The Meridian Gate at a glance
The Meridian Gate, called Wumen in Chinese, is the south gate of the palace. Every visitor enters here. There is no second entrance and no ticket office that lets you in elsewhere. You leave through other gates: Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by the museum, and it does not sell tickets. The details below follow the museum's published visitor rules, so check the current rules before you go.
Forbidden City entrance: how you get in
Five things to have ready before you reach the gate.
A reservation in your name
The museum sells no regular day tickets at the gate. You reserve a main ticket under your real name. Reservations open 7 days before the visit at 8 p.m. Beijing time. The same system covers the Treasure Gallery, the Clock Gallery and exhibitions that need their own reservation.
Ticket guide →Your original passport
Foreign visitors use the passport for booking and for entry. Bring the same valid original to the gate. One document can hold one main ticket per visit day. Name, date, ticket type and time slot cannot be changed after purchase.
The right time slot
A morning booking must be checked in by 12:00. An afternoon booking can be checked in from 11:00. The last entry for the main ticket also applies: 16:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 15:30 from 1 November to 31 March (2026 museum information).
Opening hours →The security check
Everyone passes a security check before entering. The museum publishes a list of prohibited items. No waiting time is published, so allow extra time, especially on busy days.
The way to the gate
The museum describes the approach through the Tongzihe streets east or west of the gate. The route north from Tiananmen toward the Meridian Gate is a one-way walk. Visiting Tiananmen Square is not a required part of a palace visit. The square is a separate site with its own reservation, and taxis are not promised to drop you at the gate.
Our picks: tours that start at the gate
Two tours meet at the Meridian Gate, a third offers it as one of its start points.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Central axis and Treasure Gallery with a guide
Three hours with an English-speaking guide, with the Forbidden City and Treasure Gallery tickets included. Hotel transfer and tips are extra; the lunch menu only comes with the lunch option.
Check availability →
Entry ticket with one-hour guided tour
Entry is included, and the first package adds a small-group guided tour. The second package has no guide. Transport, food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →
Forbidden City with a licensed guide
An English-speaking licensed guide and the Palace Museum entry are included. The trip to Tiananmen, the ride back to the hotel and tips are not.
Check availability →Forbidden City tours and Beijing day trips
Guided visits of the Forbidden City and other Beijing sights, with live prices and availability.
The gate itself: shape and history
The Meridian Gate has a U-shaped plan with two wings that project forward. The base is 12 meters high. Five passages run through it: three at the front and two at the sides.
In imperial times the central path was for the emperor. The museum names two exceptions: the bridal sedan of an empress at the wedding, and the three best candidates of the palace examination when the results were announced.
The gate belongs to a historical sequence that runs from south to north: Tiananmen, Duanmen, Wumen, Taihemen and Qianqingmen. Only Wumen is the palace gate you walk through today.
| Gate | Place in the sequence | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tiananmen | 1 | On the southern approach, not the palace entrance |
| Duanmen | 2 | Also on the southern approach |
| Wumen (Meridian Gate) | 3 | The palace gate and your entrance |
| Taihemen | 4 | Construction hoarding announced from 3 August 2026, no end date given |
| Qianqingmen | 5 | Next gate in the historical sequence |
Missed or cancelled reservations
The cancellation rules are strict, so plan the date with care.
Cancelling
You can cancel an unused ticket until 24:00 on the day before the visit. A later cancellation counts as a missed reservation.
The penalty
Three missed reservations within 180 days lead to a booking ban of 60 days.
Booking helpers
The museum states that it has not authorized third parties or individuals to sell tickets on its behalf. If you book through a tour, read what the offer includes and which date and name it uses.
Tours compared →Leaving: Shenwumen and Donghuamen
The visit runs one way, from south to north.
The museum plans the visit as a walk from the Meridian Gate toward the north, with exit at Shenwumen or Donghuamen. That does not forbid a short walk back inside a courtyard. It does mean you should not plan to leave where you came in.
Plan your onward trip from the north or east side. A hotel near Shenwumen is not automatically near the entrance. If you start early at the Meridian Gate, check how you get there from your area first.
The north exit also points you toward Jingshan Park, which lies north of the palace. See the full route in the map guide and the park page below.
Meridian Gate: frequently asked questions
Is the Meridian Gate the only entrance to the Forbidden City?
Yes, for visitors it is the only way in. Shenwumen in the north and Donghuamen in the east are exits.
Can I buy a ticket at the Meridian Gate?
The museum describes reservations in your real name with an original passport, and no regular day tickets. Do not plan on buying a ticket at the gate. Reserve ahead for the date you want.
How long is the security check?
No waiting time is published. Allow extra time, and arrive well before the end of your slot. The last entry is 16:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 15:30 from 1 November to 31 March.
Do I have to visit Tiananmen Square first?
No. The museum describes a route to the gate through the Tongzihe streets, and the square is not a required part of a palace visit. The square is a separate site with its own rules and reservation.
Is the Meridian Gate the same as Tiananmen?
No. Tiananmen and Duanmen lie on the southern approach. The Meridian Gate, Wumen, is the actual palace gate.
Where do I leave the Forbidden City?
At Shenwumen in the north or Donghuamen in the east. Plan your onward trip from there.