Since arriving in Beijing in August, every time the bus carrying participants of the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme passed Tian’anmen Square, I could not help but notice a long queue near the area, right in the heart of the capital.

As a newcomer to the city, I asked someone what the place was and why so many people were lining up to enter. I was told it was the Forbidden City – a site I had often seen in pictures and read about, yet never had the chance to explore. I promised myself that I would visit it before completing my four-month programme in Beijing.

Last week, that wish came true when participants of the CIPCC Programme were given the opportunity to visit one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks. This 605-year-old imperial palace earned its name because ordinary people were once forbidden to enter; it was reserved exclusively for the emperor, the royal family, and officials with special permission.

The Forbidden City was opened to the public in 1925, marking the establishment of the Palace Museum. This year, therefore, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the museum’s founding.

Today, the museum ranks among the most visited in the world, welcoming nearly 40,000 visitors a day, and even more during the summer season. That explains the constant crowd I had always seen whenever our bus passed the area.

The bus carrying the CIPCC Programme participants dropped us off not far from the landmark’s east gate. From there, we walked about half a kilometre to enter through the Meridian Gate for check-in and security inspection.

Visitors walking towards the Meridian Gate, the tallest of the four gates at the Forbidden City.

The Meridian Gate, the main entrance to the Forbidden City, stands 37.95 metres high, making it the tallest of the four city gates.

We then strolled along the moat and the palace wall. Despite the morning temperature being no more than 10 degrees Celsius, we enjoyed the walk, surrounded by the golden hues of autumn leaves that adorned Beijing’s streets.

It was crowded with Chinese visitors, including school children, and tour groups from around the world, making it a challenge to take good photographs.

We were guided by Susan Su, a teacher from the Beijing Language and Cultural Centre for Diplomatic Missions, who began giving very detailed explanations about the site as soon as we boarded the bus from our diplomatic residence.

According to Su, the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial palace for over 500 years, and hosted 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, was constructed over 14 years, from 1406 to 1420.

The palace complex covers an area of 720,000 square metres (about 180 acres), consisting of 980 surviving buildings with more than 70 halls and palaces, making it the largest palace and wooden structure complex in the world, she said.

The Forbidden City’s role as the imperial residence ended in 1924 when the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Puyi, was overthrown. Although he had abdicated the throne in 1912, he and his family were allowed to live in the Inner Court until 1924.

The crowd inside the Forbidden City complex.

During our visit, we followed the Central Axis path, the route that was exclusively taken by the emperors during their reign in the Forbidden City.

Su also showed us several grand halls. In the Outer Court, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest and most important building in the complex. It was used for major state ceremonies and imperial coronations.

The Hall of Central Harmony served as the emperor’s private chamber for preparation before major events in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The Inner Court was reserved for the emperor and his family. The Palace of Heavenly Purity was the emperor’s residence while the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity served as the residence of the empress, particularly during the Ming Dynasty.

We also show the six palaces on the eastern and western sides of the city, which were occupied by the concubines, the halls where the emperor’s children received their education, the tortoise and crane bronze incense burner symbolising longevity, and a sundial once used to tell the time by observing the sun’s shadow.

The tortoise incense burner that symbolizes longevity.

Su pointed out the grain measure outside one of the palaces. According to her, both the grain measure and the sundial – placed at the corners of the platforms of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Palace of Heavenly Purity – were not merely decorative. They symbolised power, legitimacy, and governance, she explained.

We also observed the giant iron, bronze and gold-glazed water containers (vats) located at many corners near the palace. These served as ancient fire extinguishers, given the vulnerability of the wooden structures to fire. There are now over 200 vats in the Palace Museum, though more than 300 existed during the dynasty period.

Su further explained that the Forbidden City’s design was deeply rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy and symbolism – from Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) to feng shui principles. The layout of the complex reflects the belief in harmony between heaven and earth, with the main halls and palaces aligned along the Central Axis.

The intricate carvings, vibrant colours, and symbolic motifs found throughout the Forbidden City testify to the centrality of symbolism in ancient Chinese culture. Dragons, phoenixes, and other mythical creatures adorn the palace walls and roofs, representing power, prosperity, and good fortune.

Before we left, we visited the garden of the Forbidden City, home to the elegant Pavilion of Thousand Autumns.

The Forbidden City stands as a testament to the meticulous artistry of ancient Chinese civilisation.

For more than six centuries, the palace complex has withstood wars and weather – a living monument to the nation’s architectural mastery and cultural legacy. That same spirit of preservation and pride continues under the stewardship of the Chinese government today.

And in future, whenever I come across pictures or articles about the Forbidden City, the knowledge and memories gained from this visit will surely linger – reminding me of the day history came alive before my eyes.

-- BERNAMA

Rohani Mohd Ibrahim, a journalist with BERNAMA, is currently in Beijing to attend the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme from Aug 18 to Dec 15, 2025.

The initiative, organised by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), serves as a platform for practical cooperation between Chinese media organisations and those from emerging markets and developing economies.