Forbidden City opening hours at a glance
The palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday and opens at 08:30 in both seasons. The closing time and the last entry change with the season. The last main entry is 16:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 15:30 from 1 November to 31 March.
Monday is the regular closed day, apart from public holidays. The museum's international page also names the eve of Chinese New Year as an exception to the normal opening. Check the museum's announcement for the exact day.
Plan to be at the Meridian Gate well before the last entry. The security check and the queue take time, and a booking for the morning must check in by 12:00.
Times by season
Beijing time. Seasons run from 1 April to 31 October and from 1 November to 31 March.
| 1 April to 31 October | 1 November to 31 March | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 08:30 | 08:30 |
| Last main entry | 16:00 | 15:30 |
| Last entry Treasure and Clock Galleries | 16:10 | 15:40 |
| Closing | 17:00 | 16:30 |
| Adult main ticket 2026 | CNY 60 | CNY 40 |
Some older guidebooks and city pages list last entry at 16:10 and 15:40 for the main halls. Plan with 16:00 and 15:30, and treat the later times as the galleries' limit. The booking time window sets a second rule: morning tickets check in by 12:00, afternoon tickets from 11:00.
Forbidden City tours and tickets
Morning walks, private guides and combinations with other sights, with live prices and start times. Check the date against the Monday closure.
Closed days and exceptions
What the museum has announced, and what you should not assume.
The Monday closure
The palace is closed on Monday throughout the year, apart from public holidays. Do not read a general summer opening into it.
The free Monday on 27 July 2026
The museum opened on Monday 27 July 2026 from 08:30 to 17:00, free of charge, with last entry at 16:00. Tickets went live on 24 July at 20:00 and only through the WeChat mini program. It was a single announced opening, not a rule for other summer Mondays.
Public holidays
The State Council calendar for 2026 had the National Day block from 1 to 7 October. The 2027 holiday dates are not covered here, so check the holiday calendar and the museum's announcement for your travel dates.
Holidays and crowds →Weather and emergencies
In extreme weather or an emergency, follow the instructions of staff and loudspeakers. The museum keeps the right to adjust the opening at short notice.
Halls and galleries closed in autumn 2026
Closures announced by the museum, with their dates.
Wuying Dian
Closed since 19 October 2026 for heritage conservation, care of the objects and a revision of the exhibition. The announcement gives no reopening date.
Yanxi Gong
Closed from 1 September to 31 October 2026 for protection surveys. The museum announced the reopening for 1 November 2026.
Taihemen
The museum announced construction barriers from 3 August 2026, with no end date given. This does not mean the other great halls are closed.
The great halls →Rooms and halls can close at short notice for conservation. Check the museum's current visit page before you go and do not build your day around a single interior.
Opening hours next door: Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park, north of the palace, opens earlier and closes later. From 1 April to 31 October it is open from 06:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:30. From 1 November to 31 March it is open from 06:30 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:30. Many visitors climb the hill for the view before or after the palace.
For the park's admission and the view, see the Jingshan Park page. For the booking rules and prices, see tickets and reservation.
Forbidden City opening hours: frequently asked questions
What time does the Forbidden City open?
At 08:30, from Tuesday to Sunday, in both seasons.
When is the last entry?
16:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 15:30 from 1 November to 31 March. The Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery allow entry 10 minutes later.
Is the Forbidden City open on Monday?
Not as a rule. Monday is the closed day, apart from public holidays. The free opening on 27 July 2026 was announced for that single day.
What time does the Forbidden City close?
At 17:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 16:30 from 1 November to 31 March.
Are any parts of the palace closed now?
Wuying Dian has been closed since 19 October 2026 and Yanxi Gong is closed until 31 October 2026, with the reopening announced for 1 November. Check the museum's visit page for the latest.
How early should I arrive?
Be at the Meridian Gate well before the last entry. A morning booking must check in by 12:00, and the security check and the queue add time.