Visit Here: The Working People's Cultural Palace

From far-flung places in our recent limited Take the Subway series, we move closer to the city center for a look at a few spots that we think, while they may not be on any Beijing top sights lists, are definitely worth going out of your way to visit.

First up, we take a look at…

The Working People’s Cultural Palace (劳动人民文化宫 Láodòng Rénmín Wénhuà Gong)

This site, also known as the Imperial Ancestral Temple (太庙 Tàimiào), lies southeast of the Forbidden City’s entrance. The now-public space was constructed at the same time as the imperial palace and was used as a place of worship for the imperial family’s ancestors. 

It was converted into a public park in the 1920s and was later repurposed after 1949, when it was approved as a space for cultural and recreational activities for workers.

Why Visit?

Although much smaller than the Forbidden City, the design of the Cultural Palace is quite similar to its larger counterpart. It's so similar, in fact, that it’s a go-to spot for soon-to-be-married couples who want to make it look like they’ve had a photo shoot in the Forbidden City but without paying for entry and other fees.

Not only that, but it’s a magnificent place to get a better idea of imperial life via the three main halls – whenever they’re open to the public – used for the actual ritual sacrifice and other purposes. There are even some features similar to those of the Palace Museum, which are fun to spot and figure out.

Along with this, the space sometimes hosts outdoor sculpture exhibitions and other cultural exhibitions. 

The Details

Ticket prices for the Working People’s Cultural Palace are RMB 2 per person, and it is open every day except Monday from 9am until 4.30pm. You can find out more or book appointments in advance via their WeChat account (just search 劳动人民文化宫 to find it).

The Working People’s Cultural Palace 劳动人民文化宫
East of Tian’anmen Gate, Dong Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区东长安街天安门东侧
Hours: 9am-4.30pm (closed Mon)
Phone: 010 6511 6776

READ: Take the Subway and See: Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace

Images: Wikipedia, Vincent R. Vinci