Tiananmen Square is immense! There are countless places to explore, and it’s nearly impossible to cover everything in a single day. Here’s a guide based on my two visits to Tiananmen. Remember to carry your ID card at all times.
Suggestions:
- Separate Visits for the Forbidden City and National Museum: Visiting both on the same day can be overwhelming. You’ll end up rushing through and not fully appreciating either.
- Combine Square Activities: Watch the flag-raising ceremony, visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and explore the Great Hall of the People together.
- Combine Tiananmen Tower and the Forbidden City: These two can be visited together for a more streamlined experience.
- Morning Tour Route: Chairman Mao Memorial Hall → Great Hall of the People → Tiananmen Square → Tiananmen Tower (You can cover this in a morning. The major time-consuming visits are the Forbidden City and the National Museum.)
- Important Tip: Tiananmen Square is a one-way path moving north. You have to cross the Jinshui Bridge and exit at the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City. If you want to return to Chairman Mao Memorial Hall or the Great Hall of the People, you’ll need to walk back two kilometers across the square. Without a reservation for the Forbidden City, avoid crossing the Jinshui Bridge. Thus, consider one of the following routes:
Recommended Routes:
Route 1: Chairman Mao Memorial Hall → Great Hall of the People → Tiananmen Square → National Museum (You can visit the National Museum in the afternoon.)
Route 2: Chairman Mao Memorial Hall → Great Hall of the People → Tiananmen Square → Tiananmen Tower → Forbidden City (Visit the Forbidden City in the afternoon.)
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall: Open only in the morning. Remember to arrive early and expect to go through security checks three times. If you miss your appointment time, you can still enter. Make sure to store your bags and cameras as they are not allowed inside.
Flag-Raising Ceremony: The timing is based on the sunrise time for the day. Check the 2024 schedule for specific times.
Forbidden City: Open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry at 4:00 PM. Take the subway to Tiananmen East Station, exit at C. For a quick entry, take a taxi to the Donghua Gate and enter through a side path to avoid the queues.
National Museum: Open Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must make a reservation on time, as entry is strictly controlled. If you miss out, keep checking the platform for available tickets. The museum is vast and cannot be fully explored in one day.