Historic site · BEIJING
Tiananmen Square
天安门广场 · Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng
About
The 44-hectare ceremonial square at the heart of the city. Mao Zedong Mausoleum, Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum.
Tiananmen Square was created in 1958 by clearing a former imperial precinct to make the largest open city square in the world. The Tiananmen Gate at the north end leads into the Forbidden City. The Mao Zedong Mausoleum holds Chairman Mao's preserved body and is open free of charge for short, single-file viewings (closed Mondays). The Great Hall of the People (parliament) is on the west side; the National Museum of China — one of the largest museums in the world by floor area — on the east. Photography is permitted; airport-style security is in operation at every entrance.
How to get there
Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East or West.
When to visit
Early morning flag-raising ceremony at sunrise. Late afternoon flag-lowering at sunset.
Other attractions in Beijing
Itineraries featuring this site
- Beijing 3-day blitz — first-timer fast pass
3d · Three full days in Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven and the hutong lanes — the absolute core of the capital for visitors with limited time.
- Beijing in 4 days
4d · Forbidden City, Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, museums.
- Accessible China — mobility-friendly 7 days in Beijing and Shanghai
7d · Seven days in Beijing and Shanghai planned for visitors with mobility limitations — step-free access, English-language signage, accessible transport and accommodation notes throughout.
- Family Beijing and Xi'an — 7 days, relaxed pace
7d · Seven days in Beijing and Xi'an at a pace that works for children: fewer sites per day, breaks built in, and activities with hands-on appeal — the Panda Base of the north and hands-on history at the Terracotta Army.
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