Sunrise over Tiananmen Square

Plan your Beijing tour? If you are interested in watching sunrise in Beijing, Tiananmen Square is a unique place worth your sunrise viewing experience.

Tiananmen Square is not the best place to view the sunrise in Beijing since Tiananmen Square is just flat and surrounded by the buildings nearly on its four sides without a high platform to have a spectacular panoramic view of the city. But Seeing the sunrise over Tiananmen Square has its own rewarding features attracting numerous travellers each day.

Tips for watching the sunrise on Tiananmen Square

1. Calculate the sunrise time in Beijing

The sunrise time changes daily in different seasons. You need to know the sunrise time on the morning you are going to jump up from your cozy bed and dash to the square. Check Flag Raising Time for your sunrise trip.

2. Locate a right spot for sunrise watching

Tiananmen Square is a large public square and it is important for you to find a good spot for sunrise viewing. Basically there are huge crowds of tourists flocking into the square. Normally, you should stand on the west side of the square for better views of the colorful eastern side.

3. First watch National Flag Raising Ceremony

Tiananmen Flag Raising Ceremony starts with the sunrise time on any particular day. You won’t miss the opportunity to watch the flag raising ceremony, a unique occasion for foreign tourists.

You should stand behind the cordoned area on the west side of the square, capturing a good view of the ascending flag and radiant colors over the nearby eastern buildings.

4. Watch sunrise over Chang’an Avenue

On Tiananmen Square, between the western building ( National Museum ) and the Gate of Heavenly Peace is the flat, wide and straight east-west Chang’an Avenue, where you can watching the dazzling rising sun high over the eastern end of Chang’an Avenue.

After seeing the flag ceremony, go through a tunnel on the northwest corner of the square and get to the north side of the Chang’an Avenue in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace.

5. Create photogenic opportunities

The red rising sunrays blanket the square and its surrounding area, creating many photogenic opportunities, the brilliant Gate of Heavenly Peace., the stately Great Hall of the People, the spectacular view of the two Qianmen Towers…

Virtual Tour of Viewing Sunrise over Tian’anmen Square

Follow me to experience the sunrise and flag raising ceremony on Tiananmen Square.

The square is circled by chest high fences for security purpose. Everybody has to go though a security check point before entering the fenced Tiananmen Square. People are gathering from all sides of Beijing from all parts of China, like many layers of walls!

Huge crowds of people are raising high their cameras, mobiles, waiting for the