The Hall of Central Harmony in Forbidden City.

© obinimages2013/Shutterstock

Hall of Central Harmony

Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central


Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the Hall of Central Harmony, which was used as the emperor’s transit lounge. Here he would make last-minute preparations, rehearse speeches and receive ministers. On display are two Qing dynasty sedan chairs, the emperor’s mode of transport around the Forbidden City.

The last of the Qing emperors, Puyi, used a bicycle and altered some features of the palace grounds to make it easier to get around.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central attractions

1. Three Great Halls

0.03 MILES

Raised on a three-tier marble terrace with balustrades are the Three Great Halls, the glorious ceremonial heart not just of the Forbidden City but of the…

2. Hall of Preserving Harmony

0.04 MILES

The third of the Great Halls is the Hall of Preserving Harmony, used for banquets and later for imperial examinations. Descending from the rear of the…

3. Hall of Supreme Harmony

0.04 MILES

One of the Three Great Halls, this is the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden City. Built in the 15th century and restored in the 17th…

4. 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…

5. Forbidden City

0.13 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. Gallery of Clocks

0.13 MILES

The Gallery of Clocks is one of the unmissable highlights of the Forbidden City. Relocated from the Hall for Ancestral Worship in 2018 (in order that the…

8. Hall of Mental Cultivation

0.15 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…