Palace of Great Benevolence: Court and Stone Screen
Palace of Great Benevolence, or Jingren Gong, is one of the Forbidden City’s Six Eastern Palaces. Its compact residence and distinctive stone screen reward a short stop when the eastern court is open.
- Chinese name: 景仁宫 / Jingren Gong.
- Area: Six Eastern Palaces, east of the inner court.
- Look for: the stone screen and residential courtyard plan.
How Do You Find the Entrance?
Walk north from Meridian Gate through the main Palace Museum route. Turn toward the signed Six Eastern Palaces branch near the inner court. Use the gate and route guide to rejoin the central path.
Match the name 景仁宫 at the gate. The six courts form a cluster, but one open doorway does not open the next. Stay on marked visitor paths.
What Admission and Hours Matter?
The palace is within the Palace Museum. Plan museum admission and any required booking for the visit date. Individual courtyards and rooms can close for exhibits or building work.
If a donated-object exhibition is listed, check its actual location. A collection object shown here was not necessarily used by a former resident. Gallery hours can also differ from the outdoor route.
What Makes This Court Distinct?
The stone screen gives you a feature to study before entering any gallery. Notice how the screen interrupts a direct view into a small residential space. Then compare the gate, main hall and side buildings.
A display of donated relics tells a museum collection story. The courtyard tells a palace building story. The nearby Palace of Accumulated Purity offers a second eastern residence for comparison.
When Should You Stop, and for How Long?
Add a short eastern-palace branch after the central ceremonial halls. An open display needs extra time for labels and cases. Leave a clear route back toward the north exit.
Glare on cases can slow close reading. Visit earlier if you want quieter views of the screen. In rain, watch the threshold and courtyard paving.
Which Mistakes Cause Confusion?
Do not present every displayed gift as original Jingren Palace furniture. Its date, maker and donor may belong to another place. Read the object label separately from the building sign.
Do not assume the whole eastern group is open because one palace is open. Follow each gate notice and avoid blocking the screen with a long photo stop.
FAQ: What Should You Know?
Is the stone screen outside the gallery? It is an architectural feature of the court. View it from the marked public position when the entrance is open.
Are donated objects always on display? No. Exhibitions and individual cases can rotate. Plan around the court first.
Do I need another palace ticket? Start with Palace Museum admission. Check any separate exhibition rules for your visit day.
