National Museum of China

The National Museum of China is one of those places that sounds easy. It’s free, it’s central, and it’s indoors (which is a win if Beijing is hot or rainy that day).

The only annoying part is the reservation system. If you don’t sort that out, you can end up standing outside staring at a “no reservation, no entry” situation.

Tickets and reservations

The museum is free, but it runs on real-name reservations. You book a time slot, you show the same ID at the gate, and if you miss your slot they can refuse entry.

Key details that are easy to miss:

• You can book up to 7 days in advance.
• Tickets are released daily at 17:00 Beijing time.
• There are three time slots (usually 9:00–11:00, 11:00–13:30, 13:30–16:00). In peak season (June 1 to Oct 31) the last slot runs to 16:30.
• Cancellations close at 15:00 on the day.

The booking method I’d use (especially as a foreigner)

Officially, you can reserve through the museum website, and they link to their reservation system from the official “Visit” page. That can be done here: https://pcticket.chnmuseum.cn/museum-en/#/personal/index

You can also use the WeChat mini program. A very real pain point for foreigners is that the WeChat mini program can be hit-or-miss with passport verification. People have reported that the mini program did not offer a normal foreign passport option, and they had better luck using the museum’s website reservation flow instead.

If you run into that, don’t waste an hour fighting WeChat. Switch to the official website route.

Opening hours (and the Monday trap)

Official hours are:

• 9:00 to 17:00
• Last entry 16:00
• Closed Mondays (except national public holidays)
• Peak season (June 1 to Oct 31): extended to 17:30, last entry 16:30

If your Beijing plan has a Monday in it, double check your schedule.

Getting there without stress

The museum sits on the east side of Tiananmen Square, and the metro is the easiest way.

• Metro Line 1: Tian’anmen East Station, Exit C or D

One practical note: this area can have barriers, police, and odd pedestrian routes. If you’re trying to hit a time slot, don’t cut it close.

Entry rules

These are the rules that actually stop people at the door:

• You must bring the original ID used for the reservation (passport) and your confirmation message.
• You must enter through the North Gate visitor entrance during your reserved slot.
• If you show up without a reservation, with mismatched ID details, or outside your slot, they can refuse entry.

What it feels like inside

This is a big, serious museum. It’s not a “15 minutes, snap a few photos, leave” place.

I like it most for:

• A calm, indoor break from Beijing’s big outdoor sights
• Anyone who wants real context for Chinese history beyond “dynasty names”
• People who enjoy walking through huge galleries at their own pace

If you don’t care about museums at all, it can feel heavy. You’ll still see impressive objects, but it’s easy to hit museum fatigue quickly.

How long you actually need

This is where I think most people over-plan it.

• 2 to 3 hours is enough for a good visit if you pick one main section and take it slow.
• Half a day if you really read and don’t rush.
• A full day is possible, but only if you genuinely enjoy museums and you’re fine being on your feet.

My personal approach: go in with a time budget (like 2.5 hours). When the time is up, leave even if you “could” stay longer. You’ll enjoy it more.

Photos, gear, and small rules

You can take photos in the collection exhibitions, but the museum asks visitors not to use:

• flash
• selfie sticks
• tripods

Pairing it with Tiananmen Square

A lot of people try to bundle “Square + museum” as one simple block. It can work, but Tiananmen Square can have long security and confusing queue locations, and people regularly underestimate the time it takes.

If you’re doing both on the same day, I would give yourself extra buffer so you don’t miss the museum entry slot.

Practical tips I would actually follow

• If WeChat passport verification is annoying, use the museum website reservation flow instead.
• Screenshot the confirmation message and keep your passport easy to reach.
• Arrive early enough for security and any bag deposit.
• Don’t try to “see everything”. Pick a section and enjoy it.

Conclusion

The National Museum of China is genuinely worth it if you like history even a little. It’s central, it’s well-organized, and it’s a good change of pace from Beijing’s outdoor sights.

Just don’t treat it like a walk-in museum. Book the slot, show up with the right ID, and give yourself enough time to enter without stress.