Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Central Axis

Background

The Beijing Central Axis runs from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north to Yongdingmen in the south, about 7.8 kilometers in all. It was begun in the 13th century with the Yuan capital Dadu, took its basic shape in the 16th century, and in July 2024 was inscribed on the World Heritage List as “Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital”, with 15 component parts. Tiananmen Square lies in the middle section of the axis. The site was originally the “Thousand-Step Corridor” and the T-shaped palace square in front of the Ming and Qing Imperial City, closed to commoners; in the Republican era the corridor was demolished and Chang'an Avenue was opened, and a large-scale rebuilding in 1959 produced today's layout of about 880 meters from north to south and about 500 meters from east to west. The Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall around the square are listed, together with Zhengyangmen, as component parts of the axis heritage, and major modern events such as the May Fourth Movement of 1919 and the founding ceremony of the People's Republic in 1949 took place here.

Local customs

• Every day at sunrise and sunset, flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremonies are held at the flagpole at the north end of the square, and many people arrive early to wait and watch
• around National Day and other holidays, large flower displays are set up in the square. The usual way to tour the Central Axis is on foot from south to north or by vehicle in segments: Yongdingmen, the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Agriculture, Qianmen Street, Zhengyangmen, Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, Jingshan, Wanning Bridge, and the Drum and Bell Towers, with symmetrically arranged temples, altars, city gates and streets visible along the way.

Religion & beliefs

• The Temple of Heaven, Xiannongtan (Altar of Agriculture), Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple) and Shejitan (Altar of Land and Grain) on either side of the Central Axis are Ming and Qing imperial sacrificial buildings belonging to the state ritual system rather than places of folk religion
• the Monument to the People's Heroes on the square is a memorial site. Please be solemn during your visit, do not horse around near the monument or the memorial hall, and when entering the memorial hall, follow the on-site rules on silence, dress and personal belongings.

Rules that apply here

Travel tips

• Allow half a day for Tiananmen Square and its surroundings
• if you walk the Central Axis from Yongdingmen to the Bell and Drum Towers, split it over two days and leave enough time for the Forbidden City, Jingshan and the Temple of Heaven. Entering the square requires a security check, and visits currently require real-name reservations
• to watch the flag-raising you need to arrive even earlier. Check official Beijing announcements for reservation channels, opening hours and security requirements
• the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Gate Tower and the National Museum each have their own reservations and opening days, so check them separately. Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West stations on Metro Line 1 and Qianmen Station on Line 2 are all nearby
• there is no parking around the square, so public transportation is recommended. Traffic on East and West Chang'an Avenue is heavy, so use the underpasses to cross. Combine with: going north into the Forbidden City and out the Gate of Divine Prowess to climb Jingshan
• going south through Zhengyangmen to Qianmen Street and Dashilan
• or continuing south to the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Agriculture and Yongdingmen. The square has almost no shade, with strong sun in summer and wind in winter, so bring water and sun protection or warm clothing.