10 Things To Do in Tiananmen Square in Beijing

The square became a historic and symbolic place of protest in China after seven weeks of demonstrations, known as the Tiananmen Square protest or movement. But beyond that, this square has a lot to show tourists, far from the more recent historical events.

The gate to the Forbidden City is one of the most interesting places to see in Tiananmen Square. You can also see some important symbols of the city and even spend some time walking around the square. Whatever you want to do, visiting Tiananmen Square is one of the best things to see and do in Beijing.

In the centre of the square is the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, who was the founder of the People's Republic of China. This is one of the most popular and crowded tourist spots in Beijing and it is also where the embalmed body of the famous communist leader is kept. But before entering the mausoleum, you will have to leave your things in a locker at one end of the square.

Inside the mausoleum you will be able to see the body of the former leader Mao Zedong, and you will be impressed by how the Chinese crowds show their respect for him, giving floral offerings and bowing.

One thing you should bear in mind when visiting this site is that it is important to show respect and act appropriately inside the enclosure. To visit this site I recommend booking a tour of Beijing and Tiananmen Square.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission is free if you have your passport with you.
• Opening hours: You can enter every day from 5am to 10pm.
• Location: located next to the south gate of the Forbidden City in Tiananmen Square.

If you are looking for an interesting place to stroll around near Tiananmen Square, Dashilar is a very pleasant neighbourhood to have a coffee, eat Beijing-style lacquered duck, buy souvenirs and lose yourself in the small alleys typical of Beijing known as hutongs.

Formerly the site where merchant groups settled in the 13th century, after several reconstructions it has been turned into a sort of theme park, although it is still an authentic place. I recommend booking a tour of Beijing and Tiananmen Square to discover it in detail.

It is also a place known for its old shops and traditional architecture, which has been preserved over the years. One thing this place is known for is that, although it has been rebuilt several times, it still retains its traditional appeal that has always characterised it. It is definitely a good place to visit in the middle of a tour of Beijing's hutongs.

Interesting details

• Price: This is a public site, so there is no entrance fee.
• Opening hours: Dashilar is a pedestrian area that is usually open all day and night.
• Location: Xicheng in Beijing, China

Tiananmen Square is an impressive 38-metre-high monument that represents China's heritage and greatness. It is constructed of marble and granite, and features five gold stars representing the Communist Party of China and the four provinces of the country. Construction of the monument began in 1952 and was completed in 1958. It has since become one of Beijing' s most popular tourist attractions, as well as an important symbol of the motherland and national unity.

I recommend, if possible, booking a tour of Beijing and Tiananmen Square during sunrise and sunset to witness the flag-raising and lowering ceremonies. During these ceremonies, the People's Liberation Army honour guard performs the ceremony, which attracts many onlookers, especially local tourists from other provinces.

For a close-up view of these ceremonies, you can stand specifically at the Gate of Heavenly Peace and watch the soldiers perform the flag salute while the national anthem plays. This is definitely an event you should put on your list of things to visit in the city, and for that I recommend signing up for a Beijing bike tour that takes you at sunset to see the flag lowering.

Details of interest

• Price: You can visit the important monument without paying, as it is a public place.
• Hours: You can visit this place at any time, but if you want to see the raising ceremony, you will have to go every sunrise and sunset.
• Location: the flag is located in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

This 46.7-metre high tower is unique in many ways and is a popular tourist attraction. It is equipped with 25 huge drums and was originally intended to tell Beijing time, a job it performed for six centuries under the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It has witnessed important events in history, such as the Conquest of China from the Mongols and other similar situations.

When visiting the Drum Tower in Beijing, you will see that it is a very colourful and authentic two-storey building. Inside you can see the 25 drums that used to mark the hours of the day. Although only one drum remains today, visiting this site is still, along with Beijing's kung fu shows, one of the must-do activities in the city, mainly because this drum is huge, measuring 1.4 metres in diameter and 2.2 metres high.

This unique drum is no longer used to mark the hours of the day, however, you can still watch experts beat the drums for 15 minutes in a show that takes place four times a day, so it's definitely a good place to visit and meet locals and tourists alike. Find out more by booking a tour of Beijing.

Interesting details

• Price: You will have to pay around $4.5 to enjoy the inner spaces of the Clock Tower.
• Opening hours: Visiting hours may vary, however, it is almost always open to the public between 9am and 5.30pm.
• Location: You can find it on Gulou Dong Dajie Street in the Dongcheng district of Beijing, China.

The Tiananmen Gate is a historical monument located in the centre of the city. Book a tour of Beijing and Tiananmen Square and get to know this cultural and political icon, the place where the portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong is located and where important ceremonies and parades are held.

It is also known because in 1989 the Tiananmen massacre took place, where the Chinese government repressed demonstrators demanding democratic reforms.

It is also the entrance to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasty, which you are obliged to visit if you travel to Beijing. The Tiananmen Gate is a popular place for tourists from all over the world, but it is also an important symbol of China's history and politics.

