Beijing Palace Museum: Traveling through 600 years of imperial time and space

#Mainland Travel ——From the dragon throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the treasures in the Treasure House, decoding the pinnacle of Chinese civilization 1. The must-see treasure of the museum: a thousand-year-old civilization code at a glance 1. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Golden Throne Hall) • Highlights: ◦ The largest existing wooden structure in China, 35 meters high, with a double-eaved hip roof symbolizing the supremacy of imperial power. ◦ The gilded dragon throne, golden pillars with coiled dragons and a plaque with the inscription "建极遂猷" recreate the enthronement scenes of emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. • Hidden gameplay: The sundial and Jialiang in the square in front of the palace are living fossils of the ancient astronomical calendar and measurement system. 2. Clock and Watch Museum (Fengxian Hall) • Rare and Amazing Treasures: ◦ The pinnacle of Qing Dynasty palace clocks is the "Gilded Copper Writing Man Clock", which features a mechanical figure that can write Chinese characters. ◦ The “Magic Clock” has a hidden mechanism, so you need to make an appointment in advance to have someone explain it to you. • Easter egg: The museum regularly performs a “Clock Symphony” with a mechanical installation playing “Jasmine Flower.” 3. Treasure House (Ningshou Palace Area) • Royal Luxury: ◦ Golden chimes (gift for Emperor Qianlong’s 80th birthday), Phoenix crown with kingfisher feathers (inlaid with 150 kingfisher feathers), Jade cabbage (funerary item for Empress Dowager Cixi). ◦ Interactive experience: VR recreates the daily makeup process of Empress Dowager Cixi. 4. Along the River During the Qingming Festival (Zhang Zeduan, Northern Song Dynasty) • Stunning details: ◦ The entire scroll is 5.29 meters long, with 84 lifelike characters. The AR tour allows you to zoom in and observe the expressions of Hongqiao vendors. ◦ It is currently on display in comparison with A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains in the special exhibition “Danchen Yonggu”. 2. In-depth tour route: customized itinerary according to interests 1. Royal etiquette route (3-hour tour) • Route: Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserving Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Jiaotai → Palace of Earthly Tranquility • Highlights: ◦ Watch the “Chinese New Year in the Forbidden City” live exhibition (December-February) and experience the making of palace lanterns in the Qing Dynasty. ◦ The secret drawer behind the plaque "正大光明" in the Palace of Heavenly Purity reveals where the imperial edict of succession is stored. 2. Cultural exploration route (half-day in-depth tour) • Route: Wenhua Hall (Classic Books Exhibition) → Wuying Hall (Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition) → Imperial Garden → Shenwu Gate • Must-see: ◦ The original copy of the Wenyuange Sikuquanshu (the most complete collection of books from the Qing Dynasty in existence). ◦ The stone carving of “The Four Friends” in the Zaotang Hall of the Imperial Garden depicts a poetic dialogue between Emperor Qianlong and scholars. 3. Hidden traffic flow (avoiding crowds) • The Six Western Palaces: Yikun Palace (the prototype residence of Concubine Hua in “The Legend of Zhen Huan”), Chuxiu Palace (the bedroom of Empress Dowager Cixi), which are less crowded and easy to film. • Dongtongzi Alley: The red-walled aisle is mottled with light and shadow, making it suitable for taking ancient-style portraits. 3. Practical tips: must-read before traveling and guide to avoid pitfalls 1. Tickets and reservations • Ticket price: 60 yuan/person in peak season (April-October), 40 yuan/person in off-season (November-March); an additional 10 yuan is charged for the Treasure House/Watch House. • Reservation: Purchase tickets 7 days in advance from the official website/WeChat public account. The museum is closed on Mondays (except statutory holidays). • Free period: Students/teachers can get free tickets after 18:00 every Tuesday with their ID (advance reservation required). 2. Transportation Tips • Metro: Take Line 1, Tiananmen East Station, Exit B, and walk 9 minutes to Meridian Gate. • Self-driving: There is no parking lot in the scenic area. It is recommended to park at Wangfujing/Qianmen Street and take the shuttle bus (10 yuan/person). 3. Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls • Strict security check: Lighters, selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed to enter, and drones must be reported in advance. • Guided tour service: Official electronic guide 20 yuan/unit, manual guide 150 yuan/hour (group travel required). • Dining Tips: Ice House Restaurant (outside Shenwu Gate) offers simple meals with Forbidden City characteristics, priced at RMB 80 per person. 4. Local Experience: The Aesthetics of Four Seasons in the Forbidden City 1. Spring only • Begonia Blossom Stream: In April, the crabapples in the Ningshou Palace area are in full bloom, contrasting beautifully with the red walls and yellow tiles. • First snow in the Forbidden City: Photograph the “white snow and red walls” after the snow in December. The best camera position is at Shenwu Gate. 2. Night Wonderland • Lantern Festival Night in the Forbidden City: The Forbidden City is open during the Lantern Festival (approximately one month each year), and the light show recreates the "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains". • Overnight at the Forbidden City: Participate in the “Night Talk at the Forbidden City” event and enjoy exclusive visiting rights when staying at the Forbidden City Corner Tower Hotel. 3. Parent-child interaction • “Little Palace Craftsman”: Make palace lanterns/print New Year pictures by yourself (appointment required in advance). • Cat Tour of the Forbidden City: Follow the stray cats “Palace Guards” and listen to them tell the secrets of the harem (interesting science route). 5. Surrounding Linkage: One-day Cultural Tour of the Forbidden City Morning: Forbidden City → Jingshan Park (overlooking the Forbidden City) Afternoon: Beihai Park (boating to enjoy the White Pagoda) → Nanluoguxiang (Hutong culture experience) Night: Wangfujing Pedestrian Street (taste old Beijing snacks) 📸 Top 5 photo spots 1. Panoramic view of the stone carvings on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (wide-angle lens) 2. Symmetrical composition in front of the Duixiu Mountain in the Imperial Garden (red wall and green tile background) 3. Close-up of the mechanical puppet in the Clock Museum (macro lens captures the gear details) 4. The light and shadow of the glazed tiles outside the window of the Ice House Restaurant (backlit portrait) 5. "Forbidden City Sunset" at Shenwu Gate at dusk (long exposure mode) 🎒 Pre-trip essential checklist ✅ ID card (real-name admission) ✅ Comfortable sports shoes (average daily walking 30,000 steps+) ✅ Folding power bank (limited rental points in scenic spots) ✅ Sunscreen + sun hat (ultraviolet intensity often reaches level 9 in summer) ✅ Portable folding umbrella (for spring catkins/autumn fallen leaves) 🌟 Summary: The Palace Museum in Beijing is not only a museum, but also an epic of Chinese civilization engraved on bricks and wood. From the grandeur of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the tranquility of the Imperial Garden, from the rigorous ritual architecture to the exquisite details of the cultural relics, this place has spent six hundred years telling the story of "Why China". Take this guide with you and experience the profound charm of "One Forbidden City, Half of Chinese History"! 🏯📜