Forbidden City reopens Yanxi Palace on 1 November

The Forbidden City in Beijing will carry out a reopening at Yanxi Palace on 1 November 2026, when the palace area is scheduled to return to visitors after conservation work. The Palace Museum announced that the survey runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026.

Yanxi Palace reopening follows a conservation survey

The reopening concerns Yanxi Palace, one of the named palace compounds within the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum says the building is undergoing a protective architectural survey under its conservation plan, with public access scheduled to resume on 1 November 2026.

The official notice gives the closure and reopening dates together. It does not announce a separate programme, ceremony or change to admission arrangements. The visitor-facing consequence is therefore specific: Yanxi Palace is unavailable through 31 October, then is scheduled to reopen on 1 November. The Palace Museum reopening notice identifies the conservation survey and the date on which access is due to return.

Forbidden City architecture puts the change in context

The Palace Museum administers the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The complex was completed in 1420 and was converted into the Palace Museum in 1925. Its architectural plan is divided into the Outer Court, used for major ceremonies, and the Inner Court, where the imperial family lived and conducted daily affairs.

Yanxi Palace belongs to the group of walled compounds in the Inner Court that served as residences for imperial consorts. Its reopening therefore restores access to a residential part of the palace rather than changing the route through the principal ceremonial halls. The complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 and covers more than one million square metres, according to the Beijing government museum profile.

Beijing access after the Yanxi Palace reopening

The reopening date falls within the autumn travel period for Beijing and gives visitors a clear point at which to reassess an itinerary. Until 31 October, the conservation survey means that Yanxi Palace should not be treated as an accessible stop. From 1 November, the Palace Museum notice schedules its return, subject to any later official announcement.

The change also illustrates how conservation affects a large working museum. The Forbidden City remains a palace complex with many separate halls, courtyards and galleries, so a survey of one compound does not amount to a closure of the entire site. Other temporary restrictions may still be announced separately by the custodian.

Visiting Forbidden City: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Yanxi Palace is scheduled to reopen on 1 November 2026 after its conservation survey, following closure from 1 September to 31 October 2026.
• The access change applies to Yanxi Palace. The official notice does not state that the wider Forbidden City will close during the survey.
• The visitor route runs from the southern Meridian Gate entrance towards the northern part of the complex. Visitors leave through the Gate of Divine Prowess or the Eastern Flowery Gate.
• The site contains extensive courtyards, palace halls and a north-south route through a very large architectural compound. Comfortable walking footwear is appropriate for a visit involving several palace areas.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Forbidden City

When does the Yanxi Palace reopening take place at Forbidden City?

The reopening is scheduled for 1 November 2026, after the palace’s conservation survey ends on 31 October 2026.

What has changed at Forbidden City?

Yanxi Palace is scheduled to return to visitor access on 1 November 2026 after being closed for a protective architectural survey from 1 September.

Where is Forbidden City and how do you get there?

The palace complex is in central Beijing. The official visitor route enters through the Meridian Gate, with Beijing public transport stops including Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West on Line 1.