When should you book?
Choose the date you want to visit. This calculator applies the museum’s published seven-day release rule and converts 20:00 Beijing time to your chosen time zone.
This calculates a release time, not a reservation or available inventory. Special opening calendars and future policy changes may affect your visit.
Book through the official ticket service
Plan your visit date first, then use the release time calculator to work out when booking opens in your time zone. Set a reminder and have each visitor’s passport information ready. Being ready at release improves your chance of finding a suitable ticket, but availability is never guaranteed.
Beijing’s English-language visitor guidance directs foreign passport holders to the Palace Museum’s international booking site. The sequence below describes the task, rather than specific screen labels, which may change.
- Open the official international site and enter its ticket service.
- Choose your visit date and an available admission option or session shown for that date.
- Enter each visitor’s name and foreign passport details exactly as they appear on the document.
- Review any optional gallery admissions you want, then check the visitor details, date, and total before paying.
- Complete payment and confirm that the order appears as successful. Keep the confirmation and order information accessible for your visit.
Use the passport you will bring
Copy names and passport numbers carefully, including their order and spelling as displayed in the document. Before payment, compare every visitor entry against the physical passport; a small typing mistake can become an entry problem. If a passport is being renewed, book with the document you expect to carry and check the official service’s instructions if that changes.
Bring each visitor’s original passport on the day. Foreign passport holders are checked at the staffed point at the Meridian Gate. A saved image or a booking confirmation alone should not be treated as a replacement for the original document.
Admission prices and optional galleries
The published standard adult admission prices vary by season. The Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks have separate listed charges. This table is a planning reference, not a view of live ticket inventory or your final payable total. Verify the date, ticket category, extras, and price in the official checkout.
| Item | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Palace Museum admission | April 1–October 31 | CNY 60 (Chinese yuan) |
| Adult Palace Museum admission | November 1–March 31 | CNY 40 |
| Treasure Gallery | When available | CNY 10 |
| Gallery of Clocks | When available | CNY 10 |
If the booking does not work
- No tickets appear: check that your chosen date is within the release window and that you have converted 20:00 Beijing time correctly. If the date is sold out, try another visit date; do not plan on buying admission at the gate, as the published guidance says there are no same-day tickets.
- A passport entry is rejected: compare the typed number and name with the original document, then correct any genuine error. Do not enter invented details or another person’s document to get past a form.
- Payment stalls or the result is unclear: inspect your order status and payment record before trying again. Repeating payment immediately can create confusion or a duplicate charge.
- You still need help: the published English assistance number is 400-950-1925, available 08:00–20:00. Have your intended date, visitor document details, and any order reference ready when calling.
Prepare for your visit
Check the Palace Museum’s current visit calendar shortly before travel. It publishes seasonal hours and generally closes on Mondays except statutory holidays. Enter from the south through the Meridian Gate; the listed exits are the Shenwu Gate and Donghua Gate. Allow time to reach the entrance, find the staffed document check, and complete the entry process with your original passport.
If the plan changes
What if the date is sold out?
Check the official channel for another date or time. Do not assume a reseller can guarantee access, and avoid paying someone who cannot explain the reservation and cancellation conditions.
Does the calculator account for daylight saving?
Yes. The local conversion uses your selected IANA time zone for the release date. Beijing stays on UTC+8; your home zone may change seasonally.
Does a calculated time mean the museum is open?
No. Confirm the official opening calendar. The tool flags Mondays for special attention, but holiday exceptions and other closures require a separate check.
Sources
Reviewed 29 September 2026