Five centuries in one paragraph
The Forbidden City was built between 1406 and 1420 under the Yongle Emperor, the third Ming emperor, who moved the imperial capital from Nanjing to Beijing. From 1420 to 1912 it housed 24 emperors - 14 Ming (1420-1644) and 10 Qing (1644-1912) - and served as the political and ceremonial heart of imperial China. The last emperor, Puyi, abdicated in 1912 but lived in the Inner Court until 1924 when he was expelled. The complex opened as the Palace Museum in 1925, was looted and partly evacuated during World War II, and joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987.
- Drive time from Beijing: n/a
- Typical visit style: Reading: 6-8 min
- Difficulty: n/a
- Crowds: n/a
- Best for: History-curious visitors; Travellers wanting context before the visit
- Less ideal for: Already familiar with the timeline
Timeline by era
| Era | Years | Key event |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 1406-1420 | Built under Yongle Emperor |
| Ming dynasty residence | 1420-1644 | 14 Ming emperors |
| Qing dynasty residence | 1644-1912 | 10 Qing emperors |
| Puyi expelled | 1924 | Last emperor leaves |
| Palace Museum opens | 1925 | Public access begins |
| WWII | 1933-1945 | Artefacts evacuated south |
| PRC era | 1949-present | Restoration + protection |
| UNESCO | 1987 | World Heritage listing |
Ming construction 1406-1420
The Yongle Emperor commissioned the project in 1406 to support his decision to move the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Construction took 14 years and roughly one million workers. The complex was completed in 1420, the same year the capital officially moved.
- Commissioned 1406 by Yongle Emperor.
- 14 years of construction.
- ~1 million workers.
- Completed 1420 with capital move.
Qing occupation 1644-1912
The Qing dynasty (Manchu rulers) took the Forbidden City in 1644 after the Ming fell to the Li Zicheng rebellion and then to Qing forces who entered Beijing. 10 Qing emperors lived here over 268 years. The Qing kept the Ming layout but added side palaces, gardens, and the Treasure Gallery (Hall of Imperial Supremacy area).
- Manchu Qing takes Beijing 1644.
- 10 Qing emperors over 268 years.
- Kept Ming layout, added side palaces.
- Final emperor Puyi: 1908-1912 reign.
Puyi expulsion 1924 + Palace Museum 1925
The Republican government formally ended the Qing dynasty in 1912 but allowed Puyi to live in the Inner Court of the FC under terms of the Articles of Favourable Treatment. In 1924, warlord Feng Yuxiang expelled Puyi. The Outer Court had opened to the public in 1914; the full complex opened as the Palace Museum on October 10, 1925.
- Qing abdication 1912.
- Puyi keeps Inner Court residence 1912-1924.
- Feng Yuxiang expels Puyi 1924.
- Palace Museum opens 10 October 1925.
WWII and the artefact evacuation
When Japanese invasion threatened Beijing in 1933, the Palace Museum evacuated 19,000+ crates of imperial artefacts south by train. The collection was split across multiple sites in Sichuan during the war, then partially returned to Beijing and partially taken to Taipei by the Nationalists in 1948. The Taipei National Palace Museum holds the most valuable evacuated objects today.
- 1933 evacuation: 19,000+ crates.
- Split storage in Sichuan during war.
- 1948 Taipei split: best objects move.
- Today: collection in both Beijing and Taipei.
UNESCO 1987 and modern restoration
The Forbidden City was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987 as 'The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang' (joint listing). Restoration of damaged Ming-Qing buildings has continued since the 2000s, with the Hall of Mental Cultivation closing for restoration 2015-2020. The Palace Museum remains under active conservation management.
- 1987 UNESCO inscription.
- Joint listing with Shenyang palace.
- 2000s+ restoration programme.
- Hall of Mental Cultivation: closed 2015-2020 for restoration.
Common history mistakes
Confusing Ming and Qing as the same dynasty
Two different dynasties - Ming was Han Chinese, Qing was Manchu. Architecture stays similar; politics very different.
Thinking Puyi was the only Qing emperor
Puyi was the last of 10 Qing emperors. The dynasty ruled 268 years.
Skipping the WWII evacuation story
The artefact split between Beijing and Taipei explains why the Taipei National Palace Museum holds some of the best Chinese imperial art.
Forbidden City history FAQ
- Built 1406-1420; 600+ years old. The buildings have been continuously maintained since then.
- 24 emperors: 14 Ming (1420-1644) and 10 Qing (1644-1912).
- It was the 'Forbidden City' (Zijincheng) during imperial times because access was restricted. Renamed 'Palace Museum' (Gugong Bowuyuan) in 1925.
- 1925. Outer Court opened in 1914 after the Republican revolution; Inner Court opened in 1925 after Puyi was expelled.
- 19,000+ crates of artefacts evacuated south to Sichuan. The collection was eventually split between Beijing and Taipei in 1948.
- 1987 - joint listing as 'The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang'.
Walk the history with context
Our private FC day includes a history-focused guide who explains who lived in each hall and what happened there.
If you want to read more before visiting, the why-was-it-built and who-built-it pages cover the founding deeper.