Forbidden City

Hubei


The walled Forbidden City encompasses the very tip-top of Wudang Shan and is accessed from the Taihe Palace near the cable car exit. The Chinese name Zǐjīn Chéng (literally, 'purple gold city') is actually a clever homophone for Beijing's Zǐjìn Chéng (紫禁城; Forbidden City), reflecting the Taoist belief that the organisation of the celestial and earthly worlds mirror one another.

The character (紫), or purple, is a reference to the north star, the abode of the Celestial Emperor.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Hubei attractions

1. Zixiao Palace

2.08 MILES

From this beautiful, turquoise-tiled temple, a small stone path leads up to South Cliff (45 minutes).

2. Wudang Shan

8.65 MILES

Wudang Shan attracts a diverse array of climbers, from Taoist pilgrims with knapsacks and porters shouldering paving slabs and sacks of rice, to tired…

3. Wǔdāng Museum of China

9.12 MILES

This is a great opportunity to get a grip on Wudang Shan history, lore and architecture. There’s a whole pantheon of gods, including the eminent Zhenwu …