Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Surreal, Vast, and Unlike Anywhere Else

Tiananmen Square is not a place you stumble into and forget five minutes later. Standing there felt genuinely surreal to me. The scale, the openness, the silence despite the crowds. It is one of those places where you immediately feel very far from home, in a way that is hard to explain but easy to feel.

What Tiananmen Square actually is

Tiananmen Square is the main public square in Beijing and one of the largest city squares in the world. It sits right at the center of modern Chinese political life, with the Forbidden City directly to the north, the National Museum of China to the east, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in the middle of the square.

This is where national ceremonies happen, where history has unfolded, and where the symbolism is just as important as the physical space. The size is not accidental. It is meant to feel overwhelming.

What it’s like to be there

The square is huge and open, almost to the point where it feels unreal. There are very few decorations, trees, or places to hide. Just sky, stone, flags, and buildings stretching far in every direction.

What surprised me most was how calm it felt. Even with a lot of people around, there was a quiet, controlled atmosphere. Security is visible, but it blends into the background after a while. People walk slowly, take photos, look around, and seem to take it in rather than rush through.

Being there felt very different from standing in famous squares in Europe. Not better or worse, just very different. That contrast alone made the visit memorable for me.

How much time you actually need

You do not need a full afternoon here. 30 to 60 minutes is enough to walk across the square, stop a few times, and just absorb the space.

Most people visit Tiananmen Square as part of a larger day, usually together with the Forbidden City, which is right next door and makes the experience feel more complete.

Practical things you should know

• You need to reserve a free entry slot in advance. Walk-ins are not allowed anymore.
• I booked my entry in WeChat through the official Tiananmen Square mini-program, and it was pretty easy once I found it. You need your passport details.
• There is a security check before entering, similar to an airport but usually faster.
• The square is generally open every day, but access can change during political events or holidays.
• Bring your passport. You will need it to get in.

Also worth knowing: there is almost no shade. On sunny days it can be hot, and in winter it can feel very cold and exposed.

Is Tiananmen Square worth it?

Yes. Not because there are lots of things to do, but because of how it feels to be there.

It gives you a strong sense of being somewhere fundamentally different from home. The space, the history, and the atmosphere stay with you longer than you might expect.

If you are visiting Beijing for the first time, I think Tiananmen Square is absolutely worth seeing in person, even if just for a short walk.