You have Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai all planned, only to reach the gate and learn that real-name reservations are required. Travelers most often run into three problems: their document type is missing in the WeChat mini program, payment goes through but no ticket appears, or they arrive without the original ID used for the booking.
The rules at these three places differ, so one “book several days ahead” formula does not work for all of them. The Palace Museum has a fixed release time; every Terracotta Army visitor needs a real-name reservation, with separate notices possible for public holidays; and Shanghai Disneyland requires a dated park ticket before you consider a separate priority-access product.
Want the essentials first? Remember these three points: the Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets and releases tickets at 20:00 exactly 7 days before a visit; the Terracotta Army requires real-name reservations for every accepted document type, and public-holiday rules can differ; at Shanghai Disneyland, a dated ticket, paid Premier Access, and a Standby Pass are three different things.
Information updated: October 17, 2026.
At a glance: when to buy and which ID to use
| Attraction | When to buy | How to use your ID | Do not confuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palace Museum, Beijing | Sales open at 20:00, 7 days before the visit; no same-day tickets | Use the accepted document for booking and verification, and bring the original | Usually closed Monday; enter through the Meridian Gate; the Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks require separate tickets |
| Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi’an (Terracotta Army) | Real-name reservation required; check the notice for each public holiday | The original accepted document is checked. Call ticketing if its type is absent online | Enter at the North Gate; Lishan Garden uses the same ticket and is about 2.2 km away |
| Shanghai Disneyland | Dated tickets; prices vary by date | Bring the same original ID used to buy the ticket | Premier Access costs extra; a Standby Pass is not Premier Access |
If visiting all three cities, secure your Palace Museum date first, then arrange your Xi’an time slot. For Disney, check the day’s operating hours and the attractions you truly want, then decide whether Premier Access is worth adding.
Forbidden City: tickets open at 20:00, 7 days ahead, with no same-day sales
First, distinguish Beijing’s Forbidden City from the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Book through the official Palace Museum ticket site or its official “Palace Museum” WeChat mini program. The visitor rules say no third party is authorized to handle admission, the Gallery of Clocks, the Treasure Gallery, or exhibition reservations, so do not treat online ticket-grabbing services as official channels.
Admission, the Treasure Gallery, the Gallery of Clocks, and exhibitions all open for booking at 20:00, 7 days before the visit, releasing only that date. For a Sunday visit, check at 20:00 on the previous Sunday. Beijing and Taipei are both UTC+8, so no time conversion is needed. Public holidays can change the arrangement, so read the notice. The museum is usually closed on Monday except statutory holidays.
How to enter passport details
Visitors from outside mainland China may use a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents, Foreigner’s Permanent Residence ID Card, or passport. One document can reserve only one ticket for one person on the same visit date. Once sold, the ticket type, date, time slot, and visitor cannot be changed. Palace Museum visitor rules
- Check every traveler’s original passport or accepted document: the name, number, and expiry date must match.
- Use the official ticket site or find the official mini program in WeChat; avoid purchase links from unknown groups.
- Select the date, time slot, and party size, then choose the exact document type. Enter the passport name exactly as it appears on the passport and do not alter the number’s length.
- Decide whether to add the Treasure Gallery or Gallery of Clocks. General admission does not cover every paid gallery, and some special exhibitions need another reservation.
- After payment, verify that the official order says the reservation succeeded, not merely that you were charged. Keep a screenshot, but it cannot replace the original ID.
- On the visit date, enter through the Meridian Gate. Leave through the Gate of Divine Prowess or East Glorious Gate. Do not mistake the north side shown on Google Maps for the entrance.
Morning tickets must be checked by 12:00; afternoon admission begins at 11:00. Missing the slot may mean no entry. Facial comparison assists real-time verification, and the museum says the image is not stored. Before leaving, make sure you have the original document used for the booking. Palace Museum visitor rules
Forbidden City route, prices, and refunds
For a first visit, the central axis offers plenty: enter at the Meridian Gate, continue through the halls of Supreme Harmony, Central Harmony, and Preserving Harmony, then toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and leave through the Gate of Divine Prowess. Check whether the two extra galleries are open and covered by your tickets. Enter early for fewer people, but still follow your security-check slot. Flash, selfie sticks, tripods, and live streaming are forbidden in galleries; never cross barriers.
