Hidden Treasures: Permanent Galleries in the Forbidden City
When entering the 600-year-old Forbidden City, in addition to the grand palaces and iconic red walls, don’t miss the five permanent thematic halls that house centuries of imperial Chinese treasures. Each hall carries a unique chapter of history — step in to discover the beauty and stories hidden within these relics.
1. Digital Gallery at the Gate of Correct Deportment (Duan men) 端门数字馆 (Temporarily closed in 2026)
2. Gallery of Historic Architecture古建馆
(Temporarily closed in 2026)
Location: East Prosperity Gate (Donghua men)
3. Gallery of Painting and Calligraphy书画馆
Location: The Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian)
The Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) is the main building in an architectural compound located far to the east of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian).
It was the residence of the heir apparent during the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644), with green-glazed tiles covering the roof. Since 1536, it was reserved for the emperor as his secondary hall. Accordingly, the tiles were changed into yellow, the color of the emperor. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the imperial lecture was regularly held in this hall, and papers of the “Palace Examination” were reviewed here, too. Those prominent mandarins would feel so honored to be given the title of the “Grant Secretary of the Hall of Literary Brilliance”.
4. The Ceramics Gallery (Temporarily Closed)陶瓷馆
Location: The Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying dian)
The Hall of Martial Valor is the main building in an architectural compound located far to the west of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian). The side halls are reserved as the gallery of Books and Archives.
5. The Sculpture Gallery雕塑馆
Location: Palace of Benevolent Tranquility (Cining gong)
The Palace Museum Sculpture Gallery is located in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, with five exhibition galleries entitled: Supreme Sculpture, Han and Tang Terracotta Figures, Stone and Brick Reliefs, Xiude White Stone, and Buddhist Statues. The display area is about 1,375 square meters, with a total of 425 exhibits.
6. The Bronze Gallery青铜器馆
(Temporarily closed in 2026)
Location: The Palace of Celestial Favor (Chengqian gong), The Palace of Eternal Peace (Yonghe gong)
The Bronze Gallery is located east of the Forbidden City’s three rear halls, within the Palace of Celestial Favor (Chengqian gong) and the Palace of Eternal Peace (Yonghe gong). These magnificent structures are located among a cluster of small courtyards that served as the living quarters of the imperial family during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The two palaces have been fitted with new installations and are now known collectively as the Bronze Gallery.
7. The Tools of War Gallery武备馆
(Temporarily closed in 2026)
Location: Archery Pavilion (Jian ting)
“In times of peace, do not forget to be ready for war”.
A hall for archery was first built in front of the Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian) during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (r. 1644-1661) in the early Qing when mounted archers were brought into the core of the dynasty’s military forces. The Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662-1722) later led his sons and those bodyguards who were skilled archers to shoot arrows here. The hall was then transformed into the Archery Pavilion (Jian ting) during the subsequent Yongzheng reign (1723-1735), after which the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736-1795) summoned the best candidates from the imperial military examination here and presided over the final examinations for archers and horsemen.
8. The Gallery of Clocks钟表馆
Open to visitors since January 17, 2019, the new Gallery of Clocks is located in the buildings south of the Hall for Ancestral Worship (Fengxian dian). The gallery features eighty-two timepieces from the Museum’s collection; of these, twenty-one were made in China, and sixty-one were manufactured overseas. Twenty of the pieces now on view have never been displayed to the public before. The permanent exhibition has six sections showcasing timepieces from the Qing imperial workshops, as well as from Guangzhou, England, France, Switzerland, and other countries. Divided into two exhibition spaces, the gallery especially highlights clocks manufactured or acquired during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).
9. The Treasure Gallery 珍宝馆
Location: The Palace of Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshou gong qu)
The Treasure Gallery is a series of exhibition spaces in the northeast part of the Forbidden City in an area of the Museum known as the Palace of Tranquil Longevity Sector (Ningshou gong qu). It consists of six gallery rooms displaying pieces from the imperial collection and extant accouterments for palace life. All of these exquisite items are made of precious materials, such as jade, jadeite, gold, silver, pearls, and other precious and semi-precious stones. The superb craftsmanship and inestimable value of each piece are aptly captured by the gallery’s title.
10. The Gallery of Qing Imperial Opera 戏剧馆
Location: The Belvedere of Pleasant Sounds (Changyin ge), The Hall for Viewing Opera (Yueshi lou)
The Belvedere of Pleasant Sounds (Changyin ge) and the Hall for Viewing Opera (Yueshi lou) served as the theatre of the Qing imperial palace. The spaces have now been converted into the Gallery of Qing Imperial Opera. This showcase presents all aspects of the imperial theatre.
11. The Furniture Gallery 家具馆
The Palace Museum’s Furniture Gallery opened in September of 2018. Dedicated to a specific art form, the gallery is similar to the Ceramics Gallery, Calligraphy and Painting Gallery, and other galleries showcasing their respective art forms. The Furniture Gallery’s initial exhibition space is located in the southwest sector of the Forbidden City, in an area known as the South Storehouses. This first-phase exhibition includes a display of over 300 pieces or sets of Qing-dynasty (1644–1911) furniture used by the imperial court.
