The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is situated in the centre  of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square. It is the world’s largest imperial palace complex, serving as the ceremonial and political center for 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 to 1924. It was the seat of supreme power for over 500 years.

The Forbidden City is a 72-hectare UNESCO World Heritage site with over 900 buildings and 9,999 rooms (according to legend) designed with strict Confucian principles of hierarchy. Today it is the Palace Museum, featuring traditional Chinese architecture, yellow-glazed roofs, and vast, historic, red-walled, wooden structures. It is is the best-preserved ancient wooden structure in the world.

The Forbidden City remains a crucial symbol of Chinese cultural history and is one of the most-visited museums in the world. As one of the main visitor attractions in Beijing tickets must be booked online in advance, often requiring 7 days’ notice due to high demand. Tickets cost about £4.60 per adult.  The main public entrance is the southern Gate of Heavenly Purity (Meridian Gate). A full day is recommended to explore the site, which includes museums within the halls.  Please note it is closed on Mondays. Lots of tours which include the Forbidden City include it with visits to other places.

Lama Temple 

Lama Temple is officially known as the Yonghe Lamasery Temple, it is Beijing’s principal and largest Buddhist Temple. In fact it is the most  renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet.

Located north of the Forbidden City, the Lama Temple  is a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan architectural style, and was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty as the residence for the Yongzheng Emperor when he was a prince. After Yongzheng gained the throne in 1722, half of the Lama Temple was converted into a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism, while the other half served as an imperial palace for the emperors.

The temple has five main halls, it is a series of beautiful pavilions and  breathtaking statues and artefacts. It features an impressive fifty-four-foot high Buddha carved from one piece of Tibetan sandalwood.

Lama Temple is situated at No.28, Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. This popular tourist attraction opens between 9.00-16.30 and the ticket price is approx £2.60 per adult. 

Temple of Heaven 

The Temple of Heaven, is located in Southern Beijing in Temple of Heaven Park. This 15th-century imperial complex of religious buildings is where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors worshipped and prayed for good harvests. 

The Temple of Heaven became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998 because it represents a masterpiece of Ming/Qing architecture. The layout emphasizes the concept of “round heaven, square earth,” with circular buildings often on square foundations. The complex spans a 267-hectare park and is best visited in the early morning to see locals practicing tai chi, dancing, and playing games.  The park is vast; consider using a combined ticket. A ticket for the Temple of Heaven pass and an English speaking tour guide can be booked through the Klook APP  for £10.20 per adult or just a Temple of Heaven admission ticket is £2.29.