Forbidden City Ticket Booking Discounts and Visiting Guide

As a world cultural heritage, the Palace Museum attracts countless Chinese and foreign tourists every year. If you want to enjoy this royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is necessary to know the tickets and guided tour services in advance. Currently, the Palace Museum offers a variety of ticket options, from basic tickets to combined tickets including the Clock and Watch Museum and the Treasure Museum, to meet the needs of different tourists.

In addition to regular tickets, tourists can also choose to have a guided tour with professional explanations. Whether it is an affordable audio guide or a small group tour with in-depth explanations, you can have a more comprehensive understanding of the historical heritage of the Forbidden City. It is particularly worth mentioning that if you book a package service of tickets + guided tours through a formal platform, you can often enjoy additional discounts.

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Why visit the Forbidden City (Palace Museum)?

When you pass through the vermilion gate of the Forbidden City, you step into the most glorious historical picture scroll of China. As the world's largest and most complete ancient wooden structure complex, it is not only a landmark of Beijing, but also a witness to the 500-year history of Chinese civilization. The stone slabs you are walking on were once walked by 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties; the golden glazed tiles you see in front of you once shone with the glory of the entire Eastern Empire.

First, this is the pinnacle of architectural art. From the grand momentum of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the exquisite elegance of the Imperial Garden, every detail shows the amazing wisdom of ancient Chinese craftsmen. Those lifelike dragon carvings and ingenious mortise and tenon structures will definitely amaze you. Moreover, the entire complex follows the strict ritual layout of "front court and back bedroom" and "left ancestor and right community", which reflects the traditional Chinese philosophical thoughts everywhere.

Secondly, there are 1.86 million cultural relics here, accounting for 42% of the country's precious cultural relics! In the Treasure House, you can see the Jinou Yonggu Cup made of more than 100 kilograms of gold; in the Clock and Watch House, the mechanical clock tributed from Europe in the 18th century can still tell time accurately. Each of these national treasures tells a moving historical story.

The most important thing is that the Forbidden City is not only a museum, but also a living cultural symbol. Here, you can feel the profound heritage of Chinese civilization and understand the Chinese value of "harmony is the most precious". Many foreign tourists say that after visiting the Forbidden City, they can truly understand China's past and present.

It is recommended that you set aside at least half a day, rent an audio guide (available in English), or take a group/private tour to ensure you don't miss anything! Remember to book tickets online in advance.

Forbidden City Ticket Prices (General Admission)

Trip.com Attraction & Tours Package + English Guide

Forbidden City Opening Hours

Tuesday-Sunday: 8:30 - 17:00 (Latest entry time:16:00)

The Palace Museum is closed on Mondays (except statutory holidays).

Forbidden City Tour Map

Image source: China Tour Guide

When is the Best Time to Book Forbidden City Tickets?

From my experience, you must book the tickets for the Forbidden City as early as possible, especially during the peak tourist season and statutory holidays. As the most popular attraction in Beijing, the tickets for the Forbidden City are often hard to get. It is recommended that you book at least 1 week in advance to ensure that you can choose the desired visit date.

Moreover, the official channels of the Forbidden City usually only open ticket reservations within 7 days. There are so many tourists from home and abroad that tickets are hard to come by. If you are worried about not being able to grab tickets, you may wish to choose the Trip.com platform to book. Not only does it provide Forbidden City tickets available for purchase throughout the year, but it can also provide you with professional tour guide services, making your trip to the Forbidden City more worry-free and exciting!

When is the Best Time to Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City?

Best time to visit the Forbidden City

The best experience is to enter the Forbidden City when it opens at 8:30 in the morning. At this time, the light is soft and suitable for taking pictures. There are few tourists in front of the major halls, and you can quietly feel the grandeur of the royal courtyard.

As time goes by, tour groups arrive one after another after 10 o'clock, and the flow of people gradually increases. Although the afternoon visit is more crowded, tourists start to leave after 3 o'clock, and you can enjoy a relatively quiet visit experience 1-2 hours before closing.

Best seasons to visit the Forbidden City

Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October) are the best time to visit. Especially in October, the weather is clear and cool. The red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City are particularly magnificent against the blue sky, and the ginkgo trees in the courtyard are also covered with gold. The temperature is suitable (15-25℃), but there are many tourists. It is recommended to avoid the National Day Golden Week.

Although it is hot in summer (June-August), visiting in the early morning can avoid the heat and crowds, and you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the palace in the morning light.

Winter (November-March of the following year) has the fewest tourists. If it snows, the Forbidden City covered in silver is a stunning view, but some outdoor areas may be closed.

China Travel Guide