BEIJING - Tickets for the Forbidden City, one of the capital's premier tourist spots, will be available online during the National Day holiday, although numbers will be limited.

Starting Tuesday, the venue, also known as the Palace Museum, will allow visitors to reserve 40,000 tickets - half of the daily limit - through its official website, gugong.228.com.cn.

Licensed travel agencies and individuals using a verified ID card can purchase a maximum of five tickets for a single day.

"The service is an attempt to provide visitors with a safe and orderly environment, as well as to protect the heritage architecture and artworks," said a museum spokesman.

However, the museum has warned that no ticket refunds or replacements will be offered during the pilot period.

During last year's National Day holiday, the Forbidden City received roughly 90,000 visitors per day.

"To reduce pressure on the ticket office, the museum will also employ three mobile ticket stations during the vacation," said the spokesman.

In the run-up to Golden Week, authorities have beefed up efforts to ensure people enjoy an orderly and enjoyable break.

Beijing Capital International Airport, for example, which has at least 1,000 flights taking off and landing every day, will halt construction projects in its terminals to ensure top security.

With an estimated 7.5 million tourists headed for or out of the capital, a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent, Beijing Railway Bureau will open more ticket offices and extend open hours. Sales of all bullet trains will go online at the end of September to help passengers.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/20/2011 page4)