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SimpleChinaTripBooking guide for foreign visitors
National Museum of China

National Museum of China tickets for foreigners

中国国家博物馆 — one recommended booking path, with clear steps.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Screenshot guideSells out often

Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons

Beijing · 中国国家博物馆

At a glance

Book ahead?
Yes — book ahead
Where
Official website (English)
When tickets release
Vouchers released daily at 17:00 Beijing time, up to 7 days ahead. Limit: 1 booking per account per week.
Open & closed days
Closed Mondays except national public holidays
Price
Free (permanent exhibitions; special exhibitions may charge)
Hours
Closed Mondays (except public holidays). Enter in your reserved slot at the entrance west of the North Gate.
Passport on entry
Yes — bring the same passport used to book.
Full times, prices and rules
Ticket release
Vouchers released daily at 17:00 Beijing time, up to 7 days ahead. Each account can make 1 reservation per week (up to 5 people per booking); each passport can be booked once a day and up to 4 times a month, and cancellations count. Slots 09:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30, 13:30–16:00. Refund deadline 15:00 on visit day.
Opening hours
Enter from the entrance west of the North Gate within your reserved slot; late arrivals aren't admitted. Closed Mondays except public holidays. Peak-season hours may be extended — check the booking portal.
Recommended path

Official website (English)

Free real-name English portal. Live 2026-10-06: Select date → time slot → Reserve → sign in at uu.chnmuseum.cn with email + email verification code → add passport visitors. Most calendar dates showed Full — book at 17:00 drop.

Book on the official site

Last checked 6 Oct 2026 · How we verify

Release-time calculator

Based on: Vouchers released daily at 17:00 Beijing time, up to 7 days ahead. Slots 09:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30, 13:30–16:00. Refund deadline 15:00 on visit day. Enter your visit date and home time zone.

Don’t miss the ticket release

National Museum of China tickets go on sale at 17:00 Beijing time, 7 days before each visit date, and popular dates often sell out fast. Pick your visit date and put the release in your calendar.

Add to CalendarGoogle Calendar

Works with iPhone, Mac, Outlook and Android calendars: alerts 30 and 5 minutes before, plus the official booking link and quick steps.

Or get an email reminderBeta

We’ll email you before tickets for your date go on sale. If your date sells out, the email includes our backup plan: the alternatives we’d recommend. Email reminders are in beta, so add the calendar event too.

Step-by-step booking guide

Screenshots captured live on 6 Oct 2026 on pcticket.chnmuseum.cn (desktop 1280×800). Tap any screenshot to enlarge. We stopped before entering personal data or paying.

  1. 1

    Open English portal

    pcticket.chnmuseum.cn/museum-en → personal index.

    pcticket.chnmuseum.cn
    National Museum English reservation portal home
    1Open the English portal — it shows 3 steps: date → visitors → confirm.
  2. 2

    Pick an “Available” date (not “Full” or “Closed”)

    7-day calendar. Full dates cannot be booked.

    pcticket.chnmuseum.cn
    Seven-day calendar with Full, Available and Closed states
    2In the 7-day calendar, pick a date marked “Available” (not Full or Closed).
  3. 3

    Choose time slot

    09:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30, or 13:30–16:00.

    pcticket.chnmuseum.cn
    Date and 09:00–11:00 time slot selected with Reserve button
    3Select a time slot, then click “Reserve”.
  4. 4

    Click Reserve → email sign-in

    Redirects to uu.chnmuseum.cn — use email + emailed verification code.

    pcticket.chnmuseum.cn
    Email sign-in page with verification code field
    4Sign in with your email and the emailed verification code.
  5. 5

    Add all visitors in one booking (limit: 1 per account per week)

    Each account can make only 1 reservation per week, for up to 5 people, so add everyone’s passport to the same booking. Each passport can be booked once a day and up to 4 times a month; cancelled bookings still count.

  6. 6

    Confirm and save voucher

    Refund before 15:00 visit day via same channel if unchecked.

  7. 7

    Enter west of the North Gate in your slot

    Original ID required; late = refused.

  8. 8

    Chase 17:00 release for farthest day

    Vouchers drop at 17:00; most dates were Full in the 2026-10-06 capture.

Key pitfalls

  • Most dates show Full — be ready at 17:00 Beijing time 7 days ahead.
  • Login is email + verification code at uu.chnmuseum.cn (not phone-only).
  • Each account: 1 reservation per week (up to 5 people). Each passport: 1 a day, 4 a month — cancellations still count (≤3 minors under 14 per order).
  • 3 no-shows → 30-day account restriction.
  • Enter west of North Gate in your slot only.

If it doesn’t work

Backup options

Brief backups — not competing primary paths.

Official WeChat mini-program (国家博物馆)Same inventory; useful if web login fails.
Trip.comSometimes lists NMC; official channels preferred for free reserved entry.
What recent travelers report
Live 2026-10-06: calendar mostly Full; flow stops at email verification sign-in.
17:00 release high traffic; slots vanish. reddit.com

FAQ

How do foreigners log in?

Email + emailed verification code on uu.chnmuseum.cn after clicking Reserve (live capture 2026-10-06).

Source: pcticket.chnmuseum.cn

When do tickets release?

17:00 Beijing time, up to 7 days ahead.

Source: Our own booking-flow walkthrough (checked 6 Oct 2026)

What's the refund deadline?

Before 15:00 on the day of your visit, as long as your booking hasn't been checked in.

Source: Our own booking-flow walkthrough (checked 6 Oct 2026)

Which entrance do I use?

The entrance west of the North Gate, during your reserved time slot.

Source: Our own booking-flow walkthrough (checked 6 Oct 2026)

How often can I book?

Each account can make 1 reservation per week, for up to 5 people per booking. Each passport can be booked once a day and up to 4 times a month, and cancellations count toward these limits.

Source: en.chnmuseum.cn

Did this booking path work for you?

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Sources

  • en.chnmuseum.cnhours, Monday closure, 7-day window, 17:00 release, slots, 1 reservation per account per week, ID rules, North Gate · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • pcticket.chnmuseum.cnChinese reservation rules mirroring English page (effective Aug 1 2025) · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • pcticket.chnmuseum.cnEnglish reservation portal · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • reddit.com2026: EN portal high-traffic at 17:00; slots fill; Trip.com mentioned as backup · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • reddit.comRecent traveler discussion of National Museum booking/visit · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • Our own booking-flow walkthrough (checked 6 Oct 2026)calendar Full states + email sign-in wall

Last checked 6 Oct 2026 · How we verify