Diario · Oct 3, 2026
Forbidden City Tickets: How to Book Before They Sell Out
The Forbidden City is China's single most in-demand sight, and its tickets are famously hard to get. They release exactly 7 days in advance at 8pm Beijing time and routinely sell out within minutes.
How to book
- Book through the official Palace Museum website or a trusted platform.
- You'll need your passport number — tickets are tied to it.
- Set an alarm for the release time and be ready to act fast.
What to know
- The museum is closed on Mondays (except some holidays).
- Enter through the Meridian Gate (south); you exit at the north end.
- Allow at least half a day — the complex is enormous.
If it sells out
Don't despair. The surrounding area — Tiananmen, Jingshan Park and the National Museum — is worth a visit on its own, and Jingshan's hilltop offers the best overhead view of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
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