The Six Western Palaces (Xiliu Gong) and the Six Eastern Palaces (Dongliu Gong) lie symmetrically on each side of the three main halls in the Inner Court. These twelve palaces were the residence of the emperor's many wives, as polygamy was legitimate in China's feudalistic times. Each palace is a separated courtyard which has a front hall, a rear hall and assistant halls.

The Six Western Palaces, as the name suggests, are situated in the west of the Inner Court. With the Hall of Mental Cultivation to its south, it contains six palaces: Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshou Gong), Palace of the Queen Consort (Yikun Gong), Palace for Gathering Elegance (Chuxiu Gong), Taiji Dian (Hall of Supreme Pole), Palace of Eternal Spring (Changchun Gong) and Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfu Gong).

Among the palaces, the Palace of Eternal Spring is famous for its fresco named A Dream of Red Mansions. A Dream of Red Mansions, a most noted Chinese novel, became very popular in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Empress Dowager Cixi liked reading it very much, which led to this fantastic fresco being painted. The Palace for Gathering Elegance, once Cixi's dwelling, is very elegant. Wanrong, the last empress of the Qing Dynasty, lived in this place too. A dresser, an ivory boat and other rare crafts are displayed.

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