National Museum of China at a glance
The National Museum of China fills the east side of Tiananmen Square, opposite the Great Hall of the People. The building was part of the large rebuilding of the square in 1958 and 1959. Today it houses permanent collections on ancient China and changing exhibitions.
General admission is free, but every visitor needs a real-name reservation, adults and children alike. You book on the museum's official website, in its WeChat mini-program or through its official WeChat account. For visitors without a Chinese account, an English-language reservation with an email address and your passport number is available.
Opening hours change with the season. From 1 June to 31 October the museum is open from 09:00 to 17:30. From 1 November to 31 May it closes at 17:00. Note that the museum is closed on Mondays, except on Chinese public holidays. If you want a guided day around the square, look at Tiananmen Square tours and check what each one includes.
Opening hours of the National Museum of China
Seasonal hours for 2026. Closed on Mondays except Chinese public holidays.
| Season | Opening hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 June to 31 October | 09:00–17:30 | 16:30 |
| 1 November to 31 May | 09:00–17:00 | 16:00 |
In summer you get an extra half hour, and the last entry moves with it. From 1 November the winter hours apply.
Our pick: the museum with an e-guide
Our take: book the ticket, and choose the guided option if you want a small group.
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 Square and Beijing tours
Guided days in central Beijing that pass the square and the museum, combined with the Forbidden City, hutongs and more, with live prices and availability. The museum reservation is separate, so check what each tour includes.
How to book and enter
Booking rules are the same for every visitor. New places are released every day at 17:00, up to 7 days ahead. Each account can hold one reservation per week for up to 5 people.
- Entry windows: there are three: 09:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30 and 13:30–16:00. In the summer season the last window runs until 16:30.
- Children: children up to and including 14 years are booked by an accompanying adult and enter together with them.
- Entrance: visitors use the north gate entrance. Show the original document you booked with and the confirmation, and arrive in your booked window.
- No entry without a reservation, with a different ID number or after a missed window.
A valid reservation for the museum also lets you visit the square in the morning or afternoon without a separate square booking. It does not cover the flag ceremony. Our Tiananmen Square reservation page explains the square booking itself.
Collections to plan for
The permanent collections give you more to plan around than any single object. Themes you can expect include ancient Chinese jade, porcelain, Buddhist sculpture, the history of money, and clothing and jewellery. Individual pieces rotate, so do not travel for one particular item.
Special exhibitions come and go. Admission to the general museum is free, but not every special exhibition or guided tour is, so check the price on the day you book.
Do not mix this up with the Palace Museum. That is the museum inside the Forbidden City, with its own ticket. For it, see the Palace Museum guide.
Rules and getting there
Keep bags small and plan for a security check.
Security check
Everyone goes through a check at the entrance. Photos of the collections are fine without flash, selfie stick or tripod.
Rules and security checks →Left luggage
Bag storage is available, with a fee that depends on size. Leave large items at your hotel if you can.
Where to stay →Metro and bus
Take Line 1 to Tiananmen East, exits C or D. Buses 1, 2, 52, 82 and 120 stop at Tiananmen East. The visitor entrance is the north gate, so allow time to walk around.
Getting there →Time it with the square
The museum shares the square with the Mausoleum and the Great Hall. Pick one main stop per morning and keep the rest short.
Facts about the square →
National Museum of China: frequently asked questions
Is the National Museum of China free?
General admission is free, but you must reserve in your real name. Not every special exhibition or guided tour is free.
What are the opening hours in 2026?
From 1 June to 31 October 09:00 to 17:30, last entry 16:30. From 1 November to 31 May 09:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:00. The museum is closed on Mondays except Chinese public holidays.
How far ahead can I book?
Up to 7 days ahead. New places are released daily at 17:00. One account can hold one reservation per week for up to 5 people.
Can tourists with a foreign passport book?
Yes. In addition to the Chinese interface, an English-language reservation with email address and passport number is available. Try it early, because places can run out.
Where is the visitor entrance?
At the north gate. The nearest metro stop is Tiananmen East on Line 1, exits C and D, but the stop and the building entrance are not the same place.
Is this the official museum website?
No. This is an independent travel guide and has no connection to the museum. Reservations are made only on the museum's own channels.