Forbidden City Ticket Guide

How to Book Forbidden City Tickets as a Foreigner

Book through the Palace Museum’s official international portal, match every visitor to the correct passport record, confirm the final reservation result, and carry the original passport to Meridian Gate.

Ticket-to-Gate Plan

Four facts to lock before Beijing

1

7-Day Release

Tickets open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit.

2

No Same-Day Tickets

Do not plan around a walk-up purchase or an unconfirmed third-party request.

3

Passport-Linked Booking

Every visitor needs a matching real-name passport record in the confirmed order.

4

Meridian Gate Entry

Carry the same original passport to the staffed document-checking channel.

Forbidden City Ticket Guide

How to Book Forbidden City Tickets as a Foreigner

Book through the Palace Museum’s official international portal, match every visitor to the correct passport record, confirm the final reservation result, and carry the original passport to Meridian Gate.

Ticket-to-Gate Plan

Four facts to lock before Beijing

1

7-Day Release

Tickets open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit.

2

No Same-Day Tickets

Do not plan around a walk-up purchase or an unconfirmed third-party request.

3

Passport-Linked Booking

Every visitor needs a matching real-name passport record in the confirmed order.

4

Meridian Gate Entry

Carry the same original passport to the staffed document-checking channel.

Forbidden City Ticket Guide

How to Book Forbidden City Tickets as a Foreigner

Book through the Palace Museum’s official international portal, match every visitor to the correct passport record, confirm the final reservation result, and carry the original passport to Meridian Gate.

Ticket-to-Gate Plan

Four facts to lock before Beijing

1

7-Day Release

Tickets open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit.

2

No Same-Day Tickets

Do not plan around a walk-up purchase or an unconfirmed third-party request.

3

Passport-Linked Booking

Every visitor needs a matching real-name passport record in the confirmed order.

4

Meridian Gate Entry

Carry the same original passport to the staffed document-checking channel.

QUICK ANSWER

Use the official international portal and confirm the result

Use the official international portal and confirm the result

Use the official international portal and confirm the result

Foreign visitors can book Palace Museum tickets with a passport through the official international portal, which currently uses email-code sign-in.

Foreign visitors can book Palace Museum tickets with a passport through the official international portal, which currently uses email-code sign-in.

Foreign visitors can book Palace Museum tickets with a passport through the official international portal, which currently uses email-code sign-in.

Tickets currently open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit, and the Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets. Enter every visitor’s current passport information exactly as the live form requests, review the selected date, session, ticket products, and payment option, then reopen the official account and confirm the final reservation result. Carry the same original passport to the manual ticket-checking channel at Meridian Gate. The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower use separate reservation systems.

Tickets currently open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit, and the Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets. Enter every visitor’s current passport information exactly as the live form requests, review the selected date, session, ticket products, and payment option, then reopen the official account and confirm the final reservation result. Carry the same original passport to the manual ticket-checking channel at Meridian Gate. The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower use separate reservation systems.

Tickets currently open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit, and the Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets. Enter every visitor’s current passport information exactly as the live form requests, review the selected date, session, ticket products, and payment option, then reopen the official account and confirm the final reservation result. Carry the same original passport to the manual ticket-checking channel at Meridian Gate. The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower use separate reservation systems.

The usable chain is official portal → correct passport record → confirmed reservation result → original passport at Meridian Gate.

The usable chain is official portal → correct passport record → confirmed reservation result → original passport at Meridian Gate.

Book at release
Tickets open seven days before the visit at 20:00 China Standard Time.
Original passport
Carry the same original passport used for the confirmed reservation.
Separate reservations
The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower are not one booking.

Know the ticket rules before choosing the date

These are the current standard rules. The live ticket calendar, temporary notices, and selected admission product remain the final authority.

