To visit Tiananmen Tower, Tiananmen Square, and the National Museum of China, it is recommended to exit from either Exit C or D of Tiananmen East Station on the subway. Exit B is also an option, though it tends to have longer queues. After exiting, you can queue up for the security check.
When visiting Tiananmen Square, try to travel light. Avoid bringing a bag if possible, as storing bags can be cumbersome and time-consuming. There are disposal bins for lighters at the security check. Once you pass the security check, follow the route shown on the map.
Note that the National Museum of China, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Great Hall of the People all require prior reservations. The National Museum is on the east side of the square, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is on the south side, and the Great Hall of the People is on the west side (you can prepare a 100-yuan bill for photos). Opposite the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is the Monument to the People’s Heroes.
Make sure not to cross Chang’an Avenue before you have finished visiting the square, especially avoid crossing the Jinshui Bridge (marked with a red star on the map). Once you cross the Jinshui Bridge, you cannot turn back and will need to take a long detour to return.
After exploring the square and taking photos, you can cross Chang’an Avenue via the underground passage (both the red and blue routes on the map will take you across the avenue).
Once you cross the Jinshui Bridge and enter Tiananmen Tower, if you have a reservation for the tower, you can climb it. Again, travel light and carry only essentials like your phone and camera.
Continue north past the Duanmen Gate to reach the Meridian Gate, the main entrance to the Forbidden City. On the east side is the Imperial Ancestral Temple (now the Beijing Working People’s Cultural Palace), and on the west side is Zhongshan Park. If you do not have a reservation for the Forbidden City, you can leave at this point.
If you are only visiting the Forbidden City, you can skip the security check for Tiananmen Square and save time. It is recommended to allocate 4-6 hours for both the National Museum and the Forbidden City, so it is best not to visit them on the same day if time permits.
Note that the Forbidden City can only be entered from the south gate (Meridian Gate) and exited from the north gate (Gate of Divine Might). After visiting the Forbidden City, if time allows, you can head to Jingshan Park opposite the north gate for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City.