Quick answer: foreigners can book Forbidden City tickets online using a passport, but tickets must be reserved in advance there are no on-site ticket counters for same-day purchase. Tickets typically sell out days ahead during peak seasons, and the booking system requires Chinese payment or a third-party platform. If you show up without a reservation, you will not get in.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Ticket rules, prices, release timing and opening hours can change. The official details are published on the Palace Museum site (dpm.org.cn) and its ticket page (ticket.dpm.org.cn). Confirm them before you book.
This guide covers exactly how to book Forbidden City tickets as a foreign traveler: the official website, the WeChat mini-program, third-party platforms, what to do if tickets are sold out, and the most common mistakes that leave visitors standing at the gate with no way in.
The most important rule: book before you go
The Palace Museum (the official name of the Forbidden City) uses real-name ticketing. For foreign visitors, this means booking with your passport number and full name exactly as they appear on your passport. The only reliable plan is to book online before your visit date through the official Palace Museum channel or a licensed third-party platform.
There is no ticket counter, no “foreigner exception”, and no way to buy a ticket on the day of your visit even if you are standing at the entrance with cash in hand. Every year, travelers who did not know this rule arrive at the gate, get turned away, and lose half a day of their Beijing itinerary.
Three ways to book Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner
Option 1: Official booking channel
The museum sells its own tickets. The Chinese booking page is ticket.dpm.org.cn, and the museum runs an English-language site at intl.dpm.org.cn. You register with your passport, choose a date and entry session, and pay. Beijing’s official English 12345 hotline confirms that foreign visitors book on the English version of the official site with a passport and enter through the manual ticket-check channel at the Meridian Gate (english.beijing.gov.cn, checked October 4, 2026), and China Daily’s government-pages guide documents the same official English booking flow — register with an email address and passport number, pay, then show your passport at the entrance, with no on-site ticket sales (govt.chinadaily.com.cn, checked October 4, 2026). The main difficulty for foreign visitors is payment: the official channels work best with WeChat Pay, Alipay or a UnionPay card, and international cards are accepted inconsistently.
Booking opens 7 days before the visit date at 20:00 Beijing time. There is no on-site sales window. The museum information line is +86 400-950-1925 (08:00-20:00 Beijing time).
What you need for the official site:
- Your passport number and full name (match passport exactly)
- A WeChat Pay or Alipay account, or hope that your international card is accepted
- Patience the site can be slow, especially when tickets are first released
Option 2: WeChat mini-program
Search ” ” (the Palace Museum) in WeChat to find the official mini-program. This is the same system as the website, accessed through WeChat. Payment through WeChat Pay is the smoothest path, which means you need WeChat Pay set up and working with a linked card before you try to book.
If you have not set up WeChat Pay yet, see the WeChat Pay guide for foreigners. For most first-time visitors, Alipay is easier to set up see the Alipay setup guide.
Option 3: Third-party platforms
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects what we recommend or what you pay. We are not paid to publish positive reviews.
Third-party platforms such as Trip.com, Klook, or guided-tour providers may list Forbidden City-related products, guided visits, or Beijing attraction packages. Availability changes, and some products may not be simple standalone admission tickets. Always confirm what is included, whether your passport information is required, and whether the booking is confirmed before you rely on it.
Third-party platforms can be especially useful if:
- Your international card is rejected on the official website
- You want to book in English without navigating a Chinese-language interface
- You are booking multiple Beijing attractions and want them in one order
Always confirm the cancellation policy, meeting point (if booking a guided entry), and whether the ticket includes access to the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery (these require separate tickets on the official system).
Official prices and opening hours (checked September 2026)
Ticket prices are set by the Palace Museum and quoted in CNY. USD figures below are approximate and move with the exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | Approx. USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak-season entry (1 Apr – 31 Oct) | 60 | ~$8.5 | Main route from the Meridian Gate to the Inner Court and Imperial Garden. |
| Off-season entry (1 Nov – 31 Mar) | 40 | ~$5.6 | Same route at winter pricing. |
| Treasure Gallery | 10 | ~$1.4 | Separate add-on ticket, not included in entry. |
| Clock Gallery | 10 | ~$1.4 | Separate add-on ticket, not included in entry. |
Opening hours are seasonal. The museum is closed all day every Monday except when Monday falls on a Chinese public holiday.
- Peak season (1 Apr – 31 Oct): gates open 08:30, last entry 16:00, Treasure and Clock Galleries last entry 16:10, museum closes 17:00.
- Off season (1 Nov – 31 Mar): gates open 08:30, last entry 15:30, Treasure and Clock Galleries last entry 15:40, museum closes 16:30.
- One-way route: everyone enters through the Meridian Gate (south gate) and exits through the Shenwu Gate (north gate) or the East Gate.
Prices and hours checked against the Palace Museum official site (dpm.org.cn) on 10 September 2026.
