Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Timed Entry

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/6

Duration2h–8h

Mobile ticketAccepted

Two of Beijing's Largest Squares in One Morning or Afternoon

You get timed-slot entry to both Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with your original passport verified in advance, which removes the arrival-day queue and the risk of being turned away for visa or documentation issues. Morning and afternoon windows let you choose when to go; the entrance map and security details arrive before your visit. If the square closes unexpectedly, you can reschedule or claim a refund.

2h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

Enter Tiananmen Square in morning
Present original passport at security
Walk through Tiananmen Gate to Meridian Gate
Enter Forbidden City via Meridian Gate
Present original passport for ticket check
Explore Forbidden City until afternoon

The Experience

The moment you step toward Tiananmen Square, you hear it before you see it — the low hum of thousands of footsteps on stone, the shuffle of crowds moving through one of the world's largest public plazas. This is where the booking matters. With your pre-reserved timed entry, you skip the uncertainty of arrival queues and walk straight to one of four security checkpoints with your original passport in hand. Morning slots run 7am to noon; afternoon slots start at noon and close at 4:30pm. The passport number on your booking must match exactly — that's the one non-negotiable detail that keeps your entry smooth.

After Tiananmen Square, you can walk directly through Tiananmen Gate toward the Meridian Gate entrance to the Forbidden City, though security wait times there shift with the day and season — peak times can run an hour or two. If you'd rather avoid that queue, skip the walk and head straight to the Palace Museum's Meridian Gate, where afternoon entry closes at 3:30pm. The Forbidden City itself is vast: 24 emperors lived here across the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the layout rewards wandering, though most visitors spend two to three hours inside. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the architecture — the scale of the courtyards, the detail in the eaves — doesn't shrink when you're standing in it.

What this booking service removes is the guesswork. You don't show up and find the square closed for a state reception or official event — those happen without warning, and if your date gets blocked, you reschedule or get a full refund. You don't fumble with passport numbers or worry whether your visa type qualifies (L, M, F, G, or D visas work; diplomatic and official visas need separate approval). The entrance map arrives before you go, so you know which of the four Tiananmen checkpoints to head toward. Bring your original passport — no copies, no digital versions — and the entry is yours.

What’s included

Tiananmen Square timed-entry ticket with your choice of morning (7am–12pm) or afternoon (12pm–4:30pm) slot.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum) timed-entry ticket with your choice of morning (7am–12pm) or afternoon (12pm–3:30pm) slot.
security entrance map for Tiananmen Square sent before your visit.
official pre-reservation service with passport verification.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Beijing Friends Tailored Tours

Is this one for you?Right for visitors who want to see both landmarks without arriving early to queue or worrying about visa eligibility on the day — the advance booking and document check remove that uncertainty, though Tiananmen Square can close unexpectedly for official events, which is why the refund option exists.