Chairman Mao Memorial Hall Monument

Address: Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Mausoleum of Mao Zedong), Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng, Beijing, China

Hours: Tue-Sun mornings (visiting hours are limited and subject to change; closed Mondays)

Admission: Free admission (Mausoleum of Mao Zedong); ID required

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, commonly called Mao’s Mausoleum, is a public memorial and mausoleum located on the central axis of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It was built in the late 1970s following Mao Zedong’s death and houses his embalmed body in a glass sarcophagus.

The hall functions as a formal state memorial and is visited by large numbers of domestic and international visitors who queue to view the central hall. Entry is controlled and subject to security checks, and photography is restricted inside the main viewing area.

The memorial was constructed as a national ceremonial site in the years after 1976 and plays a role in official commemorations and public remembrance. It has a prominent position on Tiananmen Square facing the Forbidden City and other central government buildings.

The memorial sits at the southern side of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, a short walk from the Forbidden City and other major civic and historical sites in the city centre.

• Body of Mao and security screening: The mausoleum contains an embalmed body of Mao Zedong and is located in the central axis of Tiananmen Square; visitors must pass through security screening before entry.

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Mausoleum of Mao Zedong) is in the south part of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. Take Beijing Subway Line 1 to Tian’anmen East or Tian’anmen West stations and walk 5-10 minutes into the square to the mausoleum. From Beijing Capital International Airport the mausoleum is roughly 30-40 km away by road (about 45-60 minutes by car depending on traffic); taxis and airport express + subway combinations serve the city centre.

• Arrive before opening (mausoleum typically opens in the morning) to avoid long queues and potential closures for official events; security checks and fixed entry slots mean early arrival is the most reliable way to get inside.
• Bring your passport or national ID - entry requires official identification at the security checkpoint, and large bags and photography inside are prohibited.
• Expect intermittent closures (the hall is often closed on Mondays or for state events); check local notices the day before and allow time in your itinerary in case it's unavailable.