When tickets are released
Tickets are typically released 7 days in advance, with new dates becoming available at 8:00 PM Beijing time. During peak seasons Chinese New Year, Labor Day (early May), National Day (early October), and summer holidays tickets can sell out within minutes of release.
Mark your calendar: if you want to visit on a Saturday, be online the previous Saturday at 8:00 PM Beijing time. Do not wait until a few days before by then, only weekday slots may remain, if any.
Forbidden City is closed on Mondays
The Forbidden City is closed every Monday, except when Monday falls on a Chinese public holiday. This catches many travelers who plan their Beijing itinerary without checking the day of the week. If your Beijing days include a Monday, schedule the Forbidden City for another day and use Monday for the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, or hutong walks.
What to bring on the day of your visit
- Your physical passport. This is the most important item. The name on your ticket must match your passport. Copies, photos, or digital versions are not accepted at the gate.
- Your booking confirmation. Screenshot the QR code, confirmation number, or booking reference. Do not rely on the website or app loading at the entrance.
- Comfortable shoes. The Forbidden City is enormous. A proper visit involves several hours of walking on stone courtyards.
- Water and snacks. There are limited options inside and they can be crowded.
What to do if Forbidden City tickets are sold out
Finding out that Forbidden City tickets are sold out is frustrating, but it does not mean you cannot go. Here are the most reliable backup plans:
- Check third-party platforms. Trip.com and Klook sometimes have allocation separate from the official system. Even when the official site shows sold out, a third-party platform may still have tickets especially if you are flexible on time slot.
- Try a different time slot. The Forbidden City releases tickets in morning and afternoon batches. If the morning is sold out, check the afternoon. Yes, you get less time inside, but you get in.
- Check for cancellations. People cancel. Refresh the booking page periodically, especially the night before and early morning on the day you want to visit. Cancellations are most common in the 24 hours before a time slot.
- Book a guided tour. Some tour operators and platforms include Forbidden City tickets as part of a guided visit package. These can be more expensive but often have reserved allocation. Check Trip.com, Klook, or local Beijing tour operators.
- Go to Jingshan Park instead. If you absolutely cannot get tickets, Jingshan Park is directly north of the Forbidden City. The hilltop pagoda gives you the classic panoramic photo of the Forbidden City rooftops. It is not the same as being inside, but it is a worthwhile Plan B and tickets are usually available on the same day.
Common mistakes foreigners make
Assuming you can buy tickets on-site
This is the most common and most avoidable mistake. There is no ticket counter at the Forbidden City. Period. Book online before you go, or do not go.
Booking under a different name
Your ticket name must match your passport exactly same order, same spelling. If your booking shows “John Smith” but your passport says “SMITH JOHN MICHAEL”, you may be turned away. Use the name format from the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport photo page.
Planning the Forbidden City on a Monday
Closed. Every Monday. Check your calendar before you book.
Not leaving enough time
The Forbidden City is large. A rushed visit misses the point. Plan at least 3-4 hours inside if you want to walk the central axis, see the main halls, visit one side gallery (Treasure Gallery or Clock Gallery), and exit through the Imperial Garden to Jingshan Park.
FAQ
Can foreigners buy Forbidden City tickets on-site?
Do not plan on it. The museum does not sell same-day tickets at the gate. Book online in advance through the official channel; if your date is gone, work through the backup options above instead of travelling to the gate.
How far in advance should I book?
During peak seasons and holidays, book as soon as tickets are released 7 days ahead at 8:00 PM Beijing time. During off-peak periods, a few days ahead is usually enough but do not risk same-day hopes.
Can I book Forbidden City tickets without a Chinese payment method?
Sometimes, but verify before you rely on it. The official channels work best with WeChat Pay, Alipay or UnionPay; some international cards go through and some do not. Licensed third-party platforms are the usual fallback when a foreign card is rejected, but check whether the product is standalone admission or a guided tour, and read the cancellation terms.
What if the name on my ticket does not exactly match my passport?
You risk being refused entry. Cancel and rebook with the correct name. Do not hope that “close enough” will work the Forbidden City checks passport details at the gate.
Is the Forbidden City open on Chinese holidays?
Usually yes, and it is extremely crowded. On public holidays, tickets sell out faster and the experience inside is very different dense crowds, long security lines, and limited space in the main halls. If your trip coincides with a Chinese holiday, book even earlier and arrive when the gates open.
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Editor note: ticketing policies, prices, release times, and third-party platform availability can change. This guide is based on information available at the time of writing. Always confirm current booking rules on the official Palace Museum ticket page (ticket.dpm.org.cn) or the English site (intl.dpm.org.cn) before you travel.
Ticket wording to watch for
Searches such as Forbidden City tickets for foreigners, Palace Museum tickets, and Beijing Forbidden City booking usually mean the same thing. The key detail is that foreign visitors need passport information that matches the entry document. If official tickets are sold out, avoid unofficial promises and consider changing the Beijing order instead.
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