There are nearly ten thousand different buildings in the Forbidden City. It is virtually impossible to provide specific guides to each and every building. However, we have compiled the information about the most important halls and structures in an attempt to walk you through this complicated historical imperial palace compound. 

Apparently, the first stop for the Forbidden City tour should be Wumen, meaning "Meridian Gate" in English. Another nickname for Wumen is Wufenglou, meaning a tower with five pavilions in the shape resembling a phoenix. Wumen is the main entrance to the Forbidden City. Immediately behind the Meridian Gate, you can see the inside portion of the natural white marble Golden Water Bridge crossing the gorgeous water channel that are paved and decorated with the same marble. Standing on the bridge, you can see a grand structure called Gate of Supreme Harmony or Taihemen in Chinese. Guarded by a pair of bronze sculpted lions, Taihemen is the largest gate in the Forbidden City. Between Taihemen and Wumen is the square that was used by emperors primarily for imperial parades of various ceremonies.

The Forbidden City was divided into two main areas, outer court and inner court. There are three major halls in the outer court, they are the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) and Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian). These halls are all situated on three-tier marble terraces, fenced with ornamental marble balustrades. A stone ramp relief-carved with coiled dragons and clouds is located between the two rows of steps leading up to each hall.

The Taihedian is the largest hall inside the Forbidden City,  where emperors exercised their autocracy over the entire country. It was also used by the emperor to ascend his throne, grant ordinary citizens to visit officials and hold celebrations of various important events. The Taihedian is flanked by Wenhuadian (Hall of Literary Glory) and Wuyingdian (Hall of Martial Velour). The first, on the right, used to be the office of the crown princes, where banquets and some rites were held. The other one, on the left, is the imperial press where many books were compiled and published and where Li Zicheng, leader of the famous peasants revolt, ascended his throne after overthrowing the Ming dynasty. On the north of Wenhuadian lies Wenyuange (Pavilion of Literary Source), the imperial library where the world largest encyclopedia Sikuquanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasures of Knowledge) was housed. The library architecture has many Chinese cultural facts in its structure and decoration. Nanxundian (South Fragrance Hall) near Wuyingdian is where portraits of emperors of dynasties were kept.

Behind Taihedian is Zhonghedian (Hall of Central Harmony), a much smaller square building. It was the place where the emperor took breaks and got ready for his interviews in Taihedian with ministers and officials from the Ministry of Rites. It is also the place used by emperors for ceremony rehearsals.

Located in the back of the outer court, the Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony) is the second largest architecture in the Forbidden City. Imperial banquets were often hosted here to entertain the officials with high rankings. Emperors also presided over the national exams here to select intellectual officials among applicants from all over the country .

Leaving the Baohedian, you will see Gate of Celestial Purity (Qianqingmen), the boundary between the outer court and the inner court. Inside the gate is royal family's residence. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi used to hear reports from highly ranked officials and issue his executive orders inside this gate. The inner court again is divided into three sections. Three smaller halls comparing to those in the outer court stand at the center axis of the three sections respectively. Western Six Palaces (Xiliugong) and Eastern Six Palaces (Dongliugong) are also important complexes in this area, as they were residences for the imperial concubines.

The first hall behind the Qianqingmen is Palace of Celestial Purity (Qianqinggong), which originally included emperor's  bedroom, office and banquet room. Behind Qianqinggong is a smaller hall called Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian), designated for the empresses to receive mandatory greetings from concubines. The seals of emperors and empresses were also kept. The third hall on the central axis is empress' bedroom,  Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility (Kunninggong).

On the left side of the inner court, there situated Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian) and Xiliugong. Yangxindian had become an important hall in the Forbidden City since Emperor Yongzheng, where most of post- Yongzheng emperors had used for both residences and offices. Immediately to the north of Yangxindian is the Xiliugong consisting of Yongshougong (Palace of Eternal Longevity), Yikungong (Palace of the Queen Consort), Chuxiugong (Palace for Elegance Gathering), Taijidian (Hall of the Supreme Extreme), Changchungong (Palace of Eternal Spring) and Xianfugong (Palace of Universal Happiness). The first three are on the right and the second three on the left along a north-south alley.

On the right side of the outer court, there are Ancestry Worship Hall (Fengxiandian), Zhaigong (Abstinence Palace) where emperors used to practice abstinence a few days before going to offer sacrifices at the Temple of Heaven or the Temple of Earth, and Dongliugong that consists of Jingrengong (Palace of Great Benevolence), Chengqiangong (Palace of Celestial Favor), Yongshougong (Palace of Eternal Harmony), Jingyanggong (Palace of Great Brilliance), Zhongcuigong (Palace of Purity) and Yanxigong (Palace of Lasting Happiness). In a separate enclosure further east are two palaces that Emperor Qianlong had built for his abdication. They are Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong) and Huangjidian (Hall of Imperial Supremacy). Paving further north, there come Yangxingdian (Hall of Temper Cultivation), Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang) and Yihexuan (Pavilion of Sustained Harmony). Since establishment of the Palace Museum, most of the palace structures on the east side have become exhibition halls, displaying various imperial treasures and curiosities preserved in or repossessed by the Forbidden City.

Going further to the north of the inner court in the Forbidden City, you will enter the Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan). Though small in area, it is exquisitely laid out with towers, pavilions, artificial rock hills, water springs, ancient trees, precious flowers, a perfect replica of the most elegant gardens in southern China.

Right behind the Imperial Garden is Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Might), a back entrance of the Forbidden City. On the top of the gate town, you will see a drum and a bell. In the imperial time of China, the bell would ring 108 times to mark the beginning of a new day, while the drum beats announce the time at night.

  You can start your virtual tour of the Forbidden City from Meridian Gate,  Wumen.