A July 31, 2026 notice announced that the Gate of Supreme Harmony would close for construction from August 3. The Palace of Prolonging Happiness underwent conservation surveys from September 1 to October 31, 2026 and reopened November 1. The central route bypasses the gate during construction. Opening notices
General admission costs RMB 60 in peak season from April 1 to October 31 and RMB 40 off-season from November 1 to March 31. The Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks cost RMB 10 each. Peak-season hours are 08:30 opening, 16:00 last admission, and 17:00 closing; the two galleries stop admission at 16:10. Off-season hours are 08:30 opening, 15:30 last admission, and 16:30 closing; the galleries stop admission at 15:40. Statutory holidays may change hours. Palace Museum guide
Chinese citizens under 18, including eligible Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents and foreigners with permanent residence, receive free general admission but still need reservations. Those under 14 need an adult, with at most 3 children per adult. Full-time undergraduate and lower-level students aged 18 or over pay RMB 20 year-round and need student ID or a school letter. Visitors aged 60 or over pay half price with valid original ID: RMB 30 peak season and RMB 20 off-season. Check the booking page for your document category. Gallery concessions are separate; the student rate is RMB 5, apart from the RMB 20 admission. Palace Museum guide
Cancel an unused ticket through the original channel by 24:00 on the day before the visit to avoid a no-show. A later cancellation, including on the visit date, counts as 1 no-show, at most 1 per day. Accumulating 3 within 180 days blocks ticket and exhibition bookings for 60 days from the day after the 3rd. Refunds return to the original account in about 5 working days. Used tickets cannot be refunded. Customer service: 400-950-1925, 08:00–20:00. Palace Museum visitor rules
Xi’an Terracotta Army: real-name booking required; holiday rules differ
Its official name is Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, encompassing the Terracotta Warriors Museum and Lishan Garden in separate buildings. The official overview says they are 2200 meters apart with a free shuttle. Allow about 1.5 hours at each; one same-day ticket covers both and is checked three times. Two hours is rushed even for Pit 1. Battery carts cost extra: RMB 5 in the warriors area and RMB 15 at Lishan Garden; do not confuse them with the free shuttle. Museum overview | Ticket rules
Everyone needs a real-name reservation, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, foreign visitors, and those eligible for free admission. Use the website or the official WeChat services. At admission, the visitor, ticket, and ID must match; enter through the North Gate. Accepted original documents are listed on the ticket page, although the website instructions mention only a second-generation mainland ID or passport. If your document type is absent, do not borrow an ID or force its number into the passport field. Call ticketing at 029-81399127 for instructions for that date and ticket type. General enquiries: 029-81399174. Ticket rules | Guide
You may see advice saying “7 days ahead on weekdays, 10 on holidays,” but that is anecdotal. For the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day period, a museum notice reposted by Xi’an stated that holiday tickets opened at 00:00 on September 21, with adjusted hours and daily capacity. Always read the notice for that specific holiday. Reposted holiday notice
General adult admission is RMB 120. Full-time undergraduate and lower-level students pay RMB 60 with student ID; adult colleges, in-service study, and online education are excluded. The price is the same all year. Free-admission provisions for ages 65 and over or under 16 are generally written for Chinese nationals, and reservations remain required. Do not assume first-time document holders universally enter free. Refund before ticket verification; used tickets are nonrefundable. Refunds take about 3 to 5 working days. Ticket rules
The ticket page gives peak-season verification from 08:30 to 17:00, March 16–November 15, and off-season verification from 08:30 to 16:30, November 16–March 15. The guide separately says both sites stop checking tickets at 17:00, closing at 18:30 peak season and 18:00 off-season. These last-entry details conflict. Arrive about half an hour before your timed slot. Ticket rules | Guide
On a first visit, see Pit 1 as a whole, then notice differences among the figures. Check whether Pits 2 and 3 are open that day, and never cross barriers for a photo. Allow travel time to Lintong. Official transport directions combine metro and bus, but schedules change, and staying near the high-speed rail station differs from staying by the Bell Tower. For third-party packages, separate the official RMB 120 ticket from guide and transfer charges.
