Book Beijing tickets: official sites, WeChat or Trip.com?

When you book Beijing tickets from abroad, the hardest part is knowing which channel to trust. Each sight has its own official channel, and platforms such as Trip.com, GetYourGuide and Viator sell tours and booking services on top. Below is the official channel for each sight, and what to check before you pay a third party.

The official channel, sight by sight

Sight	Official channel
Forbidden City	intl.dpm.org.cn; the official WeChat mini program 故宫博物院 (look for the verified badge) also accepts foreign passports, but it is mostly in Chinese and you pay with WeChat Pay
Tiananmen Square	The official booking channel is a government mini-program in WeChat, called 天安门广场预约参观 (Tiananmen Square visit reservation)
Great Wall at Mutianyu	en.mutianyugreatwall.com (tickets are real-name and can be booked up to 30 days ahead, with one admission per passport per day; bring your original passport)
Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace	Online booking is on the official Visiting Beijing Parks platform (畅游公园, bjgyol.com.cn, also in WeChat): switch the language to English and choose "Passport" as the ID type
Universal Beijing Resort	The official Universal Beijing Resort app has an English setting, but travellers report that it often refuses foreign bank cards; third-party platforms accept foreign cards

Whichever channel you use, enter every passport number exactly as printed: see passport mistakes.

WeChat: when it helps

WeChat mini programs are official channels too, but they are mostly in Chinese and you pay with WeChat Pay. Set up the app and payment before you travel: see how to pay in China.

Forbidden City: the official WeChat mini program 故宫博物院 (look for the verified badge) also accepts foreign passports, but it is mostly in Chinese and you pay with WeChat Pay.
Tiananmen Square: the official booking channel is a government mini-program in WeChat, called 天安门广场预约参观 (Tiananmen Square visit reservation).

Trip.com, GetYourGuide and Viator: what to check

These platforms sell tours that include entry, and booking services where the provider reserves the ticket for you. They help when official tickets are sold out, when you want a guide, or when you need transport. Before you pay:

Is entry included? Some products are a guide or a transfer only.
Is it booked with your passport details? Most tickets are real-name, so the provider will ask for them.
Total price: compare with the official price on our ticket pages (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace).
Cancellation terms: they are set by the provider.
The right date and session.

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Watch out for look-alike sites

Book through the official addresses above or through a platform you know. Be careful with sites that copy the name of an attraction.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official way to book Forbidden City tickets?

The official English booking website is intl.dpm.org.cn. Also, the official WeChat mini program 故宫博物院 (look for the verified badge) also accepts foreign passports, but it is mostly in Chinese and you pay with WeChat Pay.

How do I book the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace?

Online booking is on the official Visiting Beijing Parks platform (畅游公园, bjgyol.com.cn, also in WeChat): switch the language to English and choose "Passport" as the ID type.

Should I book on Trip.com, GetYourGuide or Viator?

They are useful when official tickets are gone or you want a guide or transport. Check that entry is included, that it is booked with your own passport details, the total price compared with the official price, and the cancellation terms.