Tickets
Forbidden City tips from 1,700 traveller reviews
Most visitors loved it; the bad days came from queues and tour operators. Forbidden City tips from 1,734 traveller reviews, and six checks before a tour.
Independent ticket guide
How to get tickets for Beijing's top sights
Step-by-step help to book Beijing's top sights, and what to do when tickets sell out.
Release time calculator
When do tickets go on sale?
Choose a visit date to see when tickets go on sale.
Open the full calculator →Tickets sold out? See tours →Top landmarks
Choose your attraction
Four landmarks, one clear guide to getting in.
Forbidden City
Palace Museum
Official booking steps, release times and options if tickets are sold out.
Tickets & how to visit
Great Wall
Two popular sections
Official booking steps, release times and options if tickets are sold out.
Explore the Great Wall
Temple of Heaven
Official booking steps, release times and options if tickets are sold out.
Tickets & how to visit
Summer Palace
Official booking steps, release times and options if tickets are sold out.
Tickets & how to visit
Plan the practical side
Popular itineraries
Ready-made plans for your days
3 days in Beijing
The four main sights, with a ticket booking timeline.
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Temple of Heaven
- Summer Palace
3 daysSee the itinerary →
5 days in Beijing
The main sights, a hutong day and a day trip.
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Hutong tours
- Day trips from Beijing
5 daysSee the itinerary →
7 days in Beijing
A relaxed week with two day trips.
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Day trips from Beijing
7 daysSee the itinerary →
Release time calculator
Don't miss the moment tickets go on sale
Some attractions release tickets a set number of days in advance, at a fixed Beijing time. Our calculator converts it to your time zone and adds a reminder to your calendar.
Open the calculator →Top things to see
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most. Each page has its own detailed FAQ.
Forbidden City tickets guide →Is Beijing Ticket Guide an official website?
No. We are an independent guide, not affiliated with the Palace Museum or any official ticket office.
Do you sell tickets?
No. We explain how to book on the official websites and, as a backup, link to tours from GetYourGuide and Viator.
When do Forbidden City tickets go on sale?
Tickets are released 7 days before the visit date, around 20:00 Beijing time. Our calculator shows the time in your time zone.
Can I buy Forbidden City tickets at the gate?
Don't count on buying at the gate: booking in advance is the only reliable way to get in.
What do I need to book?
Your passport. You book with your passport details, and on the day bring the same physical passport you used to book: the name and number must match.
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