Check the sight’s own official page or mini-program first. If it asks for a real name and a passport number, treat advance booking as required and book before you commit your dates. The best-known sights in China work this way, and a missed booking can end a morning at the gate.
It is normal to feel out of your depth here. Booking systems are in Chinese, the rules differ from one sight to the next, and nobody wants to tell the grandparents they cannot go in.
What is the five-step check?
Work through these steps for every sight on your list.
- Search the sight’s name plus its official channel, and open the official page or mini-program, not a reseller.
- Look for the words “real name”, “reservation” or “appointment”, or their Chinese equivalents 实名, 预约, 预订.
- Find how far ahead tickets open, and note the time they open.
- Check which ID it accepts. Passport booking is the one you need.
- Screenshot the confirmation and keep the original passport for entry.
Do this at home, on a laptop, before you finalise the order of days.
Which sights ask for real-name booking?
The pattern is clear on the well-known ones.
| Sight | What to know |
|---|---|
| Forbidden City | Real-name advance booking; no walk-up entry[1] |
| Mutianyu Great Wall | Real-name booking with a passport, one ticket per document per day[2] |
| Terracotta Army museum | Passport or ID needed to buy and enter[3] |
| Jiuzhaigou | Booked online in advance; no window on site[4] |
These notes were true when we checked in October 2026. Windows and rules shift, so confirm on the official channel before you plan around them.
How do you spot an official channel?
Use the channel the sight itself names. For the Forbidden City, reservations should be made only through the official Palace Museum mini-program, because no third parties are authorised to sell tickets[5].
A general rule for every sight: if the seller is not named on the sight’s own page, do not pay. Our guide to booking apps for foreign visitors explains which apps are worth using.
What about sights with conflicting information?
Some pages disagree. Reports conflict on whether foreign passport holders can complete Mogao Caves online booking, and in-person sale at the reservation centre has been reported[6].
When sources disagree, ask your hotel or an agency to confirm, and keep a day free on either side. Rules differ even for the same sight, as the Mutianyu notice and a newer guide disagree on the booking window[7].
How do you book for a family?
Each person needs their own name and passport, and every ticket holder carries the original passport. Read senior and child discounts for how concessions work.
If the dates land on a public holiday, plan earlier still. See holiday ticket sellouts for what sells first.
Where do you start?
Start with the sight that has the strictest rule. For most itineraries that is the Forbidden City, then the Terracotta Warriors and the Chengdu Panda Base. Browse the booking topic page for the rest of the booking checklist.