Forbidden City Closed on Mondays: What You Need to Know

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen travelers walk up to the Meridian Gate on a Monday, only to find the doors locked. Their faces drop. They pull out their phones, confused. “But my guidebook said…” Yeah, guidebooks often miss this. The Forbidden City is closed every Monday (except national holidays). Period. Don’t be that person. Let’s make sure you plan around it.

Why Is the Forbidden City Closed on Mondays?

It’s not a random policy. Like many major museums worldwide, the Forbidden City uses Monday for weekly maintenance, restoration, and cleaning. With over 18 million visitors a year, the palace needs one day to breathe. The staff cleans the halls, checks the relics, and patches up wear and tear you’d never notice—until it breaks. So while you might be annoyed, it’s actually for preservation. The exception: if a Monday happens to be a Chinese national holiday (like National Day in October or Spring Festival), it stays open. But don’t count on that.

How to Check the Official Closure Schedule

Here’s the catch—the official website is only in Chinese, and the WeChat mini-program can be a maze. But I’ll save you the headache. The rule is simple: unless it’s a national holiday, every Monday is closed. To be absolutely sure, do this:

• Visit the official Forbidden City website (en.dpm.org.cn) — the English version shows opening hours, but it’s not updated for temporary changes. Best to check the Chinese version or use a translator.
• Use the "Palace Museum" WeChat mini-program — even if you don’t read Chinese, you can see the calendar. Red dates mean closed. Screenshot it.
• Ask your hotel front desk. They deal with this every day and can tell you within seconds.

One thing I always tell my groups: “Double-check the day before your visit. I’ve seen people book flights based on an old blog post.” The schedule hasn’t changed in years, but it’s better to be safe.

What to Do on a Monday: Top Alternative Attractions

So you’re stuck in Beijing on a Monday with no Forbidden City access. Don't panic. There are plenty of world-class sights open. Here's my personal shortlist, ranked by how much they’ll save your trip:

My pro tip: start your Monday at Jingshan Park for sunrise (6:00-6:30). You’ll see the Forbidden City bathed in golden light, minus the crowds. Then grab a Beijing breakfast — jianbing from a street stall near the east gate. After that, head to Temple of Heaven. By noon you’ll be done with the heavy stuff, and you can relax in the park watching locals dance or play cards. Feels very local.

If you’re dead set on a palace vibe, consider the Summer Palace (open daily, 6:30-18:00). It’s a bit far (15 km northwest), but the lake and Long Corridor are stunning. A taxi costs around 40 yuan. The catch? It gets packed by 10 AM. So go early.

How to Adjust Your Beijing Itinerary Around the Monday Closure

Let’s say you arrive in Beijing on a Saturday and leave Tuesday. Your natural impulse is to visit the Forbidden City on Monday. Don’t. Swap it. Here’s my go-to 3-day plan for first-timers:

• Saturday (arrival): Settle in, walk around Wangfujing night market. Light day.
• Sunday: Full day Forbidden City (open). Book tickets well in advance. After that, walk to Jingshan Park for sunset. Evening: Peking duck at Sijiminfu (near Qianmen).
• Monday: Temple of Heaven in the morning, 798 Art District afternoon, then Donghuamen Night Market for street food.
• Tuesday: Summer Palace or hutongs (like Nanluoguxiang) before your flight.

What if you only have one day in Beijing and it’s Monday? Then my honest advice: skip Beijing altogether for that day. I know that sounds harsh, but the Forbidden City is the crown jewel. Instead, take a high-speed train to Xi’an (4.5 hours) or go to the Great Wall (Jinshanling section is open daily). But if you’re stuck, just do the Jingshan + Temple of Heaven combo. You won’t regret it.

Practical Tips for Booking Tickets (and Avoiding the WeChat Headache)

Booking tickets for the Forbidden City is a saga. Foreign credit cards often fail. The official website sometimes just times out. Here’s what works:

• Use the WeChat mini-program. It’s in Chinese, but you can navigate by the calendar. Select date, time slot (morning or afternoon), enter passport number, and pay via WeChat Pay. I know WeChat Pay is a hurdle—ask your hotel to help you top up or use Alipay if you have it.
• Alternative: book through third-party platforms like Trip.com or Klook. They add a small fee but accept international cards. Just make sure you print the voucher or have it on your phone. They’ll scan the QR code at the entrance.
• No on-site ticket sales. Period. You must pre-book. The system opens tickets 7 days in advance at 20:00 Beijing time. For peak season (April-October), tickets sell out within hours. Set an alarm.

Now let me rant about the mini-program for a second. I’ve been guiding for 6 years, and every single time, someone struggles. The interface is not user-friendly for non-Chinese speakers. The passport number field sometimes doesn’t accept letters—it’s a bug. My trick: ask your tour guide or hotel to do it for you. If you’re solo, use the desktop website (en.dpm.org.cn) which is slightly easier to handle.

One more thing: arrive at the gate at least 30 minutes before your reserved slot. The security line snakes around the corner. Bring water, but you can’t bring selfie sticks or tripods. Learned that the hard way with a group of German photographers.

Frequently Asked Questions