Forbidden City Ticket Booking

Overview

Mobile ticket

The Forbidden City is also known as Palace Museum, it was the imperial residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The palace as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The Forbidden City is arguably the most famous palace in all of Chinese history, and is the largest and best preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world.

Due to the numbers of tourist restrictions in the Forbidden City every day, a very limited ticket available daily and can be booked on the app 7 days in advance. Most of the time, tickets to the Forbidden City are hard to buy. Through our booking service, we can save you time and energy.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

1. Easy to book, provided with the correct passport name and passport number.

2. Upon receiving a ticket confirmation letter from the local supplier, you only need to present your passport to enter through security checks to the Forbidden City.

3. Explore the Forbidden City at your own pace. You can freely choose to travel in the morning or afternoon.

5, Tourists holding foreign passports can make reservations within 7 days (not applicable to Chinese tourists, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Forbidden City entry ticket

Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Meridian Gate (Wu Men)

The Entrance Gates Of Gugong, Beijing China

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meridian Gate (Wu Men)

The Forbidden City is the largest and the best preserved of ancient royal palaces in the world, and was once the royal residence of 24 Chinese emperors and countless concubines. It has a history of 600 years old. The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is a must visit attraction for visitors to Beijing. Attracting countless tourists from all over the world every day. Due to numbers of tourists restrictions every day, it is necessary to book visiting tickets in advance. It is recommended to make a reservation at least 8 days in advance. We will send you a successful ticket purchase email 7 days in advance, and then you only need to bring your passport to enter directly. So, make sure to provide the correct passport number is necessary.

Admission Included

Options

Forbidden City guide tour

Ticket+Tour guide sevice: English speaking tour guide+ticket. Orders within 7 days are only applicable to tourists holding foreign passports.
Duration: 3 hours: The tour is aroung 3-4 hours in total. You have to show up on time at the meeting point.
Meeting point: Meet infront of Kapok Hotel （东华门木棉花酒店)，ADD: No.16th. Donghuamen road, Dongcheng district

AM Entrance+Treasure gallery

No meeting point,: No guide included, it's self-guided tour. All visitor's passport name and numbers are required to book the ticket.
Access between 8:30am-12:00pm: Present your passport to enter from South Gate(Meridian Gate). Take taxi to East gate then walk around 10 min to South Gate.

Morning entrance ticket

Afternoon entrance ticket

No meeting point : No guide included, it's self-guided tour. All visitor's passport name and numbers are required to book the ticket.
Access between 11:00am-15:30pm: Present your passport to enter from South Gate(Meridian Gate). Take taxi to East gate then walk around 10 min to South Gate.

PM Entrance+Treasures gallery

No meeting point,: No guide included, it's self-guided tour. All visitor's passport name and numbers are required to book the ticket.
Access between 11:00am-15:30pm: Present your passport to enter from South Gate(Meridian Gate). Take taxi to East gate then walk around 10 min to South Gate.

Reviews

4.90

94 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Engaging tour
V6253BNandreag,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide Summer was warm and friendly,She shared insightful history and funny stories,made the experience more memorable.
Forbidden City Tour with Summer
Anjelica B,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour of the Forbidden City with Summer was amazing. She was organized, friendly, and truly passionate about the history of the palace. Summer guided our group through each area at the perfect pace and pointed out details we would have easily missed on our own. She also gave us plenty of opportunities for photos. Her professionalism and kindness made the entire experience unforgettable! I highly recommend her as a guide.
Forbidden city
Voyager09496210212,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very nice tour ! We enjoyed ourselves very much. It was nice to understand everything and have beautiful pictures about everything
Chinese History and Forbidden City
Odyssey07842060192,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great way to experience the Forbidden City. We only had about 9 hours in Beijing and decided to make the most of it. We booked the day before and went straight to the meeting spot once we landed. Our guide Summer was very helpful and knowledgable regarding this amazing place and Chinese history. Thanks a lot for the great tour.
Wonderful day
K8990XVmarthad,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide Summer turned the Forbidden City into an unforgettable experience. Her brilliantly described historical events humorously.An absolute must-do for anyone visiting Beijing.
Engaging and memorable!!
304sabyasachij,
Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide summer was very friendly and knowledgeable. She took us through out the palace with many interesting facts and stories including historical details. Among all this, she remembered to take us to the most beautiful view points of the palace to capture panoramic shots. Highly recommended tour service in beijing!!
Highly recommend Summer as a tour guide
Sunshine19215273181,
Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had an amazing experience on my tour, thanks to our fantastic guide, Summer. Her English was fluent and clear, making it easy to understand everything she shared. She provided us with a fascinating background on the history of China and the Forbidden City, which added depth to the visit. Additionally, she was incredibly helpful in pointing out the best spots for photography, ensuring we captured memorable moments. She even suggested a great coffee shop inside the complex, which was a lovely bonus.Her honesty and friendly nature made the tour all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to explore this remarkable destination.
imperial city
J5808RSkentl,
Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Despite the strong wind today, Summer guided us through the furniture gallery, sculpture gallery, and several Hall gardens within the Forbidden City. The rich historical context of these sites made our trip incredibly meaningful and memorable.
Excellent experience
AnnaW5187,
Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great tour with summer. She is brilliant and has so much knowledge of China, history and especially for the forbidden kingdom. I really can recommend her, she was well prepared and organized everything for us. I would give her more than five stars if it’s Possible.
I'm delighted!
D8185KP ,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Delightful tour full of interesting details! Thanks summer for a fascinating journey to the world of ancient China. I highly advise you to visit this guide!