Beijing: Tiananmen Square Entry Reservation Ticket

Your passport becomes your ticket to Tiananmen Square

You reserve your Tiananmen Square entry in advance, then present your passport at security, since it serves as your entry ticket. The square itself (the world's largest city center plaza, ringed by China's most important national buildings) is free to explore once you're inside. Book outside the major holiday windows (May, late June–August, October, and January–February) to avoid sold-out reservations and crushing crowds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tiananmen Square in Beijing

• Present passport for entry
• Enter through security check
• Explore Tiananmen Square landmarks

The experience

You step through the security checkpoint at Tiananmen Square with your passport in hand and your reservation confirmed. With the reservation in place, your passport works as your entry ticket. The square itself (the world's largest city center plaza, holding a million people) sits right ahead: the Monument to the People's Heroes, the National Museum, the Great Hall of the People, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall all arranged around you. It's the political and cultural heart of China, and it's where the major national celebrations you've seen on television actually happen.

The catch is that Tiananmen Square limits visitor numbers every single day, and making the reservation yourself is a real hassle. At peak times, queuing for the security check alone can take 1 to 3 hours. This reservation service takes care of the booking. You provide your passport details ahead of time, show up on your reserved day, and present your passport at security. The square itself is free. You're paying for the reservation service.

Timing matters. Avoid the major holiday periods: Labor Day (May 1–5), Summer Holiday (late June through August), National Day (October 1–7), and Spring Festival (late January through mid-February), when reservations fill up fast and the queues become genuinely painful. Outside those windows, reservations are much easier to get. You'll need to provide accurate passport information when you book. That's what the security staff will check against when you arrive. Once you're through, the square is yours to walk, photograph, and stand in the middle of one of the world's most historically significant public spaces.

What’s included

Your booking includes the Tiananmen Square entry reservation, tied to your passport, which you show at the security checkpoint to enter.

Options for this experience

4 options

Afternoon reservation9 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 16:00Special note: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours, so plan your time in advance. Passport required: provide valid passport name, number, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Time is not fixed: this is the afternoon entry reservation. Download the reservation screenshot just in case.

Evening reservation16:30, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00Special note: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours, so plan your time in advance. Passport required: provide valid passport name, number, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Time is not fixed: this is the evening entry reservation. Download the reservation screenshot just in case.

Morning reservation10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:30Special note: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours, so plan your time in advance. Passport required: provide valid passport name, number, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Time is not fixed: this is the morning entry reservation. Download the reservation screenshot just in case.

Flag raising ceremony04:00Special note: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours, so plan your time in advance. Passport required: provide valid passport name, number, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Time is not fixed: the flag raising time is based on the time when the sun rises. Download the reservation screenshot just in case.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day24 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 18:00

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (1 to 5 years)

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

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Lily's tour service

Is this one for you?Right for anyone visiting Beijing who wants to see Tiananmen Square without wrestling with the reservation system on their own: the square caps visitor numbers every day, and this service handles the booking for you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 5 years).

What do I need to bring?

Your passport. The reservation is tied to your passport number, so the security staff will check it against your booking.

Can I book during Chinese holidays?

Reservations are difficult to secure during Labor Day (May 1–5), Summer Holiday (late June–August 30), National Day (October 1–7), and Spring Festival (late January–mid-February). Book well outside these windows.

Is Tiananmen Square itself free to enter?

Yes. The square costs nothing. What you pay for is the reservation service.

What's around Tiananmen Square?

Around the square you'll find the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum and the Monument to the People's Heroes, plus the Tiananmen Square Tower and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. It's the political and cultural heart of China.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Every area and surface can be reached by wheelchair, and public transport runs nearby.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, babies and young children are welcome in a pram or stroller.