Forbidden City Entrance Fee & Ticket Prices

Quick summary: what you actually pay

*Free tickets still require a real-name reservation under a ticketed adult. Source: official Palace Museum site (en.dpm.org.cn).

How prices break down — the full picture

The Palace Museum keeps general admission deliberately affordable. The headline price has not changed in years: 60 RMB in peak season, 40 RMB in the cooler half of the year. The catch is that this is the headline only — popular extras and tour bundles can push your spend much higher, and most foreign visitors end up paying for convenience rather than for the ticket itself.

Here is how a typical Western visitor's bill looks for one adult in May:

• Admission ticket: 60 RMB
• Treasure Gallery add-on: 10 RMB
• Audio guide (multilingual, optional): 40 RMB
• Convenience fee via international booking platform: 20–40 RMB
• Total: ~130–150 RMB (roughly USD 18–21)

For families and groups, the per-person cost falls quickly once you book a single private guide and share the cost across four to six people.

Peak vs off-season — and which you should choose

Peak season (1 April – 31 October) overlaps with the warmest weather and the busiest crowds. Off-season prices are 33% lower, and the museum is meaningfully quieter from mid-November to mid-March. Tradeoffs:

• Peak: longer daylight, more open side exhibitions, but crowds and queues.
• Off-season: short days, some side halls may rotate closed, occasional snow on the golden roofs.

Personal opinion after several visits: late October and early November are the sweet spot — peak prices end on 31 October, then the same museum becomes 33% cheaper and considerably emptier within a week.

Discount eligibility — read this before you book

Discounts are real but Chinese-administered. The entry gate scans your ID against the booking, and they verify proof:

• Students: bring your physical student card. International student cards (ISIC) are usually accepted, but a university ID with a photo and validity sticker is safer.
• Seniors: passport showing age 60+ is accepted. Some short windows in the year offer free entry to seniors — check the official site.
• Children: the height bar at the entrance is the deciding factor, not just the listed age.
• Disability: Chinese disability cards qualify for free entry; foreign equivalents are accepted at the museum's discretion — present at Wumen.
• Active military: free with Chinese military ID.

The two gallery add-ons — which one is worth it

Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆) — 10 RMB

Located in the eastern Palace of Tranquil Longevity, this is where the imperial jewellery, gold, jade and ceremonial weapons are kept. The 9-Dragon Screen (a 1771 wall of 270 glazed tiles) sits at its entrance. For most visitors this is the highest-impact add-on — pay the 10 RMB.

Clock Gallery (钟表馆) — 10 RMB

European mechanical clocks gifted to the Qing emperors, plus Chinese imitations. Smaller in scope but a connoisseur's delight, with live demonstrations on the hour. Pay for it if you have more than three hours total.

How to book — three working routes

1. Official Palace Museum WeChat mini-program

Cheapest. Needs a Chinese mobile number, WeChat Pay or Alipay, and Chinese language ability. Released at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days in advance.

2. International booking platforms (Klook, Trip.com)

Recommended for foreign visitors. English interface, accept international cards, handle the real-name registration with your passport number. Small markup over official price, but no Chinese phone required and you keep a clean refund policy. This site uses Klook as a booking partner.

3. Walk-up at Wumen, foreign passport counter

Possible on quiet days. Highly unreliable in May, October National Day and Spring Festival. Bring exact RMB or a Chinese mobile-payment app.

When tickets actually sell out

The 40,000-person daily cap matters in specific windows:

• 1–7 October (National Day): sells out within minutes of release.
• Chinese New Year week: reservations open in waves, expect refresh delays.
• Late April – early June, weekends: book at least 3 days ahead.
• Mid-November – mid-March, weekdays: usually available same-week, sometimes same-day.

If you find your dates sold out, check the international platforms — they hold small inventory pools separately from the official channel.

What is not included in the ticket

• Audio guides — rented at Wumen, 40 RMB with multilingual options.
• Storage lockers — small fee at the entrance; large suitcases not permitted inside.
• Food and drink — limited cafés inside; bring water.
• Re-entry — tickets are single-use; once you exit you cannot return.

Refunds and changes

Official tickets are non-refundable from the moment the slot is locked, but the museum allows a date change up to 24 hours before. Through licensed third-party platforms, refund windows are usually 24–48 hours before the slot — check the listing's policy before paying. If your travel insurance covers attraction cancellations, keep the booking PDF.

Comparing your options — ticket only vs combo

If this is your first visit and you want context without the burden of pre-reading, the skip-line + audio package usually pays off in saved frustration alone.

FAQ — ticket questions we hear most often

Related pages

Opening Hours

Daily times and the days the museum is closed.

See hours →

Tours

Guided, private and combo tour options.

Browse tours →

Visitor Guide

The full planning guide.

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