The Forbidden City, the royal palace that carries hundreds of years of history and culture, has always been a highly sought-after tourist destination.However, in order to fully appreciate the charm of the Forbidden City, choosing a suitable time to visit is crucial.

So, when is the best time to visit the Forbidden City? Let’s explore this question from various dimensions, such as season, months, days and specific times.

The Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City

From the perspective of seasons, spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November) are the best seasons to visit the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City in spring, everything is revived, vibrant. At this time, the Forbidden City, a variety of flowers bloom, especially near the Hall of Wenhua begonias, flowering season, flowers, pink and white flowers and red walls and yellow tiles against each other, constituting a picture of great beauty, attracting many photography enthusiasts to come to capture the rare beauty of the scene.

Moreover, the temperature in spring is relatively pleasant, neither as hot as in summer nor as cold as in winter, which is very suitable for long time outdoor excursion.

The Forbidden City is equally charming in autumn. The autumn weather is so refreshing that the ginkgo and maple leaves in the Forbidden City gradually change colour, and the golden ginkgo leaves and red maple leaves decorate the Forbidden City in a picturesque manner.

Walking on the stone road of the Forbidden City, under the feet of the layers of fallen leaves, overhead is the blue sky and ancient palaces, as if travelling back to the ancient times, can let a person deeply feel the deep historical heritage of the Forbidden City and the unique autumn flavour.

II. Specific Months: April, May, September, late October – early November

In spring and autumn, the best months to visit the Palace are April, May, September and late October to early November.

April, the weather is gradually warming up, the flowers in the Forbidden City into full bloom, in addition to begonias, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, etc. are also open at this time, the entire Forbidden City is filled with the fragrance of the flowers, just like a large garden.

May, the temperature rises further, but not to the extent of the heat, the Forbidden City at this time the vegetation is more lush, the palace in the green trees under the cover looks more solemn and elegant.Moreover, there are relatively few holidays in May, the number of tourists is relatively stable, there will be no overcrowding, allowing visitors to have a more comfortable tour experience.

In September, the summer tourist rush has just passed and visitor numbers have decreased, while the weather remains warmer and sunnier, making it ideal for visiting the Forbidden City. However, this year (2025) there is a large political event in early September that may close some of the sites, so it is recommended to schedule your visit after 10 September.

Due to the large crowds during the National Day holiday at the beginning of October, to ensure you have an excellent travel experience, it is recommended to visit the Forbidden City after October 10.

The best time to see the autumn scenery of the Forbidden City is from the end of October to early-mid November each year.

During this time, the ginkgo leaves of the Forbidden City gradually turn golden yellow, contrasting with the red walls and golden glazed tiles, adding a touch of stunning autumn colour to this historic palace. And with not too many tourists and a more pleasant climate, it’s perfect for sightseeing and taking photos.

III. Best time of day to visit the Forbidden City: morning opening or afternoon

Regarding the best time of day to visit the Forbidden City, there are advantages to the morning opening time (8:30am in peak season, 8:30am in off-season) and the afternoon opening time (especially after 14:00).

Entering the Forbidden City at opening time in the morning, when there are relatively few tourists, you can visit the main attractions such as the central axis in a quieter environment, you can better appreciate the architectural details of the palace, feel the majesty of the ancient royal.

And the morning light conditions are better for photography enthusiasts, is the golden time to shoot the Palace buildings and cultural relics. For example, in the Taihemen Square, the early morning sunlight sprinkled on the bronze lions can clearly show the mighty demeanour and delicate texture of the bronze lions.

The advantage of visiting the Forbidden City in the afternoon is that it can avoid the peak of passenger flow in the morning. After 14:00, the tour groups have mostly left, the density of people in the Forbidden City has dropped significantly, tourists can be more relaxed to visit the Western Sixth Palace, Treasure Museum, Clock Museum and other areas, do not have to worry about the crowd again.

In addition, before the closing time of the Forbidden City (17:00 in peak season, 16:30 in off-season), the number of tourists is sparse, and at this time, the Imperial Garden is particularly quiet, where tourists can quietly appreciate the perfect blend of ancient architecture and landscaping, and enjoy a pleasant time.

Conclusion

The best time to visit the Forbidden City is on weekdays in April, May, September, and late October-early November, when the park opens in the morning or after 14:00 pm. Of course, everyone’s interests and needs are different, so you can choose the best time for you according to your own situation.

We hope you will have a pleasant and unforgettable time in the Forbidden City and enjoy the unique charm of this World Heritage Site.

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