Booking fact
Current rule
What to do
RELEASE
Main admission, Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Clocks, and reservable exhibitions currently open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit. No same-day tickets are sold.
Convert the release moment to your time zone and do not plan around a walk-up purchase.
CLOSURE AND HOURS
The museum is normally closed Mondays except statutory holidays. High season is 08:30–17:00 with last admission at 16:00; low season is 08:30–16:30 with last admission at 15:30.
Check the official calendar and temporary notices for the selected date.
PRICE AND EXTRAS
Main admission is currently CNY 60 in high season and CNY 40 in low season. Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks are CNY 10 each; some exhibitions require a separate reservation.
Confirm every wanted product in the final order rather than assuming the main ticket includes it.
TIME SLOTS
Morning reservations must be checked by 12:00. Afternoon ticket checks begin at 11:00.
Allow time for transport, security, walking, and manual passport verification.
PASSPORT RECORD
Foreign visitors may book with a passport. Each visitor needs a real-name reservation, and the same document can hold only one ticket for the same visit date.
Match every field to the current passport and carry the original document.
ENTRY AND EXIT
Meridian Gate / 午门 is the only visitor entrance. Visitors leave through Shenwumen / 神武门 or Donghuamen / 东华门.
Save the entrance, approach, and planned exit in Chinese before leaving the hotel.

Use the official international portal first

This is the most direct route for a foreign-passport visitor. Check the official domain before entering passport or payment information.

OFFICIAL ROUTE

Open the Palace Museum international portal

Start at https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/ or follow the Tickets link from the Palace Museum’s official international site.

A search advertisement, copied QR code, reseller page, or similarly named website is not proof of an official route.
EMAIL SIGN-IN

Use an accessible email account

The current international portal creates or opens the account after email verification. Keep access to the inbox so you can sign in again and check the order.

If another page rejects a foreign phone number, return to the official international route. Beijing’s foreign-visitor guidance is at https://english.beijing.gov.cn/12345hotline/faqs/all/202506/t20250620_4117980.html
PAYMENT OPTIONS

Use only a method displayed for the live order

The portal currently displays credit card, international bank card, WeChat / Alipay payment, and an application for on-site payment. Availability and success can depend on the order, issuer, verification, and payment provider.

“Apply for on-site payment” remains part of an advance reservation flow. It does not create a same-day walk-up ticket.
RESERVATION RESULT

Confirm the admission stage

Reopen the official account and check the reservation result for every visitor and selected product.

Submitted, charged, processing, reservation successful, and valid for entry are not interchangeable.
PASSPORT MATCH

Keep the identity chain intact

Use each traveler’s current passport and follow the exact fields shown by the live form. Carry the same original document to Meridian Gate.

A passport photo, receipt, email, or screenshot can help with troubleshooting but does not replace the original passport or confirmed record.
THIRD-PARTY BOUNDARY

Do not assume a reseller is authorized

The Palace Museum states that it has not authorized third-party institutions or individuals to sell ordinary admission, the two paid galleries, or exhibition reservations. Official English ticket rules: https://young.dpm.org.cn/en/category/279

If purchasing a guide or tour, separate the service from the museum reservation and verify the official admission result.

Complete the official booking in six steps

Use one official account that you can access again. Every visitor, including a concession visitor or accompanying person, needs the required real-name reservation.

STEP 1

Sign in with email verification

Open the official international portal, enter an accessible email address, request the verification code, accept the current terms, and sign in.

Complete this before the release moment if the preferred date may sell out.
STEP 2

Select the date and quantity

Choose the visit date, available session, visitor categories, and ticket quantity shown by the live calendar.

Confirm the date and closure schedule before continuing; there is no same-day-ticket fallback.
STEP 3

Enter every visitor’s passport information

Select the accepted document type and enter each traveler’s current passport information exactly as the form requests.

Recheck the passport number, name fields, nationality, birth information, and validity details before submitting.
STEP 4

Select galleries or exhibitions

Add the Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Clocks, or an available reservable exhibition only when wanted.

Main admission does not automatically include every paid gallery or reservable exhibition.
STEP 5

Confirm the order

Review the visitors, date, session, products, contact account, total, and current cancellation terms.

Correct an error before completing the order; sold tickets cannot simply be changed to another visitor, date, session, or ticket type.
STEP 6

Finish the displayed payment and check the result

Use a payment route displayed for the live order, then open the reservation result and confirm the final status for every visitor and product.

Do not stop at a bank alert or payment receipt. Save the order number, session, and official support route offline.

Fix the booking or entrance plan before reaching the gate

The correct fallback depends on whether the problem is inventory, identity, confirmation, cancellation timing, access, or luggage.

