Tiananmen Square, the center of Beijing, is located at the intersection of the central axis and Chang ‘an Avenue in Beijing, the capital of China. It was designed by Kuai Xiang, a master architect in the Ming Dynasty and the main designer of the Imperial Palace of Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square was built between 1417 and 1420，during the Reign of Emperior Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty, when it was known as Chengtianmen. As a result, Tian’anmen gradually took on its current shape.
Today Tiananmen square starts from Tiananmen Rostrum in the north, Zhengyang gate in the south, the National Museum of China in the east and the Great Hall of the people in the west. And in the center of Tiananmen Square stands the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao.
Travel to Beijing to see the China national flag raising ceremony is held every day on Tiananmen Square.
Fast Facts about Tiananmen Square in Beijing
In Chinese: 天安门
Address: Chang ‘an Street (between Tian ‘anmen and Zhengyang Gate), Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Area: Tiananmen square is 880 meters long from north to south, 500 meters wide from east to west, and covers an area of 440,000 square meters.
Type: With the capacity of one million people, it is the largest city square in the world.
Suggested visiting duration: 1 hour
Best for: History and culture lovers
The Significance of Tiananmen Square – Why You Should Visit It
- On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Tiananmen Rostrum, which has been the symbol of the People’s Republic of China ever since.
- Tiananmen is also a component of the national emblem of the People’s Republic of China.
- Tiananmen Square, with its rich history spanning over 500 years, has concentrated both ancient and modern Chinese civilization.
- Tiananmen Rostrum is a prominent work of traditional Chinese architecture.
- In 2024, “Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital “was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List, with Tian ‘anmen Square and its architectural complex as an important part.
Recommend Beijing city tours with Tiananmen Square:
- Beijing Classic Day Tour to City Highlights
- One Day Beijing City Group Tour with Lunch
- One Day Old Beijing City Tour
What to See and Do on Beijing Tiananmen Square: Main Buildings/Architectures
Tiananmen Square is positioned in the heart of Beijing’s central axis, symmetrical on both sides, and can accommodate 1 million people for grand gatherings, making it the largest city square in the world. Inside the square, along the central axis of Beijing, from north to south, stand the national flagpole, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall and the Tiananmen Rostrum.
Tiananmen Square is also home to some other iconic landmarks in Beijing (and even China), including the the Great Hall of the People, Zhengyangmen, and the National Museum of China. Tiananmen Square is s must-visit sight for any Beijing tours.
Tiananmen Rostrum
Tian’anmen consists of two parts, the tower and the rostrum, with a height of 33.7 meters and an area of 4,800 square meters. It was the main gate of the imperial city of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Whenever the emperor enthronement, conferring the empress and other major celebrations, it was necessary to hold the ceremony here. The architecture of Tian ‘anmen Square is dignified and grand, and it is an outstanding representative of the ancient gates of China.
Tiananmen rostrum is 66 meters long and 37 meters wide, and was originally housing for the Tiananmen Guards. On October 1, 1949, the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held on Tiananmen rostrum. Today, the national emblem of the People’s Republic of China hangs in the center above the Tiananmen Square Citadel. A portrait of Chairman Mao hangs above the doorway in the center of the platform, flanked by the banners “Long live the People’s Republic of China” and “Long live the unity of the world’s people”.
The Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao
The Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao built to in memory of the great leader Mao Zedong is located in the south of Tiananmen Square with a total construction area of 28,000 square meters. It is the highest memorial hall in China.
Chairman Mao, dressed in a gray mountain suit and covered with the flag of the Communist Party of China, lies in a crystal coffin. Around the base of the crystal casket, the party, national, and military emblems are inlaid, respectively.
Zhengyangmen Gate
The south gate of the inner city of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Zhengyangmen is located at the southernmost tip of Tiananmen Square, south of Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall. Built in the seventeenth year of Yongle (1419), it is one of the “nine gates of the Capital” in old Beijing. Zhengyangmen Gate unites the Zhengyangmen gate tower, archery tower, and wengcheng into a full antique defensive architecture system. The Beijing Folk Exhibition Hall sits atop the tower.
The Monument to the People’s Heroes
The Monument to the People’s Heroes is located in the center of Tiananmen square. It was built by the government of the People’s Republic of China to commemorate the people’s heroes who died in various struggles for national independence and the freedom of people.
