Tiananmen Square at a glance
Tiananmen Square lies in the center of Beijing on Chang'an Avenue, in Dongcheng district. Tiananmen Gate stands on the north side, the Zhengyangmen gate towers on the south, the National Museum of China on the east and the Great Hall of the People on the west. The square covers 440,000 square meters, about 880 m from north to south and 500 m from east to west. Entry costs CNY 0, but you need a reservation for a date and a time slot, made with the name and passport number of every visitor.
This guide explains how to reserve with a foreign passport, when the flag ceremony takes place, which neighboring sights need their own booking, what the security checks involve and how to reach the square by metro. It also compares tours that link the square with the Forbidden City and the hutongs. Prices are in Chinese yuan (CNY), as of 2026, and they can change.
Our picks: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Our take: the guided tour is the usual way to see the square and the palace. The half-day tour adds the Treasure Gallery, and the reservation service is for visiting on your own.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tiananmen, Forbidden City and Treasure Gallery half-day tour
- English or Spanish guide
- Guided palace visit with entry
- Treasure Gallery entry
A guided walk on the square, then the palace with entry to the Treasure Gallery.
Check availability โ
Tiananmen and Forbidden City guided tour with tickets
- Guide in your chosen language
- Reserved entry to the sights
A guide in your chosen language with reserved entry; the usual route walks through the gate into the palace.
Check availability โ
Tiananmen Square reservation service
- Square reservation
- Time slots incl. flag raising and lowering
Entry to the square is free; this paid service books the reservation for you, with time slots for the flag ceremonies.
Check availability โTiananmen Square tours and Beijing day trips
Guided walks, Forbidden City combinations and hutong trips, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Booking, timing and getting there.
Tiananmen Square reservation
Book a slot with your passport in the WeChat mini program, 1 to 7 days ahead.
Flag ceremony
Raising follows sunrise and lowering follows sunset. The slot is booked separately.
Tours compared
Guided walks and combinations with the Forbidden City and the hutongs.
Rules and security checks
ID, the checks at the entrance and what to leave behind.
How to get to the square
Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8 and the stations on the north and south sides.
Best time to visit
Climate averages, seasons and the busy holiday weeks.
Where to stay
Wangfujing, Qianmen or the wider Dongcheng area: which location fits.
Sights around the square
Each one has its own hours and booking.
Mao Mausoleum
Open again since 1 September 2026, Tuesday to Sunday mornings.
National Museum of China
Free with a reservation. Opening hours change with the season.
Tiananmen Gate
The gate tower ticket costs CNY 15 and is booked separately from the square.
Great Hall of the People
Visits only after a reservation in the official mini program.
Qianmen Street
The old shopping street south of the square, with Dashilar and the Zhengyangmen towers.
History of the square
From the imperial gate begun in 1417 to the square of today.
Facts and figures
Size, the Monument to the People's Heroes and the buildings around the square.
Entry, prices and booking in 2026
Prices in CNY, as of 2026.
| Place | Entry | How far ahead to book |
|---|---|---|
| Tiananmen Square | CNY 0, reservation required | 1 to 7 days, check the booking screen |
| Mao Mausoleum | Free, reservation required | 1 to 6 days |
| National Museum of China | Free, reservation required | 7 days |
| Tiananmen Gate Tower | CNY 15 (reduced CNY 5) | At least 1 day, no same-day tickets |
| Zhengyangmen Gate Tower | CNY 20 | Tickets are released daily at 17:00 |
| Great Hall of the People | Reservation in the official mini program | โ |
For most first-time visitors, the square plus one neighboring sight fills a morning. Book the square slot first, then add the museum or the gate tower. Rules and prices can change, so look at the booking screen before you plan around a date.
A few things to know before you go
Points that affect your plans.
The Mao Mausoleum is open again
The hall reopened on 1 September 2026. Regular hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 08:00 to 12:00, and Monday is not a regular opening day. Holidays and memorial days are announced separately, and visits can be stopped at short notice during controls on the square.
Mausoleum guide โThe National Museum has two seasons
From 1 June to 31 October it opens from 09:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 16:30. From 1 November to 31 May it opens from 09:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. It is closed on Mondays except on Chinese public holidays.
Museum guide โThere are two gate towers
The Tiananmen Gate Tower in the north needs its own ticket (CNY 15 for adults). The Zhengyangmen Gate Tower in the south reopened on 27 July 2026 and costs CNY 20. They are different buildings with different bookings.
Tiananmen Gate โDrones stay at home
Since 1 May 2026 all outdoor drone flights in Beijing need permission, and bringing drones into the city is restricted. A new version of the regulation takes effect on 15 November 2026.
Rules โBeyond the square
Palaces, temples and the Great Wall have their own guides.
The Forbidden City is the next stop north of Tiananmen Gate, and its entry is booked separately: see Forbidden City tickets. South of the square, the Temple of Heaven has its own guide. For a day trip out of the city, read about the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This site stays with the square and the sights around it.
More independent guides to Beijing
Separate guides from the same team.
Forbidden City
Tickets, the palace halls and the sights around Tiananmen.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Tickets, the toboggan, getting there from Beijing and hikes.
Summer Palace
Tickets, Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor and the Old Summer Palace.
Temple of Heaven
Tickets, the Hall of Prayer, the Circular Mound Altar and Tiantan Park.
Badaling Great Wall
Tickets, the train from Beijing, cable cars and the Ming Tombs.
Tiananmen Square: frequently asked questions
Is Tiananmen Square free?
Yes. Entry costs CNY 0, but you need a reservation for a date and a time slot, made with the name and passport number of each visitor. A free visit does not replace the reservation. See the reservation page.
Can I reserve with a foreign passport?
Yes. Use the WeChat mini program ๅคฉๅฎ้จๅนฟๅบ้ข็บฆๅ่ง and its personal reservation section. The city's web portal does not support non-Chinese phone numbers, and another person may book on your behalf. A valid reservation for the Mausoleum, the Great Hall or the National Museum also lets you enter the square in the morning or afternoon.
Do I need a visa for China?
German citizens can enter visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026 under the entry conditions, including tourism and transit. This does not apply to the German provisional passport. A separate transit rule allows 240 hours for citizens of 57 eligible countries with a confirmed onward trip to a third country. Check your own government's travel advice, and see visa-free entry to China.
Which metro station is closest?
Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West on Line 1 serve the north side. Qianmen on Lines 2 and 8 serves the south side. The getting there page has the details.
How do I pay in Beijing?
Metro ticket machines and gates accept foreign Visa and Mastercard, and RMB cash works at counters and machines. The Alipay transport code requires identity verification. Do not count on every small shop accepting a foreign card.
Is tiananmen-square.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to any Chinese authority, the Tiananmen administration, the National Museum of China, a tour operator or a hotel. Reservations are made in the official mini programs, not on this site.