Forbidden City tickets for foreigners

Quick answer

You must book through the Palace Museum official reservation channel first, using the same passport you’ll present at check‑in. Tickets are released at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days before the visit. On the day, check in at Meridian Gate (Wumen), the south gate, with the original passport used for the booking. If you need a ticket today, the official rule and foreign‑visitor on-site reports do not fully align; see the same-day ticket guide. If your target date is already sold out, use the Forbidden City sold-out recovery guide.

Step‑by‑step: book and check in (passport first)

1. Prepare the passport you will use for the reservation. Non‑mainland visitors may both book and check in using the original passport used for the reservation.
2. Use the Palace Museum official reservation channel as your first choice. Do not treat third parties as official ticket agents.
3. Book at the release window: 20:00 (Beijing time), seven days before your planned visit. Plan to try at that time if you need a specific date.
4. On the day of your visit, go to the Meridian Gate (Wumen) — the south gate — to present the passport you used at booking and complete visitor check‑in.
5. If you arrive at or approach the site from Donghuamen, treat it only as an approach point; do not expect it to be the visitor entrance.

The south‑side Palace Museum setting before a confirmed‑entry check.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a passport alone replaces a valid booking. The passport is required to check in for a booked reservation.
• Treating Donghuamen as the visitor entrance — it is an approach point at best.
• Believing a Palace Museum reservation automatically covers Tiananmen Square — the two systems are separate. Check whether you need a separate Tiananmen reservation if the square itself matters to your plan. If a foreign phone number or WeChat blocks that reservation, see what to do when a foreign phone number or WeChat blocks your Tiananmen reservation.
• Treating third parties as official Palace Museum agents or assuming they hold special official inventory.

What happens next

• After you secure a reservation, keep the same passport with you for check‑in at Meridian Gate (Wumen) on the day of the visit.

FAQ

Q: Can I book and check in with a non‑mainland passport? A: Yes. Non‑mainland visitors may book and check in using the original passport used for the reservation.

Q: When exactly do tickets become available? A: The Palace Museum reservation window opens at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days before the visit.

Q: Where is the visitor check‑in entrance? A: Check in for a confirmed booking at Meridian Gate (Wumen), the south gate, presenting the passport used for the reservation.

Q: Is Donghuamen the visitor entrance? A: No. Donghuamen may be an approach point but must not be called the visitor entrance.

Last verified: September 2026.

Ready to book?

Start at the Palace Museum official reservation channel at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days before your desired visit; have the passport you will use ready for both booking and check‑in.

Ticket Options

Official booking

First choice

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Useful links

Plan your visit

1. 01Palace Museum — ticket policy, release time, ID check, same-day rule
2. 02Palace Museum — international booking instructions, passport booking, third-party policy
3. 03Palace Museum — visitor route and Meridian Gate entrance
4. 04Palace Museum — visitor instructions
5. 05Beijing Municipal Government English FAQ — foreign-passport booking and Meridian Gate manual ticket check

Visitor accounts

6. 06r/chinatravel, April–September 2026 — foreign visitors reporting on-site, passport-based outcomes
7. 07r/chinatravel, August 2026 — a visitor reports an in-person purchase and separate queues
8. 08r/chinatravel, July 2026 — recent reports of walk-up attempts after online sell-out