Beijing reservation guide
Tiananmen Square Reservation Guide for Foreign Visitors
天安门广场
How foreigners reserve Tiananmen Square, use passport details, choose a time slot, handle security, and coordinate separate Forbidden City or museum tickets.
- Admission
- Free reservation
- Window
- Check 1–7 days ahead
- Bring
- Original passport
- Allow
- Extra security time
A visit to Tiananmen Square is an access-planning task, not a casual walk across an open plaza. Reservations, time slots, identity checks, and security routes shape the experience.
The square sits beside several separately managed sites. Booking one of them does not automatically solve every other entry requirement, though official rules may allow certain same-day venue records to serve for square access. Verify the exact combination you hold.
Quick answer
Tiananmen Square is free but normally requires an advance real-name reservation. Foreign visitors can reserve with passport details through the official channels. Carry the original passport, arrive early for security, and remember that nearby museums and the Forbidden City require separate bookings.
Photo guide
What Tiananmen Square looks like
Tiananmen Gate from the square
Photo: N509FZ. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Monument to the People's Heroes
Photo: Balon Greyjoy. Wikimedia Commons · CC0
The southern end of Tiananmen Square
Photo: Balon Greyjoy. Wikimedia Commons · CC0
How the reservation works
The Tiananmen Area Management Committee lists official web and mini-program reservation channels. Individual foreign visitors provide their name, passport or residence-document number, and contact details. The reservation is free.
A current official 2026 response says bookings are generally available one to seven days before the visit. Use the official platform, not a seller charging for a supposedly paid square ticket.
Pick the time slot for the experience you want
- Flag raising: tied to sunrise and usually requires the earliest start and strongest crowd tolerance.
- Morning: easiest to combine with a confirmed Forbidden City entry, subject to compatible access flow.
- Afternoon: useful after another central sight, but protect time for security lines.
- Flag lowering: tied to sunset and should not be combined with a tight dinner reservation.
- Save the confirmation offline and keep every visitor’s passport details consistent.
Every nearby attraction is a separate booking
The Palace Museum, National Museum of China, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Great Hall of the People, Zhongshan Park, and other nearby venues control their own entry. A square reservation does not replace those tickets.
If you already hold a qualifying same-day reservation for a designated site, official guidance may permit square entry through that record. Read the current wording for your venue instead of assuming the rule applies universally.
On the day
- Bring the original passport used in the reservation.
- Carry only what you need and expect bag screening.
- Use the entrance route named in your current confirmation or official notice.
- Do not schedule a fixed-time attraction immediately after your square slot.
- Check temporary controls before major holidays, ceremonies, or public events.
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Plan My Beijing TripFrequently asked questions
Is Tiananmen Square free?
Yes, the square reservation itself is free. Be cautious of sellers presenting a basic square reservation as a paid admission ticket.
Can foreigners reserve Tiananmen Square with a passport?
Yes. The official rules provide a foreign-visitor route using passport or foreign residence-document details.
Does a Tiananmen reservation include the Forbidden City?
No. The Palace Museum requires its own limited, real-name ticket. Secure it separately before building a combined day.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 13, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm the final details with the venue.
