Beijing attraction guide
Forbidden City Tickets and Visitor Guide for Foreigners
故宫博物院
How foreign visitors can book Forbidden City tickets, enter with a passport, plan the south-to-north route, and avoid the most common Beijing itinerary mistake.
- Allow
- 4–5 hours
- Entry
- Meridian Gate (south)
- Exit
- North or east side
- Bring
- Original booking passport
The Forbidden City is the Palace Museum, and its visitor flow is directional. You enter at Meridian Gate on the south side, walk through the palace complex, and leave from the north or east. That single fact should shape the rest of your day.
For foreign passport holders, the booking workflow matters as much as the sights. Names and passport numbers must match, the original document is needed at entry, and tickets are limited. Never build a fixed Beijing day around an unconfirmed admission.
Quick answer
Book before you go: the Palace Museum does not sell same-day general admission tickets. Use the official international guidance, enter at Meridian Gate with the original passport used for booking, and plan to exit on the north side near Jingshan Park.
Photo guide
What Forbidden City looks like
Hall of Supreme Harmony on the Forbidden City central route
Photo: Daniel Case. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
One of the Forbidden City's broad ceremonial courtyards
Photo: yeowatzup. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
The scale of the Forbidden City seen from above
Photo: Güldem Üstün from Istanbul, TURKEY. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
How foreign visitors book Forbidden City tickets
The Palace Museum says admission must be booked with valid identification and that same-day tickets are not sold. Its international ticket page currently directs international visitors to provide their full name, passport number, and intended visit date through the stated official process. The booking window and exact channel can change, so open the official page before your release date rather than relying on an old social post.
Use the exact passport details of every visitor. On the day, take the original passport used for the booking and follow the manual inspection instructions at Meridian Gate. A screenshot or photocopy should not be treated as a replacement for the original document.
The Palace Museum says it has not authorized third parties to sell its general admission tickets. Check the official ticket page before paying anyone who promises guaranteed inventory.
The route that makes the visit easier
- Arrive from the Tiananmen side and allow time for security before reaching Meridian Gate.
- Follow the central axis first: Meridian Gate, the great ceremonial halls, the inner court, and the Imperial Garden.
- Add the Treasure Gallery or Gallery of Clocks only if you booked the relevant add-on and still have energy.
- Do not plan to leave halfway for lunch and re-enter; treat the visit as one continuous route.
- Exit north at the Gate of Divine Might if you want to climb Jingshan Park afterward.
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are separate plans
A Forbidden City ticket and a Tiananmen Square reservation are not interchangeable. Each site controls its own access. If you want both on the same day, secure both records, use compatible time slots, and leave a generous security buffer.
The common planning error is placing another south-side attraction after the palace. Because the visit ends north of the complex, Jingshan Park or Shichahai is a more natural follow-on than returning immediately toward Qianmen.
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Plan My Beijing TripFrequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy Forbidden City tickets at the gate?
Do not depend on that. The Palace Museum states that same-day general admission tickets are not sold and that admission must be prebooked with valid identification.
Do I need my passport for the Forbidden City?
Yes. Bring the original passport used for the reservation. The name and passport number should match the booking exactly.
Can I visit Tiananmen Square with a Forbidden City ticket?
Treat them as separate reservations. Each place has its own access requirements, so confirm both before planning a combined visit.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 13, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm the final details with the venue.
