A cultural journey of the Forbidden City through a cup of coffe

When you think of the Forbidden City, what would come to your mind? Is it the imposing walls and magnificent palaces that have stood for hundreds of years, or the pavilions that embody the traditional Chinese culture? Today, a special cultural journey will take you a visit to the Forbidden City through a cup of coffee.

This cafe opened by the Forbidden City itself is renovated from a guards house from the Qing Dynasty, with grey brickwork with red-painted doors.

The interior of the Café is inspired by one of the ten most famous Chinese traditional paintings, “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”, which is a dark-green-colored scenery painting currently housed in the Palace Museum. Elements from the painting can be seen in the coffee shop from the wallpaper to the silks hanging on the beams of the room.

All the drinks and desserts in the shop are named after the Forbidden City, and many have a unique historical story behind them.

Here, even the takeaway cups carry a stylish name - the Forbidden Cup, named after the cup design reflecting the red wall of the Forbidden City and the nine bulges on its doors.

Every year, this coffee shop launches a series of creative products in sync with the exhibition themes of the Palace Museum. This summer’s theme is called the Forbidden City Selection, and the selected artworks and collections are illustrated on the cultural products.

Visitors who have just finished touring the Palace Museum can take a short break here and have a drink. So this place caters to the needs of tourists while integrating the culture of the Forbidden City into the modern lifestyle – no wonder it has become one of the most popular hotspots for young people these days.

If you are interested in ancient architecture and traditional culture, and happen to be a coffee drinker, then do come to the Corner Tower Café of the Forbidden City. It will be a great choice for your afternoon tea this summer.