How to Book Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Tickets from Official Website 2025

Everything about Forbidden City Tickets - Important notes, prices, how and when to book, step-by-step instruction, cancellation, visiting guide...

Securing sought-after and limited Forbidden City Beijing tickets was once a challenging and cumbersome task. But the good news is, to meet the diverse visiting needs of international tourists, the Forbidden City (also known as the Palace Museum) has recently implemented a new official ticketing system optimized for international visitors. Now you can efficiently book tickets on its website with only passport numbers and email accounts required.

Click the top right corner to switch to the English version, you will find helpful booking instructions and ticket inspection instructions, interactive calendar for date selection, and clearly listed ticket options. You can check latest available tickets, exhibitions, schedules, prices, order information, etc. and also we will update the latest news for you.

Important Notes Before Booking Forbidden City Tickets

Access the Ticket System of Forbidden City & Sign Up

Visit Forbidden City ticketing website, switch to the English version, then click on the button of Sign in, enter your email address to get a verification code, finally use it to log into the system.

Forbidden City Ticket Booking - 6 Easy Steps

Click on the button of Book tickets to enter the booking process.

1. Select your visit date and choose the quantity of tickets

Choose your intended visit date from the calendar. Please book your tickets at least one day in advance, and you can book up to a maximum of 7 days in advance. Then choose the quantity of ticket type. (e.g. standard tickets, senior citizen discounts, etc. if applicable)

2. Enter visitor information

Enter visitor details, including first name & last name, country/region, and passport number. When booking online, you can book tickets for up to 5 people at a time. Just enter their passport numbers and corresponding information. When enter the tour site, provide the original passport of each individual.

3. Select exhibitions

Based on general admission tickets selected, if you are interested, browse available galleries and exhibitions on display for the chosen date, and select what you wish to visit.

Here we highly recommend you visit The Gallery of Clocks and The Treasure Gallery where you will witness profound national treasures with greatly low costs. These galleries showcase not just physical cultural heritage but also bear witness to the exchange between Eastern and Western cultures and the depth of Chinese history. For international visitors with an interest in history, art, and culture, this undoubtedly promises to be an unforgettable journey of exploration.
The Gallery of Clocks (钟表馆)
The clocks displayed here, mainly crafted by European masters during the 18th and 19th centuries, are not just timekeeping devices but also work of art. They showcase the advanced European clock-making techniques of that era and the Chinese royal family's high regard for foreign craftsmanship. These clocks often combine precise mechanical structures with ornate decorative artistry. Some even feature complex functions like music boxes and automata, representing a perfect blend of technology and art.
The Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆)
It vividly reflects the luxury and artistic taste of ancient Chinese royalty. The exhibits include gold and silverware, exquisitely carved jade, sparkling jewels, and delicate embroidery, all epitomizing the essence of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. This gallery is a rare find for foreign visitors interested in different cultures and art history. The collection not only displays the artisans' superb skills but also reflects the lifestyle and aesthetic preferences of the ancient Chinese imperial court. Select Exhibitions

4. Confirm your order

Then confirm your order details including ticket selections, exhibitions, subtotal prices, etc.

5. Check reservation result and make the payment

With reservation successful, select a payment method and complete the transaction within 30 minutes. You can choose credit card, WeChat/Alipay payment and also can apply for on-site payment.

6. Receive confirmation notification

With payment successful, you will receive booking confirmation by email.

● Cancellation and Refunds

1. Unused tickets (including general admission tickets, tickets for the Treasure Gallery, the Gallery of Clocks, and exhibitions) can be refunded through the original payment method before 24:00 on the day prior to the visit, without being considered a missed appointment. Tickets can still be refunded before 20:00 on the visit day, but it will be counted as one missed appointment. After 20:00 on the visit day, no refunds or cancellations are allowed, and it will be counted as one missed appointment.
2. Ticket refunds will be sent to your payment account within five working days via the original payment method. Please check your account for the refund. lf you do not receive the refund, please contact visitor service.
3. If you miss three appointments within 180 days, you will be barred from booking tickets and attending exhibitions at the Palace Museum for 60 days, starting from the day after the third missed appointment.

