Visitor Policies of the Palace Museum and the Prohibited and Restricted Items Catalog of the Palace Museum will officially come into effect on June 30, 2023. Parts of the Visitor Policies are as follows:

Ticketing Policies:

The Palace Museum has not authorized any third-party organizations or individuals to serve as agents for ticket sales (including admission tickets and tickets to The Gallery of Clocks and The Treasure Gallery) and exhibition reservations. Please book tickets and make reservations via the official mini-program "The Palace Museum".

1. The Palace Museum is closed on Mondays (except for national holidays), please arrange your visit in advance accordingly.

2. Same-day tickets are not available at the Palace Museum. All visitors (including those who enjoy preferential policies and their caregivers) must make real name reservations before visiting. Annual pass holders must make reservations at least one day in advance.

3. International visitors are able to use the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card or passport for ticket reservation and admission. On any given visit date, an individual may only reserve one admission ticket.

4. Visitors must bring the original copy of valid identification used for the reservation to enter the Palace Museum through the Meridian Gate (the South Gate of the Forbidden City).

5. Ticket sales (including admission tickets and tickets to The Gallery of Clocks and The Treasure Gallery) and exhibition reservations start at 20:00, seven days before the visit. Both tickets and reservations are only valid for the day of the visit. Tickets cannot be refunded once they have been checked.

6. Unused tickets (including admission tickets and tickets to The Gallery of Clocks and The Treasure Gallery) and exhibition reservations can be refunded via the original payment method before 24:00 on the day prior to the visit without any penalty; refunds are possible until 20:00 on the day of the visit, but will be considered as a broken appointment; any cancellations made after 20:00 does not qualify for a refund and will be considered as a broken appointment. Annual pass holders may cancel before 20:00 on the day of the visit without any penalty.

7. Please refer to the information on the reservation page for exhibition reservation details. Reservation policies may be temporarily adjusted due to site needs and management. Cancellations are accepted before 24:00 on the day prior to the visit without any penalty; cancellations thereafter will be considered as a broken appointment.

8. Only one broken appointment is allowed per person per day. If a given visitor breaks appointments three times within 180 days, the visitor will not be able to reserve admission and exhibition tickets to the Palace Museum for the next 60 days from the day after the third broken appointment.

9. Refunds will be issued to the original payment account used at the time of purchase, and are usually processed within five days. If you do not receive your refund within this time frame, please contact customer service for assistance.

10. Working hours of the ticket office (located on the west side of Duanmen Square):

Peak Season: 08:30 - 16:10 (April 1 to October 31)

Off-season: 08:30 - 15:40 (November 1 to March 31)

11. Customer service hotline: 400-950-1925

   Office hours: 08:00 - 20:00 (24/7)

(Source: The Beijing News)