Shanghai Disneyland: dated tickets, Premier Access, and Standby Passes differ
First, park admission is not priority access. The paid product is Disney Premier Access; the official page says it can be booked in advance for priority entry to selected attractions during designated windows, though a wait can remain. The Disney Standby Pass is separate; after entering, check the official app to see whether it is offered that day. Shanghai Disney Resort website
Since December 23, 2024, each guest must buy their own ticket using their own valid official ID, with only one ticket per document per visit date. Bring the same original document used to purchase the ticket; copies and electronic ID are not accepted. Choose the corresponding overseas document or passport at checkout, and the passport name must match the passport exactly. A November 2024 policy says guests under 16 must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or older. Real-name ticketing policy
Check prices, offers, and operating hours on the official calendar; a “from” price does not apply every day. Direct official channels include the website, app, WeChat account, reservation center, and official JD and Fliggy stores. Avoid unknown sellers offering “unlimited fast access” or “inside entrances.”
- Download and sign in to the Shanghai Disney Resort app first. Ticket purchase, registration, and overseas phone verification are separate steps, so do not install it for the first time at the gate.
- Have a valid park ticket for the visit date before opening Premier Access through an official channel.
- Compare individual and bundle products: included attractions, designated windows, per-person price, height, and age restrictions.
- If a ticket QR Code must be linked, follow the app. Whether pre-entry purchase is available depends on that item in the app.
- Confirm the purchase appears in your account, then arrive for verification at the designated time. You may still wait.
If you only want a few attractions, compare individual access before buying the most expensive bundle. Older visitors and children cannot ride everything, so weigh attendance, prices, waits, and operating status together.
Five checks for all three attractions
| When | What to check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two weeks before departure | Original ID validity, every traveler’s name and document number | Real-name tickets are personal and usually cannot be changed onsite |
| One day before sales | Official account, login, and payment method | Not every overseas card works in a mini program |
| Ten minutes before sales | Date, document option, and mobile connection | Last-minute ID changes can lead to the wrong date |
| After payment | Whether the order says reservation successful, beyond the charge | A payment alert is not a ticket |
| The night before entry | Original ID, official order, entrance, and temporary notices | Bring the original document and official order |
If the only document choices are “ID card” and “passport,” do not guess or ask someone else to book with their ID. Screenshot the page and contact official ticketing. If using Trip.com, check the issuance deadline, cancellation fee, and service fee.
Electronic orders help verify details, but all three attractions still require the visitor’s original ID. A QR Code alone does not guarantee entry. Keep the order on your phone plus an offline copy.
If your card is charged but no ticket appears, check “My Orders” in the official service first. Save the charge time, transaction reference, and ticket number, then ask the original seller. Do not immediately repurchase solely because no email arrived. If duplicate same-day tickets are confirmed, handle them before the refund deadline.
Planning Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai without rushing
Allow half a day for the Forbidden City. Enter through the Meridian Gate in your reserved window, follow the central axis, then decide on the Treasure Gallery. Tiananmen Square has separate security and reservation arrangements; do not confuse those with Palace Museum admission.
Allow most of a day or a full day for the Terracotta Army. Account for travel to Lintong before visiting the pits. Adding Lishan Garden requires more touring and shuttle time. If also visiting Huaqing Palace, compare each last-entry time rather than buying three or four timed tickets together.
Give Disney a full day. If you cannot guarantee a punctual departure, avoid booking the last high-speed train too early. Once inside, check waits and showtimes in the app. Typhoons, thunderstorms, heat, and maintenance can all change operations, so do not follow an outdated itinerary blindly.
