🎫 Free or cheap — book ahead with passport
Reserve museums & sights
Free or cheap — book ahead with passport
Step by step
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Book on the official English site
intl.dpm.org.cn — skip the WeChat mini-app queue. Book with your passport; slots open ~7 days ahead.
Open site
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Book ~7 days ahead
Top sights sell out fast. Sold out? Foreigners can buy at the on-site office with a passport (subject to availability).
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Enter with your passport
The passport IS the ticket — show it at security. Arrive 30 min early for 9-11 AM peaks.
Done
Good to know
The Palace Museum sells out fastest. Official domains end with dpm.org.cn — everything else is a reseller.
Frequently asked questions
Sold out online?
Since 2024 foreigners can buy at the on-site ticket office with a passport, subject to availability.
Lookalike booking sites?
forbiddencity-ticket.com and similar are resellers with markup. Official domains end with dpm.org.cn.
How much?
Palace Museum: 60 CNY peak / 40 off-season. Many top museums are free — reservations still required.
How does entry work?
Your passport IS the ticket — show it at security. No paper ticket or pickup needed.
If something goes wrong
sold-out
Fully booked for your dates
Likely cause: Top sights release tickets ~7 days ahead and sell out in minutes — the Palace Museum is the fastest.
What to do: Book the moment slots open (check each museum's release time). Sold out anyway? Foreigners can buy at the on-site ticket office with a passport, subject to availability — bring it even when the site says sold out.
lookalike-sites
Booking sites with similar names charge much more
What to do: Book only on official domains (Palace Museum: dpm.org.cn). Resellers add markup — and your passport is the real ticket anyway.
gate-wants-passport
The gate won't accept your booking QR alone
What to do: The passport IS the ticket for foreigners: show the physical passport at security. Photos don't work — same rule as train stations.
closed-monday
You showed up and it's closed
Likely cause: Most major museums close on Mondays (except public holidays).
What to do: Check the official site before planning your day. Around national holidays they usually open.
Official apps and links
- Palace Museum — official international site official
- Palace Museum — official English booking official