QUICK ANSWER
Use the official international portal and confirm the result
Tickets currently open at 20:00 China Standard Time seven days before the visit, and the Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets. Enter every visitor’s current passport information exactly as the live form requests, review the selected date, session, ticket products, and payment option, then reopen the official account and confirm the final reservation result. Carry the same original passport to the manual ticket-checking channel at Meridian Gate. The Palace Museum, Tian’anmen Square, and Tian’anmen Tower use separate reservation systems.
The usable chain is official portal → correct passport record → confirmed reservation result → original passport at Meridian Gate.
These are the current standard rules. The live ticket calendar, temporary notices, and selected admission product remain the final authority.
This is the most direct route for a foreign-passport visitor. Check the official domain before entering passport or payment information.
Start at https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/ or follow the Tickets link from the Palace Museum’s official international site.
The current international portal creates or opens the account after email verification. Keep access to the inbox so you can sign in again and check the order.
The portal currently displays credit card, international bank card, WeChat / Alipay payment, and an application for on-site payment. Availability and success can depend on the order, issuer, verification, and payment provider.
Reopen the official account and check the reservation result for every visitor and selected product.
Use each traveler’s current passport and follow the exact fields shown by the live form. Carry the same original document to Meridian Gate.
The Palace Museum states that it has not authorized third-party institutions or individuals to sell ordinary admission, the two paid galleries, or exhibition reservations. Official English ticket rules: https://young.dpm.org.cn/en/category/279
Use one official account that you can access again. Every visitor, including a concession visitor or accompanying person, needs the required real-name reservation.
Open the official international portal, enter an accessible email address, request the verification code, accept the current terms, and sign in.
Choose the visit date, available session, visitor categories, and ticket quantity shown by the live calendar.
Select the accepted document type and enter each traveler’s current passport information exactly as the form requests.
Add the Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Clocks, or an available reservable exhibition only when wanted.
Review the visitors, date, session, products, contact account, total, and current cancellation terms.
Use a payment route displayed for the live order, then open the reservation result and confirm the final status for every visitor and product.
Use this when the ticket window opens and again before leaving for Meridian Gate.
Recheck the live official portal when the booking window opens because inventory, payment options, exhibitions, and operating notices can change.
The correct fallback depends on whether the problem is inventory, identity, confirmation, cancellation timing, access, or luggage.
If only the Palace Museum is booked, approach Meridian Gate along the east or west Tongzihe route. If approaching from Tian’anmen, follow the current reservation, security, and one-way access instructions published for that day.
Check another official date or available session and adjust the Beijing itinerary.
Check whether the unused order can be cancelled, then rebook while inventory remains. Contact the original official channel immediately.
Reopen the official order and reservation result. Use the order number and official support channel if the final status is unclear.
Cancel through the original channel by 24:00 on the day before the visit to avoid a no-show. An unused ticket refunded before 20:00 on the visit day counts as one no-show.
Store suitcases and bags of 20 inches or larger before entry. Keep valuables, electronics, fragile items, and food with you.
WANT THE STEP-BY-STEP VERSION?
