Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)
Overview
Mobile ticket
Get your direct entry Forbidden City admission ticket to explore this impressive attraction during your Beijing trip. Discover the secrets that have been hidden since Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420 to 1912). This city was constructed from 1406 to 1420. The city consists of 980 buildings! Have fun spending the day looking at priceless Chinese artifacts.
Please note:
• Passport name and number is required at time of booking for “all participants” upon booking
• This ticket product offers you direct entry to Forbidden City with your Passport
• This is Forbidden City ticket not including Tiananmen Square reservation, you can just take a taxi to East gate or West Gate of Forbidden City and walk to the Main entrace South Gate (Meridian Gate 午门） to enter to Forbidden City directly. No need pass through Tiananmen Square.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please note: Passport name and number is required at time of booking for “all participants” upon booking
Passport is required for all travelers on the day of travel for direct entry. (not for Chinese tourist, Chinese tourist must buy the ticket by ID card information)
Chinese tourists( including Taiwan and Hongkong ) must book over 8 days in advance.
This is only pre-booking service, if we get the ticket then the comfirmation letter will received 6 days in advance.
The ticket is only valid on the day you book to travel
Please note that Chinese nationals including visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must book tickets 7 days in advance for the Forbidden City. We cannot accept any bookings made within 7 days of the visit date.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Palace Museum
After booking with your passport name and number (for all participants), you can access to the Forbidden City directly through the security check and by showing your passport at the main entrance, Meridian Gate. Forbidden City Schedule: • Peak Season: April 1st to October 31st (Tuesday to Sunday) - Last Entry is at 16:00 • Summer Vacation: July to August (Monday to Sunday) - Last Entry is at 16:00 • Slow Season: November 1st to March 31st (Tuesday to Sunday) - Last Entry is at 15:30 Please note: • This is pre booking service, the comfirmation will send 7 days before the tour date. • Passport name and number is required at time of booking for “all participants” upon booking • This ticket product offers you direct entry to Forbidden City with your Passport
Hall of Middle Harmony (Zhonghe Dian)
Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian) also called 'Hall of Golden Throne', is the grandest hall in the palace and the largest wooden structure in China.
What‘s Included
Admission ticket
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Pickup points
Hotel Kapok Beijing
No.16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing China
Meeting points
The Palace Museum
No.4 Jingshanqian Street, Beijing China
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Options
Main Gate Ticket
Morning/Afternoon timed ticket: 【8:30 slot: Morning ticket, entry 8:30 A.M –12:00 P.M】// 【11:00 slot: Afternoon ticket, entry 11:10 A.M–15:00 P.M】 No guide included: No meeting point, please scan your passport to enter the Forbidden City at the Meridian Gate. Please make your own way there. Note: Please provide all visitors’ full names and passport numbers to book it, and your passports will serve as your entry ticket.
Forbidden City group tour
Ticket+Tour guide(Foreigner): For foreign guests only. English-speaking tour guide + entrance ticket. Only available for tourists with foreign passports. Meeting point: Meet infront of Kapok Hotel （东华门木棉花酒店)，Address: No.16th. Donghuamen road, Dongcheng district. Duration: 3 hours Booking within 6 days: We recommend booking your tour as early as possible. Otherwise, international visitors may need to queue up at the entrance. Note: : Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are only accepted for bookings of 8 days in advance or longer.
Main Gate +Treasure Gallery
Morning/Afternoon timed ticket: 【8:30 slot: Morning ticket, entry 8:30 A.M–12:00 P.M】// 【11:00 slot: Afternoon ticket, entry 11:10 A.M–15:00 p.M】 No guide included: No meeting point, please scan your passport to enter the Forbidden City at the Meridian Gate. Please make your own way there. Note: Please provide all visitors’ full names and passport numbers to book it, and your passports will serve as your entry ticket.
Reviews
1,448 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Really enjoyable tour!!
Eva K,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really enjoyable tour and educational! Candice was knowledgeable and entertaining. I loved this tour! Be prepared to walk a lot.
Great experience!
sofmuvi,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent experience with Sofia! Full trip!
Michael was such an...
Paige H,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Michael was such an amazing tour guide! He was so helpful and overall I had an amazing experience!!!
Very nice and interesting...
Egor Z,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very nice and interesting guide service, the tickets were included and the language was simple and good. It's possible to leave the group and travel by ourselves. The guide's name was Summer.
forbidden city
590momol,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sofia. Excellent guide, we really appreciate the care & the professionalism. de do recommend her 100%! thanks Again
A great afternoon
903shaung,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful tour of the Forbidden City with a great guide who went the extra mile to ensure we had a pleasurable experience. Her knowledge of the best spots to see and her explanation of Chinese history was outstanding.
First-class tour experience
T5645WNstefanl,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a very enjoyable walk through the forbidden city, guided by Summer She was well-organized, got us through the entrance without delays, made sure we had enough rest and shade on a very hot day, while not missing any of the highlights. We also appreciated that the meeting place was in an area that was not crowded and that she pointed us to the subway after the tour.
Knowledgeable, thoughtful, curtious
Mary E,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Summer was an excellent tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about the Forbidden City and gave us plenty of shade breaks which were needed today. Thank you very much Summer, glad to have met you!! Mary
Forbidden city tour
haixinz2026,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sofia is really helpful! We were late to the meeting but she was really accommodating! Learned a lot through her and it’s overall really fun!!
Forbidden City with Summer
142emmanuellel,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Summer was extremely interesting, also presenting documents for understanding the tour. Very interesting and very attentive to the group's requests. I sincerely recommend her!
From US$9.98
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Lily's Tour Company