NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CHINA · ZHONGGUO GUOJIA BOWUGUAN
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VERIFIED2026.09.15Tiananmen, the Forbidden City & Qianmen · 39.904°N 116.395°E
FreeClosure dayReservation requiredTimed entry
The 192,000 m² museum on the east side of Tiananmen Square — the 'Ancient China' permanent galleries are the single best chronological walk through Chinese history in the country, from the Simuwu ding to Qing court art. Free, but real-name booked up to seven days ahead with a daily 17:00 release, three timed sessions, a limit of one booking per account per week, and a Monday closure. The museum runs its own booking site with an English version, which makes it one of the few Beijing venues with an official route for passport holders — we have not been able to read that English site's rules.
Hours9:00-17:00, last entry 16:00; Jun-Oct 9:00-17:30, last entry 16:30Verified · 2026-09Source ↗
ClosedMondays (open on public-holiday Mondays)Verified · 2026-09Source ↗
ReservationRequired · Timed entry
IDPassport required; see details for entry handling.Verified · 2026-09Details ↓Source ↗
LandmarkEast side of Tiananmen Square, opposite the Great Hall of the People
Address16 East Chang'an Avenue, DongchengVerified · 2026-09Source ↗Navigate ↗
EntranceVisitor entrance at the North Gate on Chang'an Avenue (official notice); Line 1 Tiananmen East, Exit C/D
Last verified 2026-09-15
How to book
Official website, official booking mini-program, WeChat mini-program or WeChat official account, up to 7 days ahead; tickets released daily at 17:00; sessions 9:00-11:00, 11:00-13:30, 13:30-16:00 (to 16:30 Jun-Oct); one booking per account per week, max 5 people; refunds until 15:00 on the day (official notice 2025-07-25)Verified · 2026-09Source ↗
ID details
Passport required; see details for entry handling. Real-name booking on a verified account, then the same original ID at the North Gate check; the 2025 notice says 'valid ID' without listing types — local listings include passports
Beat the crowds
Release is at 17:00 daily for the date seven days out, and weekend sessions go in minutes; weekday 13:30 sessions are the easiest to get. Inside, 'Ancient China' in the basement is busy all day; the upper floors of bronzes, Buddhist sculpture and porcelain are quiet.
Language
Permanent-gallery labels are bilingual; audio guides in English are rented at the entrance hall (price not checked). The Chinese booking notice is Chinese only; an English booking interface exists (see above).