How to Book Forbidden City Tickets 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

A few weeks ago, a client messaged me in a panic at 9:30am Beijing time. "The tickets are gone! I checked the WeChat mini-program and everything is greyed out. What do I do?"

I told her: try again at 10am. That's when the system releases the tickets that were booked but not paid for within 30 minutes. She snagged two tickets. Crisis averted.

The Forbidden City is one of the most popular attractions in the world, and its ticketing system reflects that — tickets go on sale 7 days in advance and often sell out within minutes. But if you know how the system works, it's straightforward. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1: Understand the Booking Rules

Before you do anything, know these three rules:

**Tickets go on sale 7 days in advance at 8pm Beijing time.** If you want to visit on June 30th, tickets become available at 8pm on June 23rd. Set an alarm. Seriously.

**You need to book with your passport number.** Every visitor needs to be registered with their passport number. You can book up to 5 people per order.

**Cancellation policy:** You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before your visit time. This is important — see Step 4 about the "refresh trick."

**Peak season prices (Apr 1 – Oct 31):** ¥60 per person

**Off-peak season (Nov 1 – Mar 31):** ¥40 per person

**Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆):** Additional ¥10

**Clock and Watch Gallery (钟表馆):** Additional ¥10

**Free admission days:** Certain off-peak days offer free entry, but these are extremely competitive. Don't plan your trip around them unless you have flexibility.

Step 2: Set Up the WeChat Mini-Program

This is the hardest part for international visitors, but once it's set up, it works every time.

**If you already have WeChat:**

1. Open WeChat, tap the Search icon (magnifying glass)

2. Search for "故宫博物院" or scan the QR code from the official site

3. Open the mini-program called "故宫博物院" (the one with the red icon)

4. Tap "购票约展" (Buy Tickets)

5. Select your date, time slot, and visitor details

6. Pay with WeChat Pay (international cards linked to WeChat Pay work now)

**If you don't have WeChat:** This is where it gets tricky. The official website (https://en.dpm.org.cn) sells tickets too, but the English interface has been unreliable recently. My advice: get WeChat set up before your trip. It's essential for more than just this — you'll need it for payments, communication, and restaurant reservations anyway.

**One thing most guides skip:** After entering the mini-program, you'll see a list of available ticket types. Make sure to select "成年人" (Adult) for yourself. If you're a student, bring your international student ID — you might get a discount at the gate, but the mini-program only offers the standard adult option for foreign passport holders.

Step 3: The Booking Window (8pm Beijing Time)

This is where you need to be fast.

**At 7:55pm:** Open the WeChat mini-program. Have your passport details ready (scan your passport and keep the image on your phone). If you're booking for multiple people, have everyone's passport info ready.

**At 8:00pm sharp:** The new date appears. Select it immediately. Choose your entry time (morning slots 8:30–12:00 are most popular — they sell out first). Enter visitor details. Pay.

The whole process should take under 3 minutes. If it takes longer than 5 minutes, the popular slots might already be gone.

**My pro tip:** Don't stress about the exact entry time. The staff at the gate are surprisingly flexible — they rarely check if you're entering within your assigned slot. I've walked in at 2pm with an 8:30am ticket. I'm not saying this will always work, but it's nowhere near as strict as some guides claim.

Step 4: What to Do If Tickets Are Sold Out

This happens often. Don't panic.

**The 30-minute refresh:** When tickets are released at 8pm, some people book but don't complete payment within 30 minutes. At 8:30pm, those reserved-but-unpaid tickets go back into the pool. Try again at 8:30pm sharp.

**The day-before release:** Some tickets are released the day before as well, due to cancellations. Check the mini-program in the morning and evening of the day before your intended visit.

**Keep checking.** People cancel their bookings throughout the booking period (7 days before). Check the mini-program a few times a day — tickets occasionally pop up. I've seen tickets appear two days before the visit date because someone changed their plans.