Start from ☛ www.bookingticket.dpm.org.cn

Contact and Support

◆ Language assistance is available on site.
◆ For issues or inquiries, email gugong@dpm.org.cn or contact (8610)8500-7420.
◆ Contact us for immediate help and comprehensive information.

Useful Forbidden City Visiting Tips

◆ How to plan the visiting route?
You can arrange your Forbidden City visit based on the expected duration of your tour, such as 2-hour, half-day, or full-day tour recommendations. We recommend spending half a day to explore the Forbidden City, as this allows for a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of its history and culture, while maintaining an enjoyable pace. After visiting the Forbidden City, we suggest a visit to the nearby Jingshan Park (about a 4-minute walk) where you can enjoy the majestic and charming panorama of the Forbidden City and Beijing City.

◆ How to get to the Forbidden City?
Rightly located at the center of Beijing City, Forbidden City is easily accessible by subway line 1 (most convenient), by bus and even on foot.

◆ Where to get convenient services?
You can click on the button of visit to figure out the position of service spots from the map, including Guide, Audio Guide, Service Cente, Nursery, Shop, Food & Drink, Coffee, First Aid, Stroller Rental, Broadcasting Station, etc.

For more visiting tips and useful details, click ☛ The Forbidden City

Book Forbidden City Tickets with Us

As a part of our private valuable Beijing tour packages, we promise to book Forbidden City tickets for you in an ensured and well-formed way. We are sorry ticket-booking-only is currently not available.

1. Travel agency's specialized booking system helps you skip registration and tedious steps.
2. The Forbidden City tickets often sell out quickly; we can ensure your successful reservation.
3. If you book tickets with us and choose our tour packages, we'll provide an experienced local guide to help you gain a deeper understanding of the Forbidden City's history and its precious collections.
4. Beyond the Forbidden City, we can also assist in booking tickets for other Beijing attractions, such as Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and more.

Travel With Our Valuable & Worry-free Beijing Tour Packages

Besides booking tickets, we are also good at create tailor-made Beijing journeys and will tailor the perfect itinerary for you with experienced travel planners, local guides and well-informed schedules. In a word, China Discovery will ensure you a captivating Beijing visit with great comfort. Here are our most recommended and popular Beijing tour packages as below. Wish you a nice, smooth and enjoyable journey in China!

How to Plan Your Beijing Tour 2024/2025

To explore the Forbidden City and the best highlights of Beijing, including Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and Hutongs, you need at least 3 or 4 full days, which is available up to 144 Hours Visa-free for Transit in Beijing. If you have more days, you can go for an in-depth Great Wall hiking or photography, and explore more hidden attractions in Beijing. We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable wonderful trips to Beijing for the past few years. You can find your favorite tour package from our valuable Beijing private tours collections.

As the most popular transportation hub in China, you can easily travel from Beijing to any other hot travel destinations in China by flight or train, such as Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu and other popular destinations in China. China Discovery has designed many great China tour packages from Beijing for you. Please make your choice from our collections or let us customize one for you.

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Recommended Beijing Tour
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Questions & Discussions

Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.

Sam Tan

Ticket sales

What time does the online tickets starts?

2024-11-21 08:33

Hi Sam Tan,

The earliest booking can be made starting at 8:00 PM, 7 days before the visit.

China Discovery 2024-11-26 17:26

Lala Austy

Forbidden city ticket

How much is forbidden city ticket? Is it inckude tian an men square?

2024-11-03 22:15

Hi Lala,

The admission ticket of Forbidden City is CNY 60 in April 1st - October 31st (high season) / CNY 40 in November 1st - March 31st (low season), which does not include the Tiananmen Square. You can visit Tiananmen Square for free with your Forbidden City ticket on the same day, but if you want to visit the Tiananmen Tower, you will need to buy a ticket (CNY 15). Tiananmen Square is very close to the entrance of Forbidden City (Meridian Gate) with only about a 10-minute walk, so you can take a short visit before the Forbidden City.

AL

China Discovery 2024-11-05 11:04