidden City?

We ended up wandering through the Forbidden City for several hours, eventually reaching the very end of the complex – the Imperial Gardens. The atmosphere here was completely different from the vast courtyards paved with stone. Suddenly, we were surrounded by green trees, artificial rock formations, flowerbeds, and pavilions that felt like an oasis of peace.

One thing that caught our attention was a massive tree – according to the signs and guides, it was said to be over 300 years old. Imagine that… it had stood there since the time of emperors, when grand ceremonies took place in these very gardens.

The gardens were used by the emperor and his family for relaxation, walks, or private celebrations, providing a calm and scenic contrast to the strict majesty of the palace grounds.

When we finally exited the complex, we found ourselves on the eastern side, somewhere near Donghuamen Street. And by then, our stomachs were really starting to growl. We spotted a local Chinese restaurant and decided it was time for something special.

We picked a mix of various dishes – I told myself I had to try at least some kind of meat, so I went for veal (or at least it looked like veal 😅). The portion was small, and even worse – the whole dish was cold. So honestly, I can’t really give it a proper rating… It just didn’t taste that great.

At that moment, I thought to myself – a simple schnitzel with potatoes back home would’ve probably made me much happier.

What did we do after such an experience?

Afterward, we wandered around the city a bit more, just taking everything in. We were still trying to wrap our heads around the fact that we had actually spent more than half a day inside the Forbidden City. It was an unbelievable experience, and the place was so massive that it could easily outsize our whole neighborhood or even Poľov, back home. 😅

When we got back, we treated ourselves to a well-deserved rest. On the way, we couldn’t resist stopping by the restaurant I discovered earlier during my solo wanderings (which I mentioned in the previous post). There, we had some steaming hot Chinese soups. And that was exactly what we needed after such a long day – something simple, tasty, nourishing, and most importantly, warm. A perfect way to end the day.

Then we happily returned to our hotel to rest and get ready for the next adventure. And it wasn’t just any adventure – we were about to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

But how did we actually get there? Well… let’s just say it turned into a real adventure – and at one point, it almost fell apart completely. But that’s a story for the next chapter. 😉

Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.

Flying Easterner