Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Walk the Meridian Gate
What does it take to walk through 600 years of imperial power?
You book your Forbidden City tickets seven days in advance using your passport details, then scan your way in at the Meridian Gate with no paper ticket or queue. Choose your entry time slot when you reserve, add Tiananmen Square access if you want it, and explore the 9,000-room palace at your own pace. Two exit gates let you head toward different parts of Beijing afterward.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Provide full name and passport number
- Scan passport for entry
- Explore the Forbidden City
What’s included
- Your booking includes entry to the Forbidden City at the Meridian Gate using your passport for digital entry.
- If you select the Tiananmen Square option, access to the square is included.
- Both are self-guided visits with no guide or audio tour provided.
- Two exit gates (Shenwu Gate and Donghua Gate) are available when you leave.
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 07:30 08:30 11:00 12:00 13:00
Options for this experience
4 optionsInformation
Prices and times updated today
Operated by Travel China Guide
The experience
You're walking toward the Meridian Gate, passport in hand, while the ticket queue snakes back toward the street. That's the difference here. Your Forbidden City tickets are already booked under your passport details, so entry is just a scan at the gate, no paper slip, no waiting. The Forbidden City itself holds over 9,000 rooms across 600 years of Ming and Qing history, and moving through it at your own pace means you can linger at the courtyards that stop you, or move faster through the sections you've read about. The whole palace sits on one site, so once you're in at the Meridian Gate, you navigate the layout yourself.
The booking system works backward from most tours. You provide your full name and passport number when you reserve, and that's what unlocks your entry. Tickets release seven days in advance, so you'll need to plan ahead, but the confirmation comes through once they're issued. If you're traveling with people from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan, they'll need their Mainland Travel Permit details instead of a standard passport. Chinese nationals can book independently through the official mini-program, but everyone else goes through this advance system. The time slot you choose is fixed (you can't show up whenever you want), so pick a morning slot if you prefer fewer crowds, though the palace draws visitors all day.
Two exits give you flexibility on the way out: the Shenwu Gate near Jingshan Park if you want to head north, or the Donghua Gate near Wangfujing Street if you're moving toward the shopping district. Tiananmen Square is a separate add-on when you book, so decide upfront whether you want that included or just the palace. The whole thing is self-guided (no audio tour, no group, no guide narrating), which means you're free to spend three hours or six, depending on how deep you want to go into the architecture and the dynasties. Bring comfortable shoes and water. The palace is vast and there's not much shade in the courtyards.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to skip the ticket line and have flexibility to explore the palace on their own schedule. Plan for advance booking, tickets release only seven days ahead, and a fixed entry time slot, which is what keeps you out of the morning queue.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.
Do I need a paper ticket for the Forbidden City?
No. Your tickets are booked under your passport, and you scan your passport directly at the Meridian Gate for entry.
When can I book tickets?
Tickets release seven days in advance. You'll receive a confirmation once your booking is issued.
What time can I enter?
You choose a specific time slot when you book. Entry is strictly limited to that reserved time slot.
Can I visit Tiananmen Square as part of this?
Tiananmen Square access is a separate add-on option. Select it when booking if you want to include it.
What ID do I need to bring?
All visitors must present a passport at the Meridian Gate. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan need their Mainland Travel Permit instead.
Is there a guide included?
No. This is a ticket-only service. You explore the Forbidden City at your own pace without a guide.
Which exit should I use?
Two exits are available: Shenwu Gate (near Jingshan Park) or Donghua Gate (near Wangfujing Street). Choose based on where you're heading next.
Is the Forbidden City accessible for wheelchairs?
Yes, the palace is wheelchair accessible. Strollers are also permitted for infants and small children.
Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Walk the Meridian Gate
2h–4h
from US$ 2.99 per person