Interesting details

• Price: to enter the Tiananmen Gate you will have to pay about 9 € per person. If you are travelling with elderly and disabled people you can pay less money.
• Opening hours: Tiananmen Gate is open every day between 8.30am and 5pm.
• Location: It is located in the square of the same name.

The Monument to the People's Heroes is a large granite obelisk in Tiananmen Square and is the largest statue in Chinese history. It was erected to commemorate the martyrs who fell in various revolutionary struggles in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is the place where national mourning commemorations are usually held.

On the front of the monument is the inscription: "The heroes of the people are immortal", carved in Mao's handwriting. It is located exactly in the centre of Tiananmen Square and was erected in 1958. This statue is a reminder of the history and sacrifices others have made for the country and its people.

It is also important for you to know about this place, that it is a monument that represents a female figure which, in turn, symbolises the unity and strength of the Chinese people. You can't miss the opportunity to book a tour of Beijing and Tiananmen Square, discover it in detail and take a couple of pictures.

Interesting details

• Price: this is a public place, so you don't have to pay anything for the entrance.
• Opening hours: You can visit all day and night, with no time restrictions.
• Location: this obelisk is located in the centre of Tiananmen Square.

The Temple of Heaven is located at the southern end of the ancient city of Beijing, near Tiananmen Square in the Xuan Wu district. It is a huge temple with an area almost twice the size of the Forbidden City, so it is definitely worth a visit on your Beijing city tour.

This was the place where the Ming and Qing emperors held rites and sacrifices to honour the heavens and ask for good harvests. Its organisation is closely related to Chinese cosmology and is based on the emperor's attitude and respect for the rites. The colours, shapes, sounds and positions of the buildings represent the complex design of the universe.

The Temple of Heaven is one of the most important and interesting places in the city, considering that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Around the temple you can also visit a large park where you will see Beijingers practising Taijiquan and Qigong or even having fun with dancing and singing.

Interesting details

• Price: to enter the Temple of Heaven you will have to pay around €5 per person.
• Opening hours: You can visit this place between 6am and 10pm. But keep in mind that the latest admission time is around 9pm.
• Location: it is located in the Xuan Wu district, very close to Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The Great Hall of the People is a very important building in Beijing. This place was opened in 1959 as one of the "Ten Great Buildings" to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Since then it has become one of the most interesting places to see in the square and in the whole city.

This super construction is located at the western end of Tiananmen Square and is one of the most representative icons for the government of the People's Republic of China and for the Communist Party. As it is a politically strategic site, it hosts the meeting of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which has been held every five years since 1982, and the Central Committee of the party, which is an annual event.

The Great Hall of the People accepts visitors, however, to enter this place you can only enter through the East Gate, which has an emblem of the People's Republic of China above it. After this gate you will find a large hallway leading to the Central Hall. Inside you will also be able to see the Grand Auditorium, which has a capacity of almost 10,000 people.

Interesting details

• Price: you will have to pay about 5 € per person to enjoy this place.
• Opening hours: You can visit the Great Hall of the People from 6am to 10pm.
• Location: enda Huitang West Road, at the western end of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.

One of the best things to see and do in Beijing, especially if you are passionate about opera, is to see the National Grand Theatre, also known as "The Egg". It is a uniquely designed building created by French architect Paul Andreu, which opened its doors in June 2007.

You can access the theatre through a foyer that is located underneath an artificial lake, and once inside, you can enjoy a space that seats almost 6,500 people. You will be delighted to see the exterior of the theatre, which is a titanium and glass dome that floats on water, making it, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic buildings in the city.

One of the most striking things about this site is that inside it has different spaces as if it were an urban district. You can find streets, squares, shopping and rest areas, waiting rooms and restaurants. So if you enter the Opera, you will think that you are entering a city within the city. Also, inside you can find different art spaces and exhibitions that remain open to the public.

Interesting details

• Price: to visit this impressive building you will have to pay around 5 € per person.
• Opening hours: You can visit this place between 9am and 5.30pm. It is also open every day of the week except Mondays.
• Location: it is located right next to Tiananmen Square.

The Gate of Heavenly Peace is the largest and most iconic monument in Beijing's Forbidden City. You will be impressed by the sheer size of this gate, which has a wide and high arch with three passages, the central one reserved for the Emperor. The outside of the gate features huge pillars made of marble, as well as statues of imperial guards.

At the top of the gate you will see a golden inscription known as 'Zhengyangmen'. You will also see a pair of bronze lions, one on each side of the gate, representing power and good fortune.

Today, this place is quite important for Chinese communist thought and, in fact, Mao Zedong 's portrait guards the entrance to the Forbidden City. The reason is because it was here that Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, after the fall of the Qing dynasty and the departure of the last emperor. Don't hesitate to book one of the best tours of Beijing and get to know all the history.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no charge to see the Heavenly Gate because it is a public place, so you can enter without paying.
• Opening hours: You can see this place every day between 8.30am and 5pm.
• Location: located in Tiananmen Square.