Forbidden City (Palace Museum): tickets and passport entry

Why it is worth your time

The Palace Museum is the essential first-visit Beijing sight for imperial architecture and collections, not merely a photo stop. Allow four to five hours for the central axis plus selected side courts. Trying to add the National Museum of China on the same day usually makes both visits rushed.

Reserve before making the journey

Every visitor needs a real-name reservation. Tickets open seven days before the visit at 20:00 Beijing time, and the museum does not sell same-day admission. Overseas visitors can start at the official English Visit page and follow Book Tickets to bookingticket.dpm.org.cn. The English visitor page says foreign visitors must provide passport numbers when booking. Use the current official page to verify the ticket link rather than a lookalike domain or reseller. The official Palace Museum mini program is another channel.

Book either the morning or afternoon slot. Morning visitors must check in by 12:00; afternoon visitors cannot check in before 11:00. Bring the original passport or other accepted ID used for booking. Passport holders should follow the manual check-in channel at Wu Men rather than expecting the domestic ID-card lane to work.

Palace admission is independent of the National Museum of China and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. A Tiananmen Square reservation is not Palace admission. The Square has a facilitated-access rule for some eligible same-day venue reservations; check the current designated-venue and time-slot conditions instead of assuming that every museum ticket qualifies or that a general visit covers a flag ceremony.

Main ticket, galleries and exhibitions

The main ticket costs CNY60 from April 1 through October 31 and CNY40 from November 1 through March 31. The Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery each cost an additional CNY10. Add them in the official booking flow if wanted; do not assume the main ticket includes them. The Ceramics Gallery at Wuying Hall and selected temporary exhibitions may require their own reservations, as shown in the booking system.

Entry, security and route

The museum closes on Mondays except statutory holidays. Normal opening is 8:30–17:00 in the April–October season, with last main entry at 16:00; in November–March it is 8:30–16:30, with last main entry at 15:30. Check holiday notices for exceptions.

Wu Men is the only visitor entrance. Expect security screening and travel light. For a Palace-only visit, the official Visitor Notice recommends approaching via East or West Tongzihe Road. If combining the Square and Palace, allow time for Square security and follow the south-to-north one-way route toward Wu Men. Leave via Shenwu Men or Donghua Men.

If the plan fails

• No reservation: select another date in the official system. Do not pay an unofficial reseller or arrive expecting a walk-in ticket.
• Closed: switch to a non-Monday opening day and check the official announcement again for temporary closures.
• Passport or booking mismatch: ask Wu Men staff for manual verification before your slot, or call 400-950-1925 (08:00–20:00). Entry is not guaranteed; if unresolved, ask about cancelling through the original channel. Late cancellation counts as a no-show under the visitor rules.