Forbidden City
Why this stop matters
The Forbidden City is the anchor historic site for almost any Beijing stopover. Its scale, preservation, and concentration of Ming-Qing palace architecture make it the highest-yield heritage stop in the city.
Forbidden City Opening Hours
- Peak season (Apr 1 – Oct 31):08:30 — 17:00 (Last entry: 16:00)
- Off-peak (Nov 1 – Mar 31):08:30 — 16:30 (Last entry: 15:30)
- Weekly closure: Monday
- Holiday notes: Closed on Lunar New Year's Eve. Monday closure is waived for national holiday openings except Spring Festival Eve.
Operational notes
- • The Palace Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year, and Mondays on national holidays, except the eve of the Chinese New Year.
- • The museum may be closed on an irregular basis sometimes. The management of the museum apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
- • The Palace Museum does not sell tickets on the day of your visit. Please make arrangements in advance.
Forbidden City Booking & Reservation
- Reservation required:Yes
- Reservation lead time: 7 days
Online via the official booking system with passport number. Foreigners without a reservation can still use the Donghua Gate walk-in fallback with a passport, short declaration form, and CNY 60 card or cash payment.
Forbidden City Tickets & Prices
- Adult (Apr 1 – Oct 31): CNY 60
- Adult (Nov 1 – Mar 31): CNY 40
- The Treasure Gallery: CNY 10
- The Gallery of Clocks: CNY 10
- Same listed price for foreign visitors:Yes
Operational notes
- • The Palace Museum is limiting the daily number of visitors to 40,000, and recommending both individual visitors and tourist groups book tickets in advance online. Foreign visitors are required to provide passport numbers during the online booking.
Museum or heritage site; check official reservation rules before visiting and carry passport plus a backup payment method.
Guided tours
For groups of 1–5 persons. Base group rate applies first; larger groups pay the extra per-person amount shown below.
| Duration | Route | Base price | Additional person (over 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | Central Axis | CNY 600 | CNY 120 |
| 1.5 hours | Central Axis, Six Western Palaces | CNY 900 | CNY 180 |
| 1.5 hours | Three Main Halls of the Outer Court, The Treasure Gallery | CNY 900 | CNY 180 |
| 1.5 hours | Three Main Halls of the Outer Court, Palace of Compassion and Tranquility Area | CNY 900 | CNY 180 |
| 2 hours | Central Axis, The Treasure Gallery | CNY 1200 | CNY 240 |
| 2 hours | Central Axis, Palace of Compassion and Tranquility Area | CNY 1200 | CNY 240 |
| 2.5 hours | Central Axis, Six Western Palaces, The Treasure Gallery | CNY 1500 | CNY 300 |
| 2.5 hours | Central Axis, Gallery of Timepieces, The Treasure Gallery | CNY 1500 | CNY 300 |
| 2.5 hours | Central Axis, Six Western Palaces, Palace of Compassion and Tranquility Area | CNY 1500 | CNY 300 |
Route scope
- Central Axis: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Middle Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, Palace of Earthly Tranquility, Imperial Garden
- Six Western Palaces: Palace of Gathered Elegance, Palace of Earthly Honor
Additional route components
- • The Treasure Gallery
- • Gallery of Timepieces
- • Palace of Compassion and Tranquility Area
Operational notes
- • Overtime is charged at CNY 300 per additional 0.5 hour; less than 0.5 hour is not charged.
- • Bluetooth headsets are provided free of charge; loss or damage is charged at CNY 100 per headset.
- • Guide fees do not include tickets for The Treasure Gallery or Gallery of Timepieces.
- • Minors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; one adult may accompany up to three minors under 14; children under 6 may join for free.
- • The Palace Museum reserves the right of final interpretation.
Getting to Forbidden City
Meridian Gate (South Gate — Sole Entrance)Primary entry
Gate of Divine Might (North — visitor exit since 2011-07-02)
Donghua Gate (East — current visitor exit)
Xihua Gate (West — usually staff-only passage)
Recommended to use 'DiDi' app for real-time pricing from your location
Best Time to Visit Forbidden City
While the Forbidden City is stunning year-round, spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are widely considered the ideal times to visit. Why Spring & Autumn? In spring, the Imperial Garden bursts into color with magnolias, crabapple blossoms, and peonies, creating a picture-perfect contrast against the red walls and golden roofs. Autumn brings crisp, clear skies and golden ginkgo leaves that beautifully complement the palace’s vermilion facades. Average temperatures hover between 10°C and 25°C (50°F–77°F), ideal for spending hours exploring the vast complex. Times to Avoid: • Summer holidays (July–August): Sweltering heat and peak tourist crowds. • China’s Golden Week (October 1st–7th): Expect extreme queues and packed halls; avoid if at all possible. • Mondays: The museum is closed for maintenance (except for select public holidays). Best Time of Day: • First hour after opening (8:30–9:30 AM): By arriving early, you stand a chance of witnessing the courtyards relatively empty and the light soft. • Last 1.5 hours before closing (3:00–4:30 PM): Most tour groups have departed. The setting sun casts a magnificent glow over the rooftops—a magical atmosphere for photos. Essential Tips: • Tickets must be reserved with real-name registration up to 7 days in advance via the official “Forbidden City Museum” WeChat app or website. They sell out fast, especially during peak seasons. • Wear good walking shoes—the complex covers 72 hectares, and a typical visit involves several kilometers of walking.
Foreign visitor tips
Passport needed at entry
Yes
Survival Tips
Unlike domestic visitors who often book weeks ahead, foreigners can use the walk-in Donghua Gate window (no reservation, passport only) — a near-100% reliable fallback. Online slots open 7 days out and sell fast. English audio guides are available near Meridian Gate (¥40 + ¥100 cash deposit); official on-site English guided tours cost CNY 600–1,500 for groups of 1–5 people (1–2.5 hrs). The Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks require separate admission (CNY 10 each). The self-guided app is Chinese-only; bilingual signs cover most of the main axis.
Ticketing Tips
Foreigners can buy tickets on-site at Donghua Gate (East Gate) without a reservation — bring your passport, sign a short form (declares no Chinese phone/smartphone), and pay CNY 60 cash or card. Saturday 9:30am wait was ~20 min. Online booking opens 7 days before your visit at 8pm Beijing time; book with your passport number on the official site if you prefer to reserve ahead. Tiananmen Square itself also requires a ticket or a Forbidden City ticket to pass through — approach from Donghua Gate to skip the square queue entirely. Note: food and water are scarce inside; bring your own and dispose of waste in the bins provided — littering is not tolerated. A popular snack stop is the pancake vendor near Shatan Beijie and Shatanhou Jie just outside.
Photo rules
Tripods and drones are prohibited. Flash-free photography is generally allowed in open courtyards and most non-sensitive exhibition areas.
Skip Forbidden City if
Skip it if you have under two hours or cannot tolerate long security and walking segments. Jingshan Park behind the north gate is the faster alternative for a skyline overview.
Also in Beijing
Plan your Beijing transit stay
- Itinerary builder — turn these attractions into a timed day plan
- Dining cards — order and communicate without Chinese, saveable to your phone
- Payment setup — Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cash fallback before you land
- App guide — DiDi, maps, and booking apps configured before departure
Need more history?
Read on WikipediaData sources
- Palace Museum visitor informationVerified 2026-04-30
- Beijing Subway overviewVerified 2026-04-30
Last reviewed: · Phainon · China Transit Guide Editorial