Tiananmen Square reservation: how foreigners book a visit (2026)

Tiananmen Square is free, but entry is controlled. Most visitors need a real-name reservation 1–7 days ahead, and foreign visitors book with their passport. For morning or afternoon entry, a valid same-day reservation for certain nearby public sites can also be used; the flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremonies still require the corresponding Square slot.

When and how far ahead

• Book 1 to 7 days ahead. Same-day booking is not possible.
• New places are released every day at 12:00 China time (UTC+8), in batches for each time slot.
• Outside holidays places are usually available, but the flag-raising slot, weekends and the National Day holiday in early October fill quickly.

Where to book

• The 天安门广场预约参观 (Tiananmen Square visit reservation) WeChat mini-program. Search the name in WeChat and choose the official one. This is the most reliable channel.
• The web version is at yuyue2026.tamgw.beijing.gov.cn, but it requires verification with a Chinese phone number and does not support non-Chinese numbers. Foreign visitors should normally use the WeChat mini-program or ask someone else to reserve on their behalf.
• Several Chinese apps, such as the Jingtong mini-program, also link to the same system.

Already have another booking? A confirmed same-day reservation for the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China or another designated public site lets you enter the Square during the morning or afternoon without a separate Square reservation. It does not cover the flag-raising or flag-lowering slots.

Choose the passport as your ID type and enter your name and passport number exactly as printed. One booking can cover several people, each with their own document. Screenshot the confirmation.

Choosing a time slot

There are four slots each day:

1. Flag raising: from when the square opens, about an hour before the ceremony, until the ceremony ends.
2. Morning: from the end of the ceremony until 12:00.
3. Afternoon: from 12:00 until the square closes in the evening.
4. Flag lowering: from about an hour before the ceremony at sunset until closing.

The flag is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset, so the times move through the year. To see the ceremony you must book the flag-raising or flag-lowering slot; a normal morning booking will not get you in early. The front rows fill early, so arrive at the start of your slot, and in winter dress for the cold.

Security and what not to bring

Expect a passport check and airport-style security at the entrance, plus checks at the metro. Allow at least 20–30 minutes, more at holidays.

• Banned: knives and blades, lighters, flammable or dangerous items, and drones.
• Leave large bags at the hotel. Small day bags are fine but are searched.
• Carry the same passport you booked with.
• Banners, flyers and political displays of any kind will get you removed.

The nearest metro stations are Tian’anmen East and Tian’anmen West on Line 1, and Qianmen on Line 2. Visitors are generally asked to move through the square from south to north.

Nearby sights need their own bookings

The square booking does not cover the buildings around it. The Forbidden City to the north, the National Museum on the east side and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in the square each need a separate booking, usually on different systems. The memorial hall is closed on Mondays and does not allow bags. Check its current rules before you go.

A good order is the square in the morning, then through Tiananmen Gate into the Forbidden City. See our Tiananmen Square page and the reservations center for all of Beijing’s bookings.