The monument stands 37.94 meters tall, 50.44 meters wide east-west, and 61.54 meters long north-south, and is made of almost 17,000 pieces of granite and alabaster. It is the largest monument in China’s history.
The Great Hall of the People
On the west side of Tian’anmen Square, the Great Hall of the People has a total floor area of 171,800 square meters. It is an essential site for the entire country’s people to discuss state matters and conduct state foreign affairs activities, as well as the meeting place of the National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power.
The National Museum of China
On the east side of Tian anmen Square, the National Museum of China has a collection of over 1.4 million pieces, covering various categories now, including ancient cultural relics, rare books, works of art and so on.
How to Buy Tiananmen Square Entrance Tickets:
Price of Entrance Tickets:
| Tiananmen Square | Free |
| Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao | Free |
| Monument to the People’s Heroes | Free |
| National Museum of China | Free |
| Tianamen Rostrum | CNY 15 |
| Great Hall of the People | CNY 30 |
Beijing Tiananmen Square Opening Hours:
Tiananmen Square: 05:00-22:00
Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao:
| Tuesday to Sunday (it is closed on Monday) | 08:00-12:00 |
| July 1st to August 31st | 07:00-11:00 |
Notes: The opening time would be changed according to Chinese official holidays, memorial day or some great events held there.
National Museum of China:
| Tuesday to Sunday (it is closed on Monday) | 09:00-17:00 |
| Last Admission time | 16:00 |
Tiananmen Rostrum:
| November 1st– February 28th | 08:30-16:30 |
| March 1st-October 31st | 08:30-17:30 |
Great Hall of the People:
| Dec. – Mar. | 09:00-14:00 |
| Apr. – Jun. | 08:15-15:00 |
| Jul. – Aug. | 07:30-16:00 |
| Sept. – Oct. | 08:30-15:00 |
Notes: The Great Hall of the People will not be open during the two sessions or major political events.
Flag-raising Ceremony: It is necessary to get up early to attend the flag-raising ceremony. The concrete time of raising the national flag varies with the time of sunrise every day. Visitors could check flag-raising schedule on the official website.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Tiananmen Square Tour?
As the heart of downtown Beijing, Tiananmen square is a popular tourist attraction in Beijing all year round. It is open daily and does not require tickets, but security checks are required. So it is recommended to go in the morning or evening to avoid the high temperatures and crowds at noon.
Visitors should avoid official holidays in China, such as May Day (May 1-5), National Day Holiday (October 1-7), and Lunar New Year, and Mid-autumn Festival in China, as many Chinese individuals travel during these periods. Overcrowding at Chinese tourist attractions leads to frequent traffic delays.
The Recommended Beijing Tiananmen Square Traveling Route
Route 1: Flag Raising Ceremony → Chairman Mao Memorial Hall → Monument to the People’s Heroes → National Museum
Route 2: Tiananmen Square → Great Hall of the People → Palace Museum of Forbidden Cit
How to get to the Tiananmen Square?
- By Bus
Take Bus No.1, No.2, No.52, No.5 No.59, No.82, No.90, No.99, No.120 and No.126 and sightseeing line 1, line 2, mind to get off at Tiananmen Square East stop.
Take bus No. 2, No. 5, No. 120, No. 126, Special Line No. 1 and Loop line No. 2 and get off at at Tiananmen Square West stop.
Take Bus No.2, Take bus No.5, No.8, No.17, No.48, No.59, No. 66, No.67, No.71, No.82, No.93, No.120, No.126, No.723, No.729, Express line 1, No.Te7, No.Te 11, sightseeing line1 and line 2 and get off at Qianmen stop.
- By Subway
Take subway line 1 and get off at Tiananmen East Station (Exit A or D) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B or C) and walk about 900 meters to get there. Take subway line 2 and get off at Qianmen Station (Exit A or B).
Attractions Nearby
- Forbidden City – Best of the World’s Five Imperial Palaces
- Wangfujing Snack Street – Eat Like a Local at One of the Most Popular Beijing Food Streets
- Temple of Heaven – the Largest Surviving Ancient Sacrificial Building in China
Recommend China Beijing Tours with Tiananmen Square
- 4 Days Beijing Essence Tour
- 9 Days Classic Beijing Xian Shanghai Family Tour
- 11 Days China Group Tour of Beijing Xi’an Guilin Shanghai
- 9 Days China Golden Triangle Tour: Beijing, Xian, Shanghai Highlights
