How to Book Forbidden City Tickets: A Step-by-Step Guide

This is the detailed companion to our main Forbidden City tickets page. Below is the exact official booking flow, the mistakes that trip up first-time foreign visitors, and your options if your date is gone. The fact box above has the current price, hours, and release window.

The short version: use the Palace Museum official ticket details page as your source of truth, have passport details ready, and act at 20:00 Beijing time, 7 days ahead. There is no ticket window at the gate and the palace is closed Mondays, so you cannot wing it on the day.

Book it yourself through the official route

The Palace Museum says visitors should purchase in advance through its official WeChat mini program. The same official ticket page also gives international visitors a practical email route: send the required details to bookingticket [at] dpm.org.cn at least one calendar day before the visit. Because China museum booking paths can change quickly, check the official ticket details page again before release night.

1. Open the official Palace Museum ticket details page and follow the booking link it provides.
2. Prepare each traveler’s full name, passport or eligible travel-document number, intended visit date, preferred time slot, ticket type, add-on gallery request, and contact information.
3. Tickets release 7 days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time, with a daily cap around 40,000 visitors. Be ready by 19:55.
4. Try the official booking channel first. Morning windows go first, and in peak season slots can vanish quickly.
5. If the online route is not workable from overseas, email bookingticket [at] dpm.org.cn with the same traveler details. The museum asks international visitors to email at least one calendar day before the visit.
6. On the day, bring the same original passport or travel document used for the reservation. It is checked at the Meridian Gate. No photo or digital copy is accepted.

For a fee-only reference, see Forbidden City ticket price 2026. If your preferred date is gone, use Forbidden City tickets sold out: what to do next.

Getting there on the day

Entry is one-directional: you go in at the Meridian Gate (Wumen) in the south and exit at the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) in the north, so do not plan to return to where you started.

• Take Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East station, then walk north through Tiananmen Square and under Tiananmen Gate to reach the Meridian Gate.
• Allow 15 to 20 minutes from the metro exit, plus a security check to enter the square.
• Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your booked entry window. Your slot has some flexibility, but the passport scan and bag check take time in peak season.

For the full city picture, see our Beijing city guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

A name or passport number that does not match your document will fail the gate scan, so type carefully. The standard ticket covers the main palace only; the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery are separate add-ons. There is no ticket window at the door, so do not arrive hoping to buy on site.

If your date is sold out

First, refresh the official channel over the following days, since cancellations can return to inventory. If your dates are fixed and it stays sold out, a guided tour is the dependable backup. Confirm the operator will register your real passport details and that Forbidden City entry is included, not merely “outside view” guiding.

When a guided tour is simply easier

If you would rather not run a 20:00 race in another language, want hotel pickup, or want context as you walk, the vetted options below bundle pre-booked entry with an English-speaking guide. For a private, fully tailored day, compare options on our Beijing private tour guide page. To slot the visit into a wider trip, see the Beijing city guide.

Sources: Palace Museum official ticket details, Palace Museum visit and opening hours

Guided tours and skip-the-line options

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my passport to enter the Forbidden City?

Yes. You book the ticket against your passport number and must show the same passport at the entrance. Bring the physical passport, not a photo. Staff check it against your booking at the Meridian Gate, and there are no on-site or same-day sales.

How far in advance should I book Forbidden City tickets?

Tickets are released about 7 days ahead, typically around 8:00 PM Beijing time, and regularly sell out within minutes, especially in summer and on holidays. Book as soon as your date opens, or use a tour that secures entry for you.

Should I choose the morning or afternoon Forbidden City time slot?

Booking is split into a morning slot (roughly 8:30 AM to noon) and an afternoon slot (roughly 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM), and your QR code only admits you during your chosen window. Pick the morning slot for cooler temperatures and a head start before the largest tour groups arrive. Whichever you choose, allow at least three hours inside, since the palace complex is very large.

Is the Forbidden City worth a guided tour, or can I do it myself?

You can absolutely do it yourself, and many first-timers do. The site is well signposted in English, and renting the official audio guide at the Meridian Gate is enough to follow the main palace axis. A guide earns its cost in two situations: when the official 7-day booking has sold out, since a tour bundles guaranteed entry with passport registration handled for you, or when you want the history and politics explained as you walk. If you book your own ticket on the official site and are happy reading plaques, skip the tour and put the money toward a good lunch.

How long do I need at the Forbidden City, and when should I arrive?

Allow at least three hours, and closer to four if you walk the side palaces or add the Treasure and Clock galleries. The complex runs roughly 960 metres from the Meridian Gate entrance in the south to the Gate of Divine Prowess exit in the north, so it is a long, one-way walk with no re-entry. Arrive for the morning slot near the 8:30 opening to beat the largest tour groups and the midday heat, and enter through the Meridian Gate (Wumen) in the south, since that is the only visitor entrance. Your timed slot only admits you during its window, so do not aim to arrive late in your afternoon slot.

Can I buy Forbidden City tickets on the same day?

No. The Palace Museum says same-day tickets are not sold. All visitors need a real-name reservation in advance, and non-Chinese mainland visitors must bring the original passport or eligible travel document used for booking.

What should I do if Forbidden City tickets are sold out?

First confirm your date has actually opened, since tickets release from 20:00 Beijing time seven days ahead. If it is already open and unavailable, keep checking for cancellations, try the official international visitor email route, move your Beijing schedule if possible, or book a guided tour that explicitly includes Forbidden City admission and passport registration.

What email does the Palace Museum list for international ticket reservations?

The Palace Museum official ticket page lists bookingticket [at] dpm.org.cn for international visitor reservations and ticketing questions. Include each visitor's full name, passport number, intended visit date, preferred time slot, ticket type, add-on gallery request if any, and contact information. Send it at least one calendar day before the visit, and earlier is safer.