Quick chooser
- Prefer English web / email — Forbidden City, National Museum, Mutianyu, Shanghai Disneyland.
- Prefer labelled overseas / Trip.com — Shanghai Museum People’s Square, Panda Base, Terracotta Army, Badaling via 外籍人购票.
- Expect WeChat — some city museums and parks (e.g. Shaanxi History Museum’s main release) still centre on official accounts. Budget extra time or WhatsApp us a screenshot for a free tip.
How to spot the wrong QR
- If the only CTA is a WeChat QR titled 预约购票 / 购票 and the park also shows a foreigner or Trip.com button — take the foreigner button.
- If login demands a +86 SMS and no email option appears, back out and look for an EN subdomain or passport form.
- Never send passport photos to random chat “helpers” who are not the park.
This page summarises patterns we verified across official EN visit pages and live booking captures in Oct 2026. Individual parks change UI — cross-check the attraction guide before you pay.
Booking without a Chinese phone →
FAQ
Should foreigners always avoid WeChat?
No. Some museums only release inventory on WeChat. But if an official English site or overseas Trip.com button exists, use that first — fewer +86 SMS traps.
What usually works without WeChat?
Forbidden City English site (email code), National Museum English portal (email code), Mutianyu English site, Shanghai Disney official EN site, and Trip.com when the park lists it for overseas visitors (Shanghai Museum People’s Square, Panda Base, Terracotta non-mainland SKU).
What does a WeChat-only flow look like?
A homepage “预约购票” QR that opens a mini-program expecting a Chinese ID and +86 SMS. Badaling’s domestic QR is a classic example — foreigners should use 外籍人购票 instead.
Do I still need my passport?
Yes whenever the ticket is real-name — WeChat or web. The document at the gate must match the booking.