Beijing's Treasure Gallery in the Forbidden City

Beijing's Treasure Gallery in the Forbidden City is a must-visit spot. It's arguably the most worthwhile ticket you'll ever buy—just ¥10 grants you access to an array of breathtaking treasures. I was fortunate enough to join a free guided tour of the Forbidden City, and the guide did an excellent job explaining everything. 👍

🚶➡️ Suggested Tour Route: From the Nine-Dragon Wall to Huangji Gate, Ningshou Gate, Huangji Hall, Jewelry Exhibition, Jade Exhibition, Bonsai Exhibition, Gold and Silver Exhibition, Ningshou Palace (Stone Drum Hall), Yangxing Hall, Changyin Pavilion, Leshou Hall, Yihexuan, and finally exiting at Zhenfei Well.

{ Introduction }

1️⃣ Huangji Hall: The venue where Emperor Qianlong hosted the Thousand Elders Banquet.
2️⃣ Yangxing Hall: Emperor Qianlong's retirement residence, modeled after Yangxin Hall. However, he never spent a single day here; instead, Empress Dowager Cixi lived here.
3️⃣ Changyin Pavilion: A three-story opera stage named Fatai, Lutai, and Shoutai from top to bottom. Opposite is Yue Shi Lou, where the emperor and his consorts watched performances.
4️⃣ Ningshou Palace (Stone Drum Hall): Houses ten stone drums inscribed with rare ancient texts. Chiang Kai-shek originally intended to take them to Taiwan, but the plane was severely overloaded, so they remained here.

{ ✨ Must-See Artifacts }

1️⃣ White Jade Carving of Ladies Under a Parasol Tree: Inspired by an oil painting from the early Qing Dynasty during Emperor Kangxi's reign, "Ladies Under a Parasol Tree."
2️⃣ Gold Filigree Auspicious Ruyi Set: A collection of 60 pieces, each inlaid with turquoise and inscribed with the Chinese zodiac and auspicious phrases, forming a complete cycle of 60 years. This set was a gift from officials to Emperor Qianlong for his 60th birthday.
3️⃣ Qianlong's Tianhuang Triple Seals: Created during Emperor Qianlong's reign as a retired emperor. These seals were carried by Emperor Puyi when he was expelled from the palace and were only handed over in 1950.
4️⃣ Three Dragons and Two Phoenix Crown: ⚠️ Queue required. Burial item of Empress Xiaojing of the Ming Dynasty.
5️⃣ Gold Filigree Hairpin with Embedded Pearls and Gemstones.
6️⃣ Gold Crown with Embedded Pearls for Winter Ceremonies: ⚠️ Queue required.
7️⃣ Jade Mountain Depicting Yu the Great Controlling Floods: Located in Leshou Hall, this is the largest jade carving in the Forbidden City's collection.

There are many more artifacts that I couldn't explore in detail due to the crowds. This gallery is undoubtedly the most worthwhile part of the Forbidden City, with its meticulously arranged treasures offering a feast for the eyes. I look forward to visiting again on my next trip to Beijing.

📅 Date of Visit: April 9, 2025 (Wednesday)
🕰️ Operating Hours: Peak Season (08:30-17:00), last entry at 16:10.
💰 Ticket Price: RMB ¥10 for adults, provided you first purchase a Forbidden City admission ticket.
📍 Address: Treasure Gallery, Ningshou Palace, Forbidden City, No. 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing.