One of the six western palaces in the Forbidden City, this was the residence of various empresses and imperial concubines. The Chongzhen Emperor (1628–1644) once moved here for a period of fasting as a penance to Heaven due to recurring natural disasters.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Hall of Mental Cultivation

0.03 MILES

In the late Qing dynasty, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was where empress dowagers Cixi and Cian took charge of the state affairs behind a screen, when…

2. Palace of Heavenly Purity

0.06 MILES

This hall was the principal residence of the emperor in the Ming and early Qing dynasties, where the son of heaven slept and worked. Later in the Qing…

3. Hall of Union

0.06 MILES

The middle of the three outer halls, the Hall of Union was the place for the empress to receive greetings from her high-ranking subjects during major…

4. Palace of Gathered Elegance

0.06 MILES

This hall contains interesting photos of the last emperor Puyi, who lived here as a child ruler at the turn of the 20th century. Empress Dowager Cixi also…

5. Palace of Earthly Tranquillity

0.07 MILES

This palace was originally the residence of the empress, and in later times became the imperial couple’s bridal chamber (they only spent the first two…

6. Forbidden City

0.07 MILES

Enclosed by 3.5km of citadel walls at the very heart of Beijing, the Unesco-listed Forbidden City is China’s largest and best-preserved collection of…

7. Imperial Garden

0.09 MILES

At the northern end of the Forbidden City is the Imperial Garden, where emperors and their consorts could retreat to read, relax, sip tea and stroll among…

8. Gate of Heavenly Purity

0.09 MILES

The Gate of Heavenly Purity was the main portal between the outer and inner courts of the Forbidden City. Note the pair of gilded bronze lions guarding…