Operating under the official title of "The Palace Museum," the Forbidden City (also known as the Imperial ... purchasing a map which doubles as a souvenir. Audio guide rentals are another option.

WHAT TO PACK One of the best guidebooks on the palace is "The Forbidden City" by Antony White, a British art historian. It has an easy-to-follow map and the full scoop on the architecture ...

Explore 500 years of China's imperial history at the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors.