A museum can be free and still require a reservation. An attraction can sell tickets at the gate and still run out of the time slot you need. That is why I would never leave every major sight until the morning of the visit.
Sort each place into one of three groups
- Reservation required: you need a named date or time slot even if admission is free.
- Advance ticket recommended: walk-up sales may exist, but busy dates can sell out.
- Walk-in normally available: still check opening days, last admission, and passport rules.
Do this for the two or three places that matter most. Ordinary parks and neighborhoods do not need the same planning as a national museum or famous palace.
Find the real booking channel
- Start with the attraction’s official English or Chinese website.
- Check whether the official account links to a WeChat mini program, ticket platform, or phone service.
- If using a third-party platform, confirm that the listing names the same entrance, date, ticket type, and passport requirements.
- Avoid a search result or social post that adds a vague “reservation service” fee without explaining what is included.
Beijing publishes an official ticketing index for major attractions, which is useful for finding the correct channel. Other cities may publish their own visitor pages, but the attraction remains the final source.
Before opening a Chinese-only form
Have these details ready:
- Passport name in the same order and spelling shown on the passport.
- Passport number and expiry date.
- Nationality and date of birth.
- A phone number that can receive the required confirmation, if the system supports it.
- Visit date, time slot, ticket category, and number of visitors.
- A payment method and a second route if the mini program rejects the first card.
Do not translate your name into Chinese unless the official form specifically asks for a Chinese name. Real-name entry works best when the reservation matches the document at the gate.
If the form accepts only a Chinese ID
Look for a document-type menu and choose passport, foreign permanent resident ID, or the relevant international travel document. Sometimes the passport option appears only after switching language or using another official channel.
If there is genuinely no passport route, contact the attraction, use its foreign-visitor channel, ask the hotel for help, or buy at the official counter if walk-up passport sales are allowed. Do not enter a made-up Chinese ID number.
请问，外国人可以用护照现场买票吗？
Pronunciation: Qingwen, waiguoren keyi yong huzhao xianchang maipiao ma?
Can a foreign visitor buy a ticket here with a passport?
What to save after booking
- The booking confirmation and order number.
- The visitor names and passport numbers shown in the order.
- The date, entry time, and correct entrance.
- Whether a physical ticket must be collected.
- Cancellation and refund rules.
- A screenshot of the Chinese attraction name and entrance address.
请问，预约记录在哪里查看？
Pronunciation: Qingwen, yuyue jilu zai nali chakan?
Where can I find my reservation record?
A payment receipt is not always the same as an entry reservation. Save the page that shows the visit date and visitor identity, not only the bank notification.
On the day
- Bring the original passport used for the booking.
- Arrive before the time slot, allowing for security and a large site perimeter.
- Go to the entrance named in the confirmation, not whichever gate appears first on the map.
- Use the passport scanner or staffed lane indicated for foreign documents.
- If the gate rejects the passport, show staff the reservation record and order number.
Quiet details that ruin otherwise good plans
- Many museums close on Monday, but public-holiday schedules may differ.
- Last admission can be much earlier than closing time.
- Large bags, tripods, lighters, food, or liquids may be restricted.
- A palace, park, tower, and museum in the same complex may use separate tickets.
- Tickets can be released a fixed number of days ahead, often at a particular time.
- A child ticket may depend on age, height, or document details.
If the attraction is sold out
Do not buy from the first person promising a special entrance. Check another official time slot, a legitimate combined ticket, an authorized tour, or a different day. Keep one flexible activity nearby so a failed reservation does not waste the whole morning.
FAQ
Can my hotel book for me?
Sometimes. Give the hotel the exact official attraction name, date, and passport details, and ask where the confirmation will appear. Do not hand over more personal information than the booking requires.
Does a child need a passport in the reservation?
Follow the attraction’s current rule. Real-name systems may require each visitor’s document even when the child enters free.
Can I show a passport photo instead of the original?
Do not count on it. Carry the original document when the attraction uses real-name verification.
What if the passport number was entered incorrectly?
Check whether the order can be corrected or must be cancelled and rebooked. Do not wait until the gate to discover that the document cannot match.
Use the official booking channel
When the booking page misbehaves: use the QR code and mini-program troubleshooting guide.