Visiting Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, and The Great Wall

Visiting Tiananmen Square

Effective Dec 15 2021, you now need to book a reservation to visit  Tiananmen Square. If you search online for booking a reservation you will find many ads by tour groups, however you can book yourself at the  official website only if you have a Chinese phone number.  Note that this website is in Chinese only.  http://yuyue.tamgw.beijing.gov.cn

Other official ways to book reservations (such as Wechat services or mini apps)  are listed on this webpage at the Beijing Government Website. https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202111/t20211124_2543664.html

You can book up to 10 days in advance through these apps or the official websites, or through a tour group.

From the website:

“The elderly, elementary and middle school students, and the disabled who have challenges in using smart terminals can make reservations with the help from their relatives and friends, or look for help from the staff on-duty there.

Reservations are available for four time-slots including the flag raising period(4-6AM depending on the sunrise time), morning, afternoon, and flag lowering period(6-7PM depending on the sunset time) each day. There is no limit on the total number of visitors at this stage after the policy of visiting by reservation takes effect, but necessary measures to control the visiting flow will be adopted accordingly based on the changing situation of the pandemic and prevention work. It should be noted that reservations do not exempt visitors from security checks, and visitors still need to go through security checks before entering the square.”

 

Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

The Palace Museum, formerly called the Forbidden City is only available by reservation. Tickets go fast, so best to book as soon as soon as they become available.

This is the official website to book tickets to the Forbidden City:

https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/

For booking instructions and policies, click on the website link. An information page will load for you.

Note that the is closed on Mondays (except for statutory holidays). 

The Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets. All visitors (including those who enjoy preferential access and their companions) must make a real-name reservation.

 

6. Some exhibitions require reservations. Please check the information on the reservation page. The reservation policy may be temporarily adjusted due to management requirements. Please understand and cooperate with the on-site staff. Reservations can be canceled without being considered a missed appointment if they are canceled through the same method used for booking tickets before 24:00 on the day prior to the visit. If the reservation is not canceled in time, it will be counted as one missed appointment.

 The working hours of the Ticket Office on the west side of Duanmen Square, and the Treasure Gallery and the Gallery of Clocks’ Comprehensive Service Window:

Peak season (April 1 – October 31): 08:30 – 16:00

Low season (November 1 – March 31): 08:30 – 15:30

11. Visitor service number: 400-950-1925

Working hours: 08:00-20:00 (open all year round)

Ticketing Information

1. Admission: April 1 – October 31 (peak season), 60 yuan / person

2. Admission: November 1 – March 31 (low season), 40 yuan / person

3. The Treasure Gallery: 10 yuan / person

4. The Gallery of Clocks: 10 yuan / person

The Great Wall

The Great Wall is a must see.  There is no way a picture can give you a sense of experiencing the Great Wall. You have to experience it yourself.  Chairman Mao was quoted as saying that you are not a true man until you have climbed the Great Wall.

Given the length of the Great Wall, there are a number of places to experience it.

  • Badaling (usually combined with seeing the Ming Tombs)
  • Gubei Water Town and Simitai
  • Mutianyu
  • Shanhai Pass  – The location where the wall meets the Bohai Sea is nicknamed “Old Dragon’s Head” (老龙头). The pass lies nearly 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of Beijing.

Taking a taxi to the Great wall is possible, but can be expensive. You would need to ask your driver to wait for you to take you back to Beijing.

MUBUS Tours!

There are tours departing from various hotels and this might be your best option.  A number of people have posted positive comments about MUBUS Great Wall Tours – You can purchase these tours at the Airport, hotels, or on the Officual Mubus Beijing Website or  Klook App or Klook Website at Klook.com

 

 

 

 

Klook.com