Several policies and rules will be implemented at Beijing's Palace Museum, also known as "The Forbidden City" by foreign tourists, in order to address overcrowding and ticket scalping.

Museum Director Shan Jixiang said that among the policies that will be introduced are the new ticket prices and the intensified drive against ticket scalpers as well as unlicensed tour guides.

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A new service area will also be set up on the Imperial Garden, one of the final stops on the tour itinerary. The Imperial Garden is often overcrowded and occupied by several stores selling food and beverages.

"The Imperial Garden is more like a dining area than an ancient Chinese garden because of the stores," said Shan, adding that the food stores will be replaced by shops that will be offering souvenir items, historical books and cultural products that are related to the museum.

A key measure is the plan to open the museum to the public free of charge during off tourist season and limit the sales of tickets during peak season to avoid overcrowding.

The Palace Museum also plans to offer discounts and freebies for online bookings, especially during peak season. Shan said the plan is to give discounts to the first 40,000 visitors who buy their tickets online and give these online buyers access to a special entrance to the museum.

The planned rules and policies were formulated during a forum that gathered public and high-level opinions. Shan said authorities are always looking for ways to better serve visitors of the iconic attraction and improve services and policies, at the same time making sure that the Palace Museum is well-preserved and protected.

The Forbidden City is closed to the public on Mondays for renovation and maintenance since 6 January. However, on public days and Mondays during 1 July to 31 August, the Place Museum will be opened to visitors.