On 1 November, China's big sights switch to winter hours — don't trust the summer timetable

🇨🇳 Kat's Hacks — If you are in China this weekend, check the date on any opening-hours page before you plan around it. 1 November is the switch-over day. THE TRAP Take the Forbidden City in Beijing: from 1 November it closes at 16:30, not 17:00, and the ticket drops from ¥60 to ¥40. Arrive on a summer timetable and you can lose the last, quietest hour of the day — or arrive too late altogether. Other parks and museums shorten their hours around the same date, so one old blog post can throw off a whole day's plan. THE FIX Check the venue's own page or your booking confirmation for the exact date you are going, not just the season. Book the big sights online in advance with your passport — there is no guaranteed ticket at the gate — and go in the morning, when you have the full day in hand. ONE MORE TRAP The Forbidden City is closed every Monday. That means Monday 2 November is a no-go, even though Sunday 1 November is open. Don't put your one Beijing palace day on a Monday. — Kat

On 1 November, China's big sights switch to winter hours — don't trust the summer timetable

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