Get connected before booking and navigating
At all three attractions, your phone is needed for WeChat mini programs, Alipay or WeChat Pay, notices, maps, and Disney waits and Premier Access. Data use may be modest, but a failed connection during payment or severe throttling after the high-speed allowance runs out causes real trouble.
JEKO currently offers mainland China daily eSIMs, mainland China fixed-data eSIMs, and China unlimited eSIMs. Product pages identify China Mobile or China Unicom and state data and throttling terms. Some are roaming plans routed through Hong Kong or Singapore, which is not the same as a native mainland China IP.
- For navigation, messages, and occasional mini-program use, compare daily and fixed-data plans plus their throttling or cutoff thresholds.
- For uploading many Disney photos, videos, or cloud albums, compare high-speed allowances and post-throttling speed.
- For tethering, verify that the exact option supports hotspots; do not rely only on the product headline.
On some roaming routes, LINE, Instagram, and Facebook may work without a separate VPN. That does not cover every native mainland network or every app. Signals vary indoors, on metro systems, and in crowded parks. See China eSIM options without a VPN and estimating data for China travel.
Most JEKO China plans are data-only: they provide no new local number and cannot receive ordinary SMS. If WeChat, a card issuer, or a booking platform sends an OTP to your home number, keep that SIM able to receive messages and confirm overseas service with your carrier. An eSIM provides data; it does not receive verification codes for your original line.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Must foreign visitors use a mainland China ID to reserve the Forbidden City?
No. Visitors from outside mainland China may reserve and verify admission with an accepted document such as a passport. Select the correct type, ensure the passport name matches, and bring the same original. Palace Museum visitor rules
Q2: What time do Forbidden City tickets open 7 days ahead?
20:00 Beijing time. Beijing is UTC+8; check the specific holiday notice as well.
Q3: Are same-day Forbidden City tickets sold onsite?
No same-day tickets are sold. Do not go to the entrance hoping to enter without a successful reservation. Palace Museum visitor rules
Q4: Are the Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks included?
No. Each costs RMB 10, and some temporary exhibitions need another reservation. Palace Museum guide
Q5: Does canceling a Forbidden City ticket count as a no-show?
Cancel by 24:00 on the day before the visit and it does not. A later or same-day cancellation counts as 1; reaching 3 within 180 days blocks reservations for 60 days from the day after the 3rd. Used tickets are nonrefundable. Palace Museum visitor rules
Q6: Must Terracotta Army tickets be secured exactly 7 days ahead?
No fixed release time is stated. For the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday, tickets opened at 00:00 on September 21. Check available dates for other periods. Holiday notice
Q7: Can I enter the Terracotta Army with my original passport?
Yes, after completing a real-name reservation with that accepted document. The person, ticket, and ID must match, and entry is through the North Gate. If the field is missing, call 029-81399127 instead of forcing the number. Ticket rules
Q8: Is Lishan Garden close to the Terracotta Army?
They are 2200 meters apart. A free shuttle connects them and each takes about 1.5 hours; battery carts cost RMB 5 in the warriors area and RMB 15 at Lishan Garden. Museum overview
Q9: Does a Shanghai Disneyland ticket require a date?
Yes. Select a date for the dated ticket. The calendar’s “from” price does not apply every day. Operating calendar
Q10: Is Disney Premier Access a free FastPass?
No. Premier Access is paid priority entry during designated windows. A Standby Pass is separate. Premier Access | Standby Pass
Q11: What if my phone cannot receive WeChat or Disney verification texts?
Complete registration before departure. Check whether you added +886, whether overseas reception is on, and whether email is available. A data-only eSIM cannot receive codes sent to your original number.
Q12: What about signals and VPNs at the three attractions?
Indoor spaces, crowds, and routing all affect service. Some apps work on some roaming routes without another VPN, but not every app or location does. Save orders, addresses, and companions’ numbers separately.