ARRIVAL ROUTE

The correct approach depends on the day’s access plan

If only the Palace Museum is booked, approach Meridian Gate along the east or west Tongzihe route. If approaching from Tian’anmen, follow the current reservation, security, and one-way access instructions published for that day.

Do not rely on a permanently fixed Tian’anmen passage time. Check the latest official notice and on-site instructions.
SOLD OUT

The preferred date or session is unavailable

Check another official date or available session and adjust the Beijing itinerary.

Do not assume a third party can create Palace Museum inventory when the official portal is sold out.
DETAILS WRONG

The visitor, passport, date, session, or product does not match

Check whether the unused order can be cancelled, then rebook while inventory remains. Contact the original official channel immediately.

Entrance staff should not be expected to rewrite the ticket for another visitor, date, session, or product.
STATUS UNCLEAR

A payment event exists but admission is not confirmed

Reopen the official order and reservation result. Use the order number and official support channel if the final status is unclear.

A bank alert, receipt, submitted order, or processing message is not the same as confirmed admission.
CANCEL OR NO-SHOW

The visitor can no longer attend

Cancel through the original channel by 24:00 on the day before the visit to avoid a no-show. An unused ticket refunded before 20:00 on the visit day counts as one no-show.

Three no-shows within 180 days trigger a 60-day booking block starting the day after the third no-show.
LARGE LUGGAGE

A suitcase or large bag reaches security

Store suitcases and bags of 20 inches or larger before entry. Keep valuables, electronics, fragile items, and food with you.

Keep the storage claim information and plan collection according to the chosen museum exit.

CHECK YOUR READINESS

CHECK YOUR READINESS

Will the rest of your China setup support the booking?

Will the rest of your China setup support the booking?

Will the rest of your China setup support the booking?

Check payment, mobile data, email access, passport access, apps, maps, transport, attraction bookings, and offline backup in about two minutes.

Check payment, mobile data, email access, passport access, apps, maps, transport, attraction bookings, and offline backup in about two minutes.

Check payment, mobile data, email access, passport access, apps, maps, transport, attraction bookings, and offline backup in about two minutes.

Forbidden City booking and entry checklist

Use this when the ticket window opens and again before leaving for Meridian Gate.

Before the release time

Official international portal bookmarked
Accessible email inbox and verification code ready
Visit date checked against Monday closure and seasonal hours
Release moment converted from 20:00 China Standard Time
Every traveler’s current passport available

Before confirming the order

Date, session, visitor category, and quantity checked
Passport document type, number, and requested name fields checked
Main admission, paid galleries, and exhibitions separated
Displayed payment route and current cancellation terms reviewed

After booking

Final reservation result checked for every traveler
Correct date, session, visitor, and product confirmed
Order number and original account saved offline
Official support route saved for corrections or refunds

Before leaving the hotel

Same original passport packed for every visitor
Meridian Gate / 午门 approach saved in Chinese
Morning cutoff or seasonal last-admission time rechecked
Latest closure, weather, security, and route notice checked
Shenwumen / 神武门 or Donghuamen / 东华门 exit plan saved
Suitcases and bags of 20 inches or larger stored before entry

Forbidden City ticket questions for foreign visitors

Recheck the live official portal when the booking window opens because inventory, payment options, exhibitions, and operating notices can change.

What is the official booking website, and do I need a Chinese phone number?

Use the Palace Museum’s official international portal at https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/. It currently supports sign-in and account creation through an email verification code. Keep access to that email account for order checks.

Can a foreign visitor buy a same-day or walk-up ticket?

No. The Palace Museum’s current official rules state that it does not sell same-day tickets. “Apply for on-site payment” is an option inside an advance reservation flow, not permission to arrive without a reservation.

Can I pay with an international bank card?

The current international portal displays credit card and international bank card payment, along with WeChat / Alipay and an application for on-site payment. Availability and success can still depend on the live order, card issuer, verification, and payment provider.

Do I need the original passport at the entrance?

Yes. Carry the same original valid passport used for the reservation and use the manual ticket-checking channel at Meridian Gate. Do not rely on a passport photo, photocopy, email, receipt, or static screenshot as a substitute.

Do I also need a Tian’anmen Square reservation?

