Scenic Mini
景区小程序
Scenic‑spot mini‑programs (景区小程序) are WeChat‑based booking portals that handle advance ticket reservations for most major Chinese attractions. Reserve a time slot with your passport number, pay through WeChat Pay, and scan your passport or the QR code at the gate — no paper ticket needed.
Before you install — what you need
Most major attractions sell timed tickets through WeChat mini-programs. Book ahead or you may not get in.
A
WeChat on your phone
- The mini-program lives inside WeChat. You don't install a separate app — just search the attraction name in Chinese.
- Some sites run their booking in an Alipay mini-program instead — install the official Alipay app for those.
B
Your passport number
- Booking asks for your passport number; the same document is checked at the gate.
C
WeChat Pay ready
- Set up WeChat Pay before you book — mini-program checkouts run inside WeChat. If a booking won't take your card, the Palace Museum's English site accepts Visa and Mastercard alongside the wallets.
D
Book 3–7 days ahead
- Headline sites release tickets days ahead (the Palace Museum 7 days out at 20:00) and travelers report sell-outs within minutes. Book as soon as dates are firm.
Step-by-step setup
1Open WeChat
- Launch WeChat and tap the search (magnifier) at the top.
2Find the official mini-program
- Search the attraction name in Chinese (故宫 for the Forbidden City, 八达岭长城 for the Great Wall) and open the attraction's own official mini-program.
3Book and pay
- Pick a date and time, enter your passport number, and complete the payment step. Save the booking confirmation.
Daily use — real scenarios
At the gate
- At most major sites you show the document you booked with — no paper ticket; at Badaling, passport holders exchange for one at the service window first. Arrive inside your time slot.
If WeChat won't cooperate
- Official booking sites run alongside the mini-programs — the Palace Museum's English site even registers you by email and takes international cards.
For several attractions
- Each major sight has its own mini-program. Save the ones you'll visit so they're one tap away.
Troubleshooting — common problems and what to do
Common problems foreign visitors may run into
"I can't find the mini-program"
— Search the exact Chinese name (故宫, 八达岭长城) inside WeChat, not the App Store — there is no standalone booking app to download.
"Payment was declined"
— Retry, or switch to the official website; the Palace Museum's English site takes Visa and Mastercard alongside the wallets.
"Tickets are sold out"
— Hot venues sell out within minutes, but returned tickets are often released again closer to the visit date, so keep checking. Book earlier next time.
Need to talk to a real person?
- Each mini-program has an in-app customer service chat (Chinese only). The Palace Museum also publishes a ticketing hotline, 400-950-1925. At the gate, attraction staff handle entry problems directly.
Your backup plan
The Palace Museum English site registers you by email and takes Visa and Mastercard, avoiding the Chinese-only mini-program flow; official booking websites are the free, direct channel for the other headline sites.
Frequently asked questions about Scenic Mini
Which app do I download for scenic reservations?
None. Each attraction runs its own mini-program inside WeChat, or its own website — there is no unified booking app.
Can I book with a passport instead of a Chinese ID?
Yes. Real-name booking is standard at major sites and a passport is an accepted document.
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
Not for the Palace Museum, whose English site registers you by email, or for the Shanghai Museum English page. Some mini-programs still expect a mainland number.
How far ahead can I book the Palace Museum, and when do tickets appear?
Seven days ahead, released at 20:00 Beijing time; there are no same-day tickets and the museum is closed on Mondays outside public holidays.
Is the National Museum of China free?
Yes, and it still needs a reservation: up to 7 days ahead, with places released daily at 17:00.
What are the National Museum of China time slots?
Three admission bands — 9:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30 and 13:30–16:00, with the last one extended to 16:30 at peak.
How many people can I book for?
At the National Museum of China, one reservation per account per week for up to 5 visitors, and the same document may book at most 4 times a month and once a day.
Which payment methods work?
The Palace Museum English site takes Visa and Mastercard alongside Alipay and WeChat Pay. Chinese mini-programs generally want a wallet.
What happens at the entrance?
You show the original document you booked with. The Palace Museum admits through the Meridian Gate, the National Museum of China through the North Gate.
Do I ever need a paper ticket?
At Badaling, passport holders exchange for one at the comprehensive service window before entering; Badaling sells up to 90 days ahead, one ticket per document per day.
What does cancelling cost?
At the Palace Museum, nothing before midnight the day before; cancelling before 20:00 on the visit day records one no-show, and after that there is no refund. Refunds return to the original method within about 5 working days.
What happens if I simply do not turn up?
It is recorded. Three no-shows in 180 days blocks Palace Museum bookings for 60 days; three at the National Museum of China blocks them for 30 days.
Does everything in China need a reservation now?
No — since 2024 the stated policy is that attractions below their capacity limit should not require one, and several major museums have dropped theirs.
Why are the rules different everywhere?
Because they are meant to be: the national museum directive explicitly forbids a one-size-fits-all reservation rule and tells each museum to set its own.
How do I book the Terracotta Army?
Through bmy.com.cn or the official mini-programs 秦始皇帝陵博物院 and 兵马俑票务在线, with a timed slot and your passport.
Can somebody else book for me?
Only if the booking still carries your passport number — the document is checked against you at the gate, not against the buyer.
Sources
- Bookings run through WeChat/Alipay mini-programs, not a standalone app · SRC-SC-012 + SRC-SC-013
- Real-name booking with a passport at major sites · SRC-SC-004 + SRC-SC-003
- The Palace Museum official channels, including the English site · SRC-SC-001 + SRC-SC-002
- Palace Museum: 7 days ahead, released at 20:00, closed Mondays · SRC-SC-003
- Accepted documents include passports and residence permits · SRC-SC-003
- Palace Museum entry at the Meridian Gate with the original document · SRC-SC-003
- Palace Museum cancellation deadlines, no-show tiers and refund timing · SRC-SC-003
- English site: email account, Visa/Mastercard, wallets · SRC-SC-002
- National Museum of China: free, 7 days ahead, released at 17:00 · SRC-SC-004
- National Museum of China admission bands · SRC-SC-004
- Cancel by 15:00; North Gate entry with the original document · SRC-SC-004
- Booking quotas per account and per document; no-show penalty · SRC-SC-004
- Shanghai Museum English booking, 14 days ahead, QR by email · SRC-SC-006
- Shanghai Museum dropped its reservation requirement · SRC-SC-007
- Badaling: passport accepted, one per document per day, 90 days ahead · SRC-SC-008
- Badaling: paper-ticket exchange for passport holders; refund cut-off · SRC-SC-008
- Terracotta Army official channels and timed real-name booking · SRC-SC-009
- Sites below capacity should not require a reservation · SRC-SC-010
- No one-size-fits-all rule; phone and on-site channels must stay · SRC-SC-011
- Mini-program sign-up barriers and sell-out speed as reported · SRC-SC-014 + SRC-SC-016
- The Palace Museum ticketing line · SRC-SC-003
