点评:Do not come on a Monday - as it is close.
Do not come on a Tuesday - as it is doubly crowded since Monday is close.
Get your tickets online and tickets are on sale 7 days in advance either for AM or PM slots. Getting your tickets online you be assured to get in and the palace gate closes at 3.30pm each day. Seniors above 60 get discounted tickets.
The long lines you see everyday is to get your tickets checked and baggage screen, the long lines moves quite fast (within 15-20 mins).
If you have not got your tickets, ask any security personnel standing around where to purchase the tickets physically. Do not join the long lines you see at the main entrance, if you have not prebook online. You can also ask your hotel concierge to assist you in making tickets reservation but passport details are required.
Overall we covered the place in 2 days. On our first day (Wednesday), we got a guide to tell us the highlights. The translation or history guide is all found within the palace gate (after the ticket check). The guide work for the palace museum. Do not get scam by those guide you see walking along the streets offering their service.
3.5hrs guided tour cost about 750rmb for 2 people with a Chinese speaking guide and it cost double for a English guide (1500rmb?). Need to reserve for English guide as they are limited. This is for a private group of 2 pax. I believe the group size is up to 4-6 people for the same price. The palace guide helps in the history and story telling exercise. If not, every building looks similar. We also visited the various chambers/wings/rooms and exhibits.
On our second visit (Tuesday) on a different day, we did more photo ops and walk leisurely at our own pace. Ticket cost about rmb30.
This is a super duper big place and on average it takes you 20,000 steps to cover the grounds.
翻译:周一不要来,因为周一闭馆。
周二也不要来,因为周一闭馆,人会更多。
请在线购票,门票提前7天开始发售,可以选择上午或下午的场次。在线购票可以确保顺利入场,宫殿大门每天下午3:30关闭。60岁以上的老人可以享受门票折扣。
您每天看到的长队是检票和行李安检的队伍,队伍移动速度很快(15-20分钟内即可完成)。
如果您还没有购票,可以询问附近的安保人员哪里可以购买实体票。如果您没有提前在线预订,请不要在正门排队。您也可以请酒店礼宾部协助您预订门票,但需要提供护照信息。
我们总共花了2天时间游览了这里。第一天(周三),我们请了一位导游为我们讲解了主要景点。所有翻译或历史指南都在宫殿大门内(检票后)。导游是故宫博物院的工作人员。不要被街上那些兜售服务的导游欺骗。
3.5 小时的中文导游讲解,两人价格约为 750 元人民币;英文导游的价格是中文导游的两倍(1500 元人民币?)。英文导游需要提前预约,因为名额有限。这是两人私人团的价格。我相信 4-6 人的团体价格也一样。宫殿导游会讲解历史和故事,否则,每栋建筑看起来都差不多。我们也参观了各个房间、展厅和展品。
第二次参观(周二)是在另一天,我们拍了更多照片,也按照自己的节奏悠闲地游览。门票大约 30 元人民币。
故宫非常非常大,平均需要走 2 万步才能逛完。