The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower use separate reservation systems. If only the Palace Museum is booked, approach Meridian Gate by the current east or west Tongzihe route. If Tian’anmen Square is also part of the plan, complete its separate reservation and follow the live security route.

Can I change or cancel the booking, and what counts as a no-show?

A sold ticket cannot be changed to another visitor, date, session, or ticket type. Cancel an unused ticket through the original channel by 24:00 on the day before the visit to avoid a no-show. A refund before 20:00 on the visit day counts as one no-show; after 20:00 the ticket cannot be refunded. Three no-shows within 180 days trigger a 60-day booking block starting the next day.

WANT THE STEP-BY-STEP VERSION?

WANT THE STEP-BY-STEP VERSION?

Turn the rest of your China arrival plan into actions

Turn the rest of your China arrival plan into actions

Turn the rest of your China arrival plan into actions

The China Arrival Handbook helps you prepare payment, internet, essential apps, maps, transport, bookings, and offline backup before departure.

The China Arrival Handbook helps you prepare payment, internet, essential apps, maps, transport, bookings, and offline backup before departure.

The China Arrival Handbook helps you prepare payment, internet, essential apps, maps, transport, bookings, and offline backup before departure.

Inside the Handbook:
  • Payment setup steps

  • Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks

  • First-day transport backup

  • Hotel address card

  • Emergency offline cards

  • Payment setup steps

  • Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks

  • First-day transport backup

  • Hotel address card

  • Emergency offline cards

  • Payment setup steps

  • Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks

  • First-day transport backup

  • Hotel address card

  • Emergency offline cards

Inside the Handbook:
Inside the Handbook:

The 2-Minute China Readiness Check

The 2-Minute China Readiness Check

Answer 10 practical questions about payment, mobile access, transport, bookings and emergency backup. You’ll receive a readiness score, your top gaps and the China Arrival Readiness Checklist.

Answer 10 practical questions about payment, mobile access, transport, bookings and emergency backup. You’ll receive a readiness score, your top gaps and the China Arrival Readiness Checklist.

Question 1 of 10
Payment

How will you pay after landing?

Choose the option closest to your current setup.

Tap an option to continue

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

The China Arrival Handbook gives first-time visitors step-by-step guidance for the systems most likely to cause friction: payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, food, health, emergencies and offline backup.

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

The China Arrival Handbook gives first-time visitors step-by-step guidance for the systems most likely to cause friction: payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, food, health, emergencies and offline backup.

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

The China Arrival Handbook gives first-time visitors step-by-step guidance for the systems most likely to cause friction: payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, food, health, emergencies and offline backup.

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

Last fact checked:

Last fact checked:

July 2026

July 2026

Fact-checked July 2026 using the Palace Museum’s official ticket rules, international booking portal, visitor pages, and Beijing government foreign-visitor guidance. Release times, passport fields, prices, payment options, opening hours, routes, refunds, and temporary closures may change; verify the live official pages before booking and again before the visit.

Fact-checked July 2026 using the Palace Museum’s official ticket rules, international booking portal, visitor pages, and Beijing government foreign-visitor guidance. Release times, passport fields, prices, payment options, opening hours, routes, refunds, and temporary closures may change; verify the live official pages before booking and again before the visit.

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Your practical guide to payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, and emergencies in China.

Specialized China Visit Support

  • Private trip preparation

  • Signature China experiences

  • Business & trade visits

© 2026 SinoSurvival. All rights reserved.

SinoSurvival provides general travel-preparation information. Requirements, app features, and service availability may change. Always verify time-sensitive details with the relevant official provider.

Specialized China Visit Support

  • Private trip preparation

  • Signature China experiences

  • Business & trade visits

© 2026 SinoSurvival. All rights reserved.

SinoSurvival provides general travel-preparation information. Requirements, app features, and service availability may change. Always verify time-sensitive details with the relevant official provider.

Your practical guide to payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, and emergencies in China.

Your practical guide to payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, and emergencies in China.

Specialized China Visit Support

  • Private trip preparation

  • Signature China experiences

  • Business & trade visits

© 2026 SinoSurvival. All rights reserved.

SinoSurvival provides general travel-preparation information. Requirements, app features, and service availability may change. Always verify time-sensitive details with the relevant official provider.