What to bring and what not to bring to the Forbidden City

What to bring:

1. Passport: it's needed for foreigners to buy tickets
2. Cash: for paying for your tickets.
3. Backpack: to carry all your loose items
4. Water: Forbidden City is huge. You need 4-7 hours inside to see it well. I've seen little shops inside where you can buy snacks from but they are few and far in between. Better bring your own water.
5. Snacks: you will likely get hungry. Buy some snacks
6. Sunscreen: if you visit in the summer, be sure to put on sunscreen as the palace is mostly outdoors

What not to bring:

1. Lighter: it will get confiscated at the entry security
2. Knives: it will get confiscated at the entry security
3. Explosives: you will probably get arrested
4. Anything other than water that you would not bring onto an airplane