Nearby does not always mean simple. Around the Forbidden City, walking direction, security checks, reservation rules, weather, and crowd flow can matter more than map distance.
Nearby planning guides
Forbidden City and Jingshan Park RouteBest north-exit combination for palace views.Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Entry OrderAvoid route-order mistakes around central Beijing security and timing.Entrance and Exit GuideUse gate direction before arranging nearby stops.
Simple rule
Keep the Palace Museum as the anchor. Add nearby stops only when they fit the confirmed ticket time, security requirements, daylight, weather, and your walking capacity.