Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Enter at Your Chosen Time

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Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/20

Duration2h–8h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · ZH +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Your passport becomes your entry pass; the palace unfolds on your schedule.

You reserve your entry time in advance, show your passport at the Meridian Gate, and walk the Forbidden City on your own schedule. A guide is optional and runs about two hours if you want the context. Morning and afternoon slots let you choose when to go, and a same-day airport or hotel transfer can get you there without arranging separate transport. Entry is guaranteed at your reserved time, or the booking is cancelled and refunded seven days before if the museum reaches capacity.

2h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

Bring passport for entry
Enter through Meridian Gate
Explore Palace Museum independently
Or join guided tour at meeting point
Listen to guide's stories and photo stops
Exit through Shenwu Gate
Walk from Tiananmen Square northeast entrance

The Experience

You show up with your passport and a reserved time slot. The Forbidden City in Beijing holds 980 buildings across 180 acres, and the only way in is through the Meridian Gate on the south side — which means your pre-booked ticket isn't just a piece of paper, it's your guarantee of entry at the exact hour you chose. Morning tickets work until noon, afternoon ones let you in after 11 a.m., so you pick the rhythm that suits your day. No tour guide required. You walk through at your own pace, stop where the light hits the roofs right, linger in courtyards that have stood for six centuries.

If you want someone to tell you what you're looking at, the guide option adds about two hours and covers the architecture, the stories of the last emperor, and points out the best spots for photographs before you wander off alone. The guide meets you at a set time, walks you to the Meridian Gate entrance, and then you're free to keep exploring after they finish. It's not a full tour where you're tethered to a group — it's a primer that makes the palace readable, then you take it from there.

Getting there is separate from the ticket itself. If you're landing at Beijing Capital Airport or staying at a hotel in the city, you can add a one-way driver transfer on the same day you arrive, which means no negotiating with a taxi or figuring out the metro with luggage. The driver takes you straight to the Forbidden City entrance. Tiananmen Square is a short walk south from the Meridian Gate if you want to see it, though that requires a separate ticket and its own time slot — the square has four entrances and morning hours run 7 a.m. to noon, afternoons from noon to 5 p.m.

One thing to know: if you miss your reserved time or date, you don't get in and there's no refund. The system fills up weeks ahead during peak season, so book as soon as you know your Beijing dates. Children under six don't need a ticket. Anyone taller than 120 centimeters pays full price. Bring the actual passport you used to book — that's your e-ticket at the gate.

What’s included

Your booking includes admission to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) with guaranteed entry at your chosen time slot, morning or afternoon.
Your passport serves as your e-ticket at the Meridian Gate entrance.
If you select the guide option, a 2-hour guided introduction to the palace architecture and history is included before you explore independently.
A one-way transfer from Beijing Capital Airport or your hotel to the Forbidden City entrance can be added for same-day bookings.
Children under six do not require a ticket.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Mark's Guide & Driver Service Beijing

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want guaranteed entry without waiting in line and prefer to explore at their own pace, with the option to add a guide if you want the context first. The reserved time slot removes the guesswork about when you can get in, which matters most during peak season when the museum reaches capacity.