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Hall of Great Harmony
| Entrance Ticket Price | April to October: CNY 60 November to March: CNY 40 |
| Treasure Gallery | CNY 10 (in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, including the Opera Museum and Stone Drum Museum) |
| Clocks and Watches Gallery | CNY 10 (in the Hall for Ancestry Worship) |
Notes:
1. Free admission for children 6 years old or younger and children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) in height.
2. For minors between 6 and 18 years old, the admission ticket price is CNY 20 and the ticket for Treasure Gallery and Clocks and Watches Gallery each is CNY5.
3. Seniors older than 60 can enjoy half price for both the entrance tickets and the tickets for the two galleries.
4. The Annual Ticket (CNY 300 for 10 entries a year) only applies to Chinese citizens.
Opening Hours
| Months | Opening Hours | Ticketing Time | Entry Time |
| April to October | 8:30-17:00 | 8:30-16:00 | 8:30-16:10 |
| November to March | 8:30-16:30 | 8:30-15:30 | 8:30-15:40 |
The Hall of Supreme Harmony, also known as the “Golden Palace”, is the most magnificent hall in the Forbidden City and the largest wooden structure in China. It was built in 1402 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but was later burned down. The current main hall was rebuilt in 1695 by Emperor Kangxi (1644-1911) of the Qing Dynasty. Ceremonies have been held here on major occasions such as the enthronement of emperors, birthdays and weddings, sending generals on expeditions, the winter solstice, and the Spring Festival.
As a symbol of imperial power, the interior of the palace is very luxurious. The floor was paved with gold bricks, which were not actually made of gold, but were certainly valuable. In Chinese culture, the emperor is the incarnation of the dragon. The throne, pillars, windows and ceiling of the hall are all dominated by dragon patterns. The golden throne stands on the platform in the north of the hall. There is an exquisite screen behind the throne and three gilded columns on each side. In front of the throne are mythical beasts, cranes, and incense burners, each with its own symbolic meaning. The extraordinary ceiling above the throne deforms to reveal a dragon with a pearl in its mouth. It is said that this pearl can tell whether the emperor is the legitimate heir. If an illegitimate heir takes the throne, it will fall from the ceiling.
