China is expected to greet the “hottest” May Day holiday ever, estimated by OTC (Online Travel Agency) platforms, and more than 200 million people may make trips during the impending five-day holiday.
Due to the pent-up tourists’ vast demand, tickets for the Palace Museum in Beijing from May 1-5 are sold out, the national broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday. Some special tickets are being resold at most 1,300 yuan ($200.5).
According to online ticket booking system of the Palace Museum, regular tickets from May 1 to 5 are already sold out. On Chinese spare-item exchange site Xianyu, many users ask for tickets during holiday with 200 to 400 yuan each.
Due to the shortage of regular tickets, some tourists turn to apply for a special invitation, which can be used as a package ticket to visit the Palace Museum. Some sellers resell the invitation at a price tag of 1,300 yuan.
A staff member of ticket office of the Palace Museum told the Global Times on Tuesday that the price for a regular ticket is 60 yuan and must be bought with real name and ID number. Tourists need to show their ticket and ID when entering the museum, but the real-name system was not applied for visit invitation, said the staff member.
In addition to the Palace Museum, tickets for other popular scenic spots in Beijing during the incoming holiday are also sold out. Tickets for the Summer Palace can be booked one week ahead, and the booking system showed that the tickets from May 1 to May 3 have been already sold out.
Photo taken on Sept. 10, 2020 shows a view of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
