Beijing: National Museum of China Entry & Audio Guide

The National Museum of China Holds Thousands of Years, And You Skip the Daily Lottery

You secure a reserved entry slot to the National Museum of China without battling the daily 5pm booking rush; choose your own visiting date and time; skip Tiananmen Square security lines with your museum booking; and explore thousands of years of Chinese art, bronzes, jade and porcelain either self-guided with audio or with a professional English guide leading you through the galleries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. National Museum of China3h · entry included
2. Tiananmen Square1h · entry included

Visit National Museum and Tiananmen Square

• Pre-book National Museum ticket
• Clear security at Tiananmen Square
• Explore National Museum exhibits
• Visit Tiananmen Square landmarks

The experience

You've just landed in Beijing, and the first thing everyone tells you is to see the National Museum of China. The problem: it's free, which means slots vanish within minutes every single day at 5pm when the official booking window opens. Most travelers either miss out or spend their first morning refreshing a Chinese government website, hoping. With a reserved ticket, you walk straight in beside Tiananmen Square without that fight. Your spot is locked in, your time is yours to choose, and you move through security without the crowd.

The museum itself sits right next to Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest city squares, and holds the world's largest collection of Chinese cultural relics. Ancient bronzes, jade carvings, silk paintings, porcelain that's survived centuries, modern historical artifacts. The scale of it is hard to grasp until you're standing in front of it. An audio guide walks you through the galleries in English, so you're not reading placards in a language you don't speak or guessing what you're looking at. You move at your own pace, stop as long as you want, skip what doesn't grip you.

Two ways to do this: reserve the ticket alone if you'd rather wander solo, or add a professional English-guided tour if you want someone who knows the stories behind the objects and can answer questions as you go. Either way, the reservation team handles all the official pre-booking procedures: the part that usually involves refreshing a system in real time and hoping. You get the confirmation, you show up at your time slot, and the museum is yours.

What’s included

• Admission to the National Museum of China.
• audio guide in English.
• reserved entry slot with no daily queue.
• access to Tiananmen Square security clearance with your booking.
• optional professional English-guided tour (if selected at booking).

Options for this experience

3 options

Ticket Reservation Only09:00, 11:00 and 13:30Your QR admission ticket will be emailed or sent via WhatsApp 3–4 days before your visit.

Entrance Ticket+Audio Guide09:00, 11:00 and 13:30Your QR code admission ticket and Audio Guide link will be emailed or sent via WhatsApp 3–4 days before your visit.

Ticket plus a 2-hour live English guide09:00, 11:00 and 13:30

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:30

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (under 15)

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Lily's tour service

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see China's largest collection of cultural relics without spending their morning in a booking queue or missing out on sold-out slots. The reserved entry takes the daily lottery out of the equation and lets you pick when you go.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 15).

Do I have to book a guided tour, or can I just reserve the ticket?

Both options are available. You can reserve entry only and explore with the audio guide at your own pace, or add a professional English-guided tour if you prefer someone to explain the artifacts and history as you walk.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Book as soon as you know your Beijing travel dates. Daily slots fill within minutes of the official 5pm release, so advance reservation is the only reliable way to guarantee entry.

Is Tiananmen Square included, or do I pay separately?

Access to Tiananmen Square is free. Your museum ticket gives you the added benefit of clearing security at the square without extra hassle.

What's included in the audio guide?

The audio guide provides English narration through the museum's galleries, covering the major collections and artifacts. You control the pace and can spend as much time as you want at each exhibit.

Can I choose what time I visit?

Yes. When you book, you select your preferred date and time slot to match your travel schedule.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the museum is wheelchair accessible. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you need them.