Forbidden City

Don’t be too disgruntled if the first thing you see on entering this magnificent space is scaffolding. Between now and 2020 at least one or two of the palaces will be out of action at any one time, but there’s still enough of the complex open to be worth visiting.

It’s also worth noting that people often emerge at the north gate having walked the Palace from end to end and complain that they thought there would me more to see.

In fact there’s plenty, you just have to know where to find it. Once you’ve walked the length of the City and reached the gardens, take the opportunity to go back on yourself and explore the East and West Six Palaces and the Hall of Jewellery, Treasure Gallery or Clock Museum, since this is where most of the Museum’s artefacts are kept.

Things to look out for in and around each hall include the animals marching on the eaves of each roof, denoting the rank of the person inside (the emperor’s sleeping quarters in the Hall of Heavenly Purity is the only building with the maximum number of animals – nine).

The roofs themselves are all yellow glaze, since yellow was the symbolic colour of the royal family. It’s also interesting to spot the huge bronze vats outside some of the bigger halls that were filled with water (heated from underneath in the winter) to serve as ancient imperial fire extinguishers.

If you’re really observant, you’ll also notice the Starbucks here. Though it’s been inside the Forbidden City for years, a recent campaign by a local TV presenter highlighting its controversial location caused the sign to be taken down, so now you have to venture into the souvenir shop to balk at it (or get a cup of coffee).

One final tip: don’t be confused if you hear people talking about the ‘Palace Museum’ in relation to the Forbidden City, they are one and the same thing.

The Palace Museum was the official name given to the complex when it first opened to the public in 1925 – the name refers to the fact that this is China’s biggest collection of ancient art and artefacts – but it hasn’t really caught on.