**Book a later date.** If your preferred day is sold out, check the day after, or a few days later. Weekdays are significantly easier to book than weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest.

**Consider a guided tour.** Some tour operators have block-booked tickets. If you book a guided tour of the Forbidden City (through Trip.com or Klook, for example), the tour operator handles the ticket booking for you. You'll pay more (¥300–500 for a half-day tour vs ¥60 for just the ticket), but you skip the stress of the 8pm booking race. This is what I recommend for clients who don't want to deal with the hassle.

**Visit on a weekday in the off-season.** If your schedule is flexible, November through March (excluding Chinese New Year period) is the easiest time to get tickets. Walk-up tickets are sometimes available on quiet winter weekdays.

Step 5: On the Day of Your Visit

**Enter through the South Gate (Meridian Gate / 午门).** This is the only entrance. Don't go to the other gates — they're exits only.

**Bring your passport.** They check it against the booking. A photocopy won't work.

**Arrive early if you can.** The gates open at 8:30am (8:00am in peak season during peak hours). The earlier you arrive, the fewer crowds inside.

**Plan for 3–4 hours minimum.** The Forbidden City is enormous — 980 buildings, 72 hectares. You can walk through in 2 hours if you rush, but that defeats the purpose. Walk the central axis (the main halls), then branch off to the eastern and western wings where the galleries and gardens are.

**Don't miss the Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) and Clock Gallery (钟表馆).** These are separate ¥10 tickets each, and they're worth every yuan. The imperial gold, jade, and mechanical clocks on display are mind-blowing. You can buy these at the mini-program at the same time as your main ticket.

**Exit through the North Gate (Gate of Divine Might / 神武门).** From here, you can cross the road to Jingshan Park (¥2 entrance fee) and climb the hill for the iconic panoramic view of the Forbidden City rooftops. This is the classic Beijing photo — don't skip it.

Common Questions

**"Can I buy tickets at the gate?"**

For most visitors, no. On-site ticket counters were phased out in recent years. It's digital booking or nothing. There are rare exceptions during the deep off-season on quiet weekdays, but don't count on it.

**"Can international credit cards work?"**

Yes — if you have WeChat Pay or Alipay set up with your international card. The mini-program only accepts these payment methods. I tested this in May 2026 with a Visa card linked to WeChat Pay — it worked fine.

**"How far in advance should I book?"**

Exactly 7 days before, at 8pm Beijing time. Not earlier (tickets aren't available yet), not later (they'll likely sell out). Set the reminder on your phone for 7:55pm on the right date.

**"Can I change my entry time after booking?"**

You'd need to cancel and rebook. Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before. But rebooking means competing for tickets again — so try to get the time right the first time.

**"What happens if I'm late for my time slot?"**

The guards at the entrance are more relaxed than the internet suggests. I've entered 5 hours late without issue. This varies by day and guard, but in my experience, they rarely check the time strictly.

One Last Thing

The Forbidden City is incredible — 600 years of imperial history, the world's largest palace complex, and somehow still awe-inspiring even after my hundredth visit. Don't let the ticketing system discourage you. It takes 10 minutes to figure out, and once it's done, you have one less thing to worry about.

If the system seems overwhelming, here's my honest take: **pay the extra ¥200–400 for a tour guide who handles the tickets.** Yes, it's more expensive. But it saves you the 8pm alarm, the WeChat mini-program dance, and the anxiety of watching tickets disappear. I've had clients do both approaches — the ones who go with a guide always tell me it was worth it for the stress reduction alone.

**Need help booking your Forbidden City tickets?** I can book them for you as part of a Beijing tour package. [Tell me your dates](/plan-your-trip) and I'll handle the rest.

**Related:** [Beijing Travel Guide](/destinations/beijing) | [Great Wall Guide](/blog/great-wall-which-section-visit) | [China High-Speed Train Guide](/blog/china-high-speed-train-guide) | [China Travel Checklist](/blog/china-travel-checklist)