How to reserve Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square costs nothing to enter, but every visitor needs a real-name reservation for a date and a time slot. Foreign visitors book with their passport. Tour groups need reservations too, so a guided tour does not replace the booking.
You reserve in the WeChat mini program 天安门广场预约参观, in the personal reservation section (个人预约). Enter the name and passport number of each visitor. The city's web portal does not support non-Chinese phone numbers, so the mini program is the usual route for foreign visitors. Another person can book on your behalf, for example a hotel or a friend in China.
Our picks: square reservations
Our take: entry is free, and these services book it for you. The second adds the Great Hall, and the third adds the Memorial Hall.
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.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall reservation
- Memorial Hall time slot
- Tiananmen Square reservation
A time slot for the Memorial Hall together with the square reservation; you visit on your own.
Check availability →
Tiananmen Square and Great Hall of the People entry
- Real-name reservation for square and hall
- Entry clearance for both sites
Real-name reservations for the square and the Great Hall, handled three to five days ahead.
Check availability →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 →Beijing tours that include Tiananmen Square
Guided walks and Forbidden City combinations, with live prices and availability. Check what each tour includes.
Booking step by step
From choosing a slot to the entrance.
Step 1: Choose date and slot
Pick a day inside the booking window. Slots are divided into the raising of the flag, the morning (until 12:00), the afternoon (from 12:00) and the lowering. The raising and lowering slots are chosen separately.
Flag ceremony →Step 2: Open the mini program
Search for 天安门广场预约参观 in WeChat and open the personal reservation section. You need a WeChat account to do this.
Step 3: Enter every visitor
Type each name and passport number exactly as in the passport. Children count as part of the party, and the same rules apply to them.
Step 4: Save the confirmation
Keep the successful reservation on your phone. Take a screenshot as well in case the app is slow at the entrance.
Step 5: On the day
Show the original passport used for the booking and the reservation, within your time slot. Without a reservation, or with different ID or time details, regular entry is not possible.
Rules and checks →Booking rules at a glance
As of 2026. Details can change, so look at what the mini program offers.
| Item | Rule in 2026 | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Booking window | 1 to 7 days ahead, in some cases up to 9 or 10 days | Use the dates the mini program shows |
| Release time | Daily at 12:00 Beijing time, in staggered quotas | No booking on the day of the visit |
| Party size | Up to 7 per booking (4 adults and 3 children up to age 6 or under 1.2 m); in some cases up to 10 per order | Plan with 7 and split larger groups |
| Slots | Raising, morning, afternoon, lowering | Choose the raising or lowering slot only if you want the ceremony |
| ID | Original passport used at booking | Bring it, with the name as booked |
| Cost | CNY 0 | – |
For most visitors, the simplest plan is to book as soon as your date enters the window, take a morning or afternoon slot and keep a second option in mind, such as a neighboring sight.
Another way in: book a neighboring sight
A valid same-day booking can open the square too.
A valid daily reservation for the Mao Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People or the National Museum lets you visit the square in the morning or afternoon without a separate square reservation. It does not cover the flag ceremony slots, and it does not give you entry to other buildings. Each of these sights has its own rules and booking window. The Forbidden City is booked separately again: see Forbidden City tickets.
Practical tips
Small things that save a visit.
Book early in the window
Slots for popular days can be limited. Reserve when your date opens and keep a second date or a neighboring sight as a back-up.
Match names to the passport
The entrance check compares your passport with the booking. A different name, number or time slot can mean no entry.
Add time for the security check
Queues for the checks come on top of your travel time. The getting there page lists the metro stations.
Holidays are busy
Public holidays draw large crowds. Look at the best time page before you fix a date.
Tiananmen Square reservation: frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Tiananmen Square?
Yes. Entry is free, but visitors need a real-name reservation for a date and a slot. A valid same-day booking for the Mausoleum, the Great Hall or the National Museum can serve as an alternative for a morning or afternoon visit.
Can someone else book for me?
Yes. Other people may reserve on your behalf. They need your name and passport number, and you carry the original passport on the day.
Do children need a reservation?
Children are part of the booking. Up to 3 children (up to 6 years or under 1.2 m) count within the limit of 7 people. Add every child when you book.
What if no slot is available?
Try another date inside the window, a different slot, or book a neighboring sight that includes the square. Check the screen again after the daily release at 12:00 Beijing time.
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, but not with a provisional passport. A 240-hour transit rule covers 57 eligible countries with a confirmed onward trip. Check your government's advice and read about visa-free entry.
Is this the official reservation site?
No. tiananmen-square.org is an independent travel guide with no link to the Tiananmen administration, any authority or any tour operator. The reservation itself is made in the official mini program.