Laid out in the 1650s and enlarged fourfold in the 1950s, the 440,000 m2 square is flanked by the National Museum, the Great Hall of the People and Mao's mausoleum. The dawn flag-raising, by a PLA honour guard marching out from under the Mao portrait, is the moment to see.
- Address
- Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District (entrances by Tiananmen East, Line 1, and Qianmen, Line 2)
- Hours
- Mon-Sun 05:00-22:30, last entry 22:00 (visitbeijing.com.cn)
- Best time to go
- Morning, Evening · About 1 h
- Price
- Free, but a real-name reservation is required (english.beijing.gov.cn; Lonely Planet 2025)
- Price level
- ¥
- Free entry
- Free for everyone
Booking: Real-name reservation 1-7 days ahead on the Tiananmen Square Visit Reservation Service Platform (WeChat), passport required
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Book a free slot 1-7 days ahead on the Tiananmen Square reservation platform (WeChat mini program); new dates open daily at 12:00 noon, and without a booked slot you cannot watch the flag-raising (english.beijing.gov.cn, 2024).
- Bring your passport: Lonely Planet (2025) says you may show it several times, and the booking is tied to it rather than to a ticket.
- Once you walk north into the Forbidden City you cannot come back to the square, so do the square in the morning first (Lonely Planet). The flag is lowered again at sunset.