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
Wheelchair accessible
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)
Please ensure all travelers' passport number and full name (must match your passport) is provided and accurate upon booking. Otherwise, you won't be able to access to the attraction
Chinese tourists( including Taiwan and Hongkong ) must book over 8 days in advance.
Children must be accompanied by an adult
If children's height over 1.2 meters (3'9"), please purchase Youth Ticket upon booking (under 1.2 meters is free to join) Please ensure you follow this restriction upon booking. Don't be risky as Forbidden City will not let your kids in for free if the height is over 1.2 meters.
This is only pre-booking service, if we get the ticket then the comfirmation letter will received 7 days in advance.
The ticket is only valid on the day you book to travel
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
Meeting points
The Palace Museum
No.4 Jingshanqian Street, Beijing China
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Options
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.
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.
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.
Reviews
1,397 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Forbidden City Tours
simoneJ6445RA,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sofia was a fantastic tour leader. Very knowledgeable and engaging. We throughout enjoyed our time in the forbidden city learning the rich history.
Best Forbidden City Tour
Q4452OVtrishap,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sophia was such a great guide, starting from quickly getting us through the lines and explaining all the history of the forbidden city. Would highly recommend!!
Forbidden city tour
ushaseer,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked 2 days in advance and Sophia did an excellent job taking us around the forbidden city. The pace was great and the tour was very informative!
Forbidden City Tour
KevinTranMD,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sofia was a wonderful tour guide who gave clear instructions starting from the day before. She got us in so quickly and somehow avoided the huge crowds and queues. We booked this only 2 days before because we didn’t realize how difficult getting tickets for the Forbidden City was. Thank you Sofia for an educational tour!
Great visit to the Forbidden City
kelseyjI5129VE,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful visit to the forbidden city — well organized with interesting detail, would recommend for folks visiting Beijing!
Smooth experience thanks to guide
karenyH15EB,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had Renny as our guide and she was a pro at navigating the Forbidden City for us. She provided educational commentary in both English and Chinese for our group. Our day would not have been as smooth without her and we really appreciated her guidance!
Forbidden city
Remy20731,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour with guide Sophia. Thank you
wonderful experience
P6149KOdanig,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Summer was fantastic and considerate . Despite the heavy rain, she made the best arrangements and took us to various exhibition halls, so we hardly got wet. Even though the weather was terrible, we stayed in high spirits and learned a great deal of fascinating history thanks to her professional and vivid commentary.Highly recommend this tour to everyone!
A visit worthy of the forbidden city
938jilh,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Even with the heavy winds, Summer was the perfect guide ! The visit lasted until the palace closed. It is really big and without a guide it would be impossible to understand the history of the architecture and of the art pieces.
Wonderful !!
Inspire68447473447,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Marco is a wonderful guide! Very nice and very sympathic. He knows a lot and explained a lot of interesting stories about the forbidden city. We crossed the world to visit Beijing with my son, we will remember this visit forever. Thank you Marco
From US$9.98
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