The short answer on tickets
Forbidden City tickets must be reserved online in advance under a real-name policy - there are no same-day or walk-up tickets. Bookings open at 20:00 (8 PM) Beijing time exactly 7 days before your visit date. Adult admission is RMB 60 in peak season (1 April - 31 October) and RMB 40 in off-season (1 November - 31 March); the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery are RMB 10 each on top. Bring the passport used to book - the name must match at the gate. The Palace Museum has not authorised third-party ticket agents.
- Location: On-site only - booking is done in advance online
- Typical visit style: Reserving takes about 5-10 minutes online
- Difficulty: Straightforward with the real-name reservation steps below
- Crowds: Peak-season slots can sell out soon after the 20:00 release
- Best for: Anyone planning a Forbidden City day; Families calculating admission costs; International visitors booking without a Chinese ID
- Less ideal for: Travellers hoping to buy at the gate - it does not exist
Forbidden City admission (official categories)
Read the discount rules from the source
Concession categories are specific: the student ticket covers students aged 7-18 and full-time undergraduates (not adult, continuing-education or postgraduate students). Confirm eligibility and required ID on the Palace Museum's official ticket information before you travel rather than assuming a blanket 'under 6 free / 6-18 half' rule.
| Category | Peak (Apr 1 - Oct 31) | Off-season (Nov 1 - Mar 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | RMB 60 | RMB 40 |
| Students aged 7-18 and full-time undergraduates (valid ID) | RMB 20 | RMB 20 |
| Seniors aged 60+ (valid ID) | Half price | Half price |
| Children aged 6 and under | Free | Free |
| Visitors with a disability (valid ID) | Free | Free |
| Treasure Gallery (add-on) | RMB 10 | RMB 10 |
| Clock Gallery (add-on) | RMB 10 | RMB 10 |
When and how tickets release
The Palace Museum uses a real-name timed-entry system. Slots for a given date open at 20:00 (8 PM) Beijing time exactly 7 days ahead, and each ticket is tied to the passport or ID used to book. There is no midnight release, no same-day sale, and no walk-up window. Because peak-season and weekend slots can go quickly, plan to book right at the 20:00 release for popular dates.
- Release: 20:00 (8 PM) Beijing time, 7 days before your date.
- Real-name reservation - one booking per named passport/ID.
- No same-day and no walk-up tickets.
- Book at the 20:00 release for peak-season and weekend dates.
Where to book - and who is (not) authorised
The Palace Museum sells tickets only through its own official channels; it has not authorised third-party ticket agents. International visitors who cannot complete the Chinese-language reservation can email the museum directly (see below) or book a guided visit and let their operator help with the reservation process. DragonTrail can assist with the reservation process when you book a guided Forbidden City visit - we do this as your guide, not as an authorised ticket agent.
- Official Palace Museum channels only - no authorised resellers.
- International visitors: email the museum's booking address (below).
- Guided-visit route: your operator assists with the reservation.
- DragonTrail assists as your guide, not as a ticket agent.
International visitors: booking by email
If you cannot complete the online real-name reservation, the Palace Museum lets international visitors request a booking by email. Write to bookingticket@dpm.org.cn with your full name (as on your passport), your passport number, and your intended visit date. Send it at least one calendar day before your visit and within the 7-day booking window. Bring the same passport to the gate for entry.
- Email: bookingticket@dpm.org.cn.
- Include full name, passport number, intended visit date.
- Send at least one calendar day ahead, inside the 7-day window.
- Carry the same passport for real-name entry.
Passport / real-name requirement at entry
Entry is real-name and strict. The name on the reservation must match the passport you present, and every named visitor (including children) needs the passport used to book. Small spelling differences can trigger a manual re-check that slows entry, so copy your passport details exactly when booking and bring the physical passport, not a photocopy.
- Booking name must match the passport at the gate.
- Each named visitor (including kids) needs their passport.
- Copy passport spelling exactly when reserving.
- Bring the physical passport, not a copy.
Add-ons: Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery
Two ticketed galleries sit inside the complex, each an extra RMB 10 on top of admission and each booked under the same real-name rules. The Treasure Gallery shows imperial gold and jade (including the famous Qianlong 'Da Yu Taming Floods' jade carving); the Clock Gallery shows Qing imperial clocks. If you are deciding whether to add one or both, and how they change your route and timing, see our full comparison guide.
- Treasure Gallery: RMB 10 add-on.
- Clock Gallery: RMB 10 add-on.
- Both booked under the same real-name reservation rules.
- Treasure Gallery vs Clock Gallery - which to add
Concessions and discounts (check eligibility)
State the categories carefully rather than assuming a universal rule. Students aged 7-18 and full-time undergraduates (with valid ID) pay the RMB 20 student ticket; visitors aged 60+ pay half price; children aged 6 and under (or under 1.2 m) enter free; visitors with a disability enter free with valid ID. Continuing-education and postgraduate students do not qualify for the student ticket. Always confirm the current eligibility rules and accepted ID on the Palace Museum's official ticket page.
- Student ticket (RMB 20): ages 7-18 and full-time undergraduates.
- Seniors 60+: half price with ID.
- Children 6 and under: free.
- Visitors with a disability: free with valid ID.
- Confirm eligibility and ID on the official ticket page.
What if it's sold out?
Peak-season weekends and Chinese nationalmholiday dates can sell out soon after the 20:00 release. Realistic options: (1) book right at 20:00 exactly 7 days ahead; (2) watch for released cancellations in the official system; (3) shift to a weekday or move your date by a day or two; (4) book a guided visit and let your operator help with the reservation process. There are no private ticket allocations and no authorised third-party agents to fall back on.
- Book at the 20:00 release, 7 days ahead.
- Check the official system for released cancellations.
- Shift to a weekday or move your date slightly.
- A guided visit can help with the reservation process.
Visitor information checked
Visitor information checked: 9 August 2026. Source: Palace Museum official visitor and ticket information (intl.dpm.org.cn). Temporary closures and holiday arrangements can change - always confirm current notices for your date before you travel.
Common Forbidden City ticket mistakes
Waiting for a same-day or midnight release
There is no same-day sale and no midnight drop. Slots open at 20:00 (8 PM) Beijing time, 7 days ahead - book then.
Booking under the wrong passport name
Real-name entry means a mismatch can delay or refuse entry. Copy passport details exactly.
Buying from a 'ticket agent'
The Palace Museum has not authorised third-party ticket agents. Use official channels or the museum's email booking.
Forgetting a child's passport
Every named visitor, including children, needs the passport used to reserve.
Forbidden City tickets FAQ
- Adult admission is RMB 60 in peak season (1 April - 31 October) and RMB 40 in off-season (1 November - 31 March). The Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery are RMB 10 each on top.
- At 20:00 (8 PM) Beijing time, exactly 7 days before your visit date. It is a real-name reservation - there are no same-day or walk-up tickets.
- No. All tickets are reserved in advance under a real-name policy tied to your passport or ID.
- Complete the official online reservation, or email bookingticket@dpm.org.cn with your full name, passport number and intended visit date (at least one calendar day ahead, within the 7-day window). You can also book a guided visit and have your operator help.
- The Palace Museum has not authorised third-party ticket agents. DragonTrail can assist with the reservation process when you book a guided visit, but not as an authorised ticket agent.
- Yes. Entry is real-name: the booking name must match the passport you present, and each named visitor needs their own passport.
Book with a guide who handles the reservation
Our private Forbidden City day includes help with the real-name reservation process, passport-check support, hotel pickup, and an English-speaking guide who paces the central axis.
If you want to see the opening hours and Monday-closure rules before you book, open the pages below.
