The Forbidden City – the vast palace complex that forms the heart of Beijing – is opening up even more of its secrets to the public this October. So fill that flask and pack those snacks.
Visitors aren’t yet free to roam the full 180 acre site, but this latest extension lets you see almost two thirds of the complex, up from just 30 percent in 2002.
However, it’s not just a case of areas and buildings opening up – new artefacts will be going on display within them.
This latest extension now includes the concubines’ living quarters for the very first time. Obviously, a lot has changed in the 90 years since the Palace Museum was founded, but we’re hoping to get more of an idea of what life was like inside the emperors’ harem. (And will it knock our favourite clock hall into second place?)
Want a local Chinese tour guide or a historian to bring the new parts of the Forbidden City to life? You’ve come to the right place!