On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages
On the 22nd July 2026, 大暑 Dashu Wednesday, 22 July 2026, The lush greenery provides ample shade, and cicadas sing their hearts out. Today is Great Heat The Great Heat is here; time to find some relief from the heat!
The Great Heat (大暑) is the twelfth of the twenty-four solar terms and the last solar term of summer .It is the hottest solar term of the year. The Great Heat (大暑) occurs annually between July 22nd and 24th when the sun reaches 120 degrees of ecliptic longitude.
10 Cool Tips for Visiting the Forbidden City During Summer Vacation Save this guide! Perfect for a summer visit to the Forbidden City 🌿 This poster summarizes 10 helpful tips 🪧 Check it before you go…
#10 Cool Tips for Visiting the Forbidden City During Summer Vacation#
based on the official summer travel guides released by the Palace Museum and multiple media outlets, the Palace Museum has launched 10 tips for staying cool during the summer of 2026. These tips cover topics such as reservations to avoid peak hours, cool routes, indoor exhibitions, heatstroke prevention equipment, shady rest areas, cold drinks, luggage storage, rental services, medical emergencies, and civilized visiting practices, aiming to help visitors enjoy a comfortable visit during the hot summer.
1. Make an appointment in advance and avoid peak hours for hospital admission.
Tickets must be booked 7 days in advance at 8:00 PM each night. Entry is divided into morning (ticket check-in before 12:00 PM) and afternoon (ticket check-in after 11:00 AM) time slots. It is recommended to avoid the peak entry time of 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, as the queue will take about 30 minutes during this time. At other times, the average security check time is about 20 minutes.
2. Choose the officially recommended “Summer Cool-Off Route”.
The Palace Museum has launched a special cooling route: Meridian Gate → Hall of Martial Valor (the Ceramics Gallery has air conditioning) → Broken Rainbow Bridge → Eighteen Locust Trees (shady ancient trees) → Ice Cellar (restaurant, parasols) → Cining Palace Garden (shady seats) → Longzong Gate → Jingyun Gate → Clock and Watch Gallery (air conditioning) → Treasure Gallery (air conditioning) → Imperial Garden → Shenwu Gate. This route makes full use of the shade, indoor venues, and rest areas to effectively escape the heat.
III. Using indoor exhibition halls for cooling off
Many exhibition halls in the Palace Museum are air-conditioned, such as the Ceramics Gallery in the Wuying Hall, the Guqin Culture Exhibition in the Zhongcui Palace, the Medical Relics Exhibition in the Yonghe Palace, as well as specialized galleries like the Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery. Visiting these exhibition halls allows you to appreciate the artifacts while enjoying the cool air; it is recommended to schedule your indoor visit between 1 and 3 pm during the hottest part of the day.
4. Carry heatstroke prevention and cooling items with you.
Essential items include a parasol, sun hat, sunscreen, small fan, cooling wipes, cooling balm, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine for heatstroke). Note that lighters, spray bottles (with flame symbols), large tripods, and campervans are prohibited inside the Forbidden City, but small stools and ordinary sunscreen spray (without flammable symbols) are allowed.
5. Find a shady rest area
The Palace Museum has moved benches from plazas and open areas to shady spots, including Longzongmen Square, Xiqingmen Square, Qianqingmen Square, and the Nine-Dragon Wall area. The area south of the Eighteen Locust Trees, Cining Palace Garden, and Arrow Pavilion is densely shaded and has numerous benches for visitors to rest.
VI. Enjoy the Palace Museum’s refreshments and rest facilities.
The Ice Cellar Restaurant offers “Luduan popsicles” modeled after the Ming Dynasty cloisonné enamel Luduan, as well as coffee and light meals, and can accommodate nearly 200 people. The Corner Tower Café offers a summer Kui Dragon special drink; it can be entered directly from the Shenwu Gate Square (no need to enter the palace). The Palace Museum afternoon tea at the Kunning East Courtyard is also quite popular.
7. Large luggage can be stored free of charge, allowing you to travel light.
Luggage and large parcels (20 inches and above) can be stored free of charge at the Visitor Service Center on the west side of Duanmen Square. A baggage transport vehicle will then take them to the Shenwu Gate or Donghua Gate pick-up point, which usually takes 15 minutes. Baggage storage time is 08:30-16:00, and baggage can be picked up until 17:10.
8. Renting wheelchairs, strollers, and audio guides
Wheelchairs (for those over 60 or with mobility issues), strollers, and baby carriages (0-3 years old, weighing <15kg) can be rented free of charge on the west side inside the Meridian Gate. Return points are located on the west side inside the Shenwu Gate or the north side inside the Donghua Gate. Audio guides are available for rent at the east and west service areas inside the Meridian Gate; they support 40 languages and over 8,000 units are available daily.
IX. Pay attention to medical emergencies and public announcements for missing persons.
In case of heatstroke, injury, or other discomfort, please seek help from nearby staff or go to the first aid station on the south side of the Treasure Gallery entrance (telephone 010-85007120). The broadcasting room is located on the southwest side of Jingyun Gate (telephone 010-85007424) and can be used to find lost persons; the Palace Museum Police Station can be reached at 010-65131882.12
10. Please abide by the visiting regulations and conduct your visit in a civilized manner.
Climbing buildings, artificial hills, and stone beasts is prohibited. Touching cultural relics and display case glass is also prohibited. Eating, drinking, and using flash photography are not allowed in the exhibition halls. Smoking is prohibited throughout the venue. In case of extreme weather, please follow the guidance of staff for evacuation. Please sort and dispose of your garbage to contribute to the “Zero Waste at the Palace Museum” initiative.
Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..
