You must book online in advance with your passport; no tickets are sold at the gate, and in peak season they sell out days ahead.
- Book on the official site or via Trip.com; each ticket is tied to a passport number.
- Bring your original passport to enter; staff check it against the ticket.
- The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays (except some holidays).
- Enter through the southern Meridian Gate, exit north and climb Jingshan Park for the panoramic view.
Note: Tiananmen Square also requires an advance reservation and thorough security checks.