Forbidden City Tickets for Foreigners: How to Book the Palace Museum with a Passport
The Palace Museum — the Forbidden City — is Beijing's most visited historic site. Tickets are timed, real-name and capped. Foreign visitors book with a passport number on the official channels; the museum says it does not sell tickets on the day of the visit, so arrange them before you go.
Official booking
- International / English-oriented booking: bookingticket.dpm.org.cn
- Visit rules, hours and listed prices: intl.dpm.org.cn/visit.html
- Ticketing questions email published by the museum: bookingticket@dpm.org.cn
Foreign visitors must provide passport numbers when booking online. Bring the same original passport you booked with; the name and number must match.
Hours and Monday closure
| Season | Open | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April – 31 October | 08:30 – 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 1 November – 31 March | 08:30 – 16:30 | 15:30 |
- Open Tuesday to Sunday.
- Closed Mondays, except national traditional holidays (and the museum notes it remains closed on Chinese New Year's Eve even when other Monday exceptions apply).
- Occasional temporary closures happen; check the official site before you travel.
Ticket prices (as listed on the official visit page)
| Ticket | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Admission, high season (1 Apr – 31 Oct) | CNY 60 |
| Admission, low season (1 Nov – 31 Mar) | CNY 40 |
| Treasure Gallery | CNY 10 |
| Gallery of Clocks | CNY 10 |
Prices and products can change. Treat the figures above as the museum's published list at the time we checked (6 November 2026) and confirm the amount shown in the booking system before you pay. The daily visitor limit is 40,000.
How foreigners usually complete a booking
- Open the official booking site and choose your date and entry session while tickets are still available.
- Enter each visitor's passport details exactly as printed.
- Pay in the method the site offers that day (options vary; have a backup card).
- Save the confirmation and take the original passport to the Meridian Gate (Wu men, south gate) area as directed on your ticket.
A Beijing municipal FAQ notes that booking flows may ask for a phone number; foreign mobile numbers have sometimes failed validation. If that happens, try the email verification path the booking site offers, or email bookingticket@dpm.org.cn — you do not need a Chinese bank account just to be a tourist visitor.
Common reasons bookings or entry fail
- Waiting until the morning of the visit (same-day window tickets are not sold).
- Passport number or name does not match the booking.
- Arriving on a Monday that is not an eligible holiday opening.
- Sold out because the 40,000 daily cap was reached — weekends and holidays go first.
- Wrong gate or arriving after last entry.
On the day
- Carry your passport and confirmation.
- Travel light; follow the museum's luggage rules (large bags may need to be stored).
- Combine with a hutong walk or Prospect Hill (Jingshan) north of the north gate for a classic view over the roofs.
- For the wider city plan, see our Beijing guide and Great Wall section comparison. Airport transfers: PEK and PKX to the city.
Planning around holidays
Golden Week and Spring Festival are the hardest times to get tickets. Check China public holidays 2027 before you lock dates.
Printable guides for this topic
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FAQ
Do foreigners need a passport to book Forbidden City tickets?
Yes. The Palace Museum requires passport numbers for foreign visitors during online booking, and you should bring the same original passport on the day.
Is the Forbidden City open on Mondays?
Usually no. It is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays, except on national traditional holidays (with Chinese New Year's Eve still closed per the museum).
Can I buy Palace Museum tickets on the same day?
No. The official visit page says the museum does not sell tickets on the day of your visit; book online in advance.
How much are Forbidden City tickets?
The official visit page lists CNY 60 in high season (1 Apr–31 Oct) and CNY 40 in low season (1 Nov–31 Mar), plus optional gallery tickets. Confirm the live price in the booking system.
What is the daily visitor limit?
40,000, according to the Palace Museum visit page.
Official sources
- Palace Museum official tickets
- Palace Museum (intl): visit information — hours, tickets, passport booking, Monday closure
- Palace Museum: official ticket booking
- Beijing Municipal Government 12345 FAQ: booking Palace Museum tickets with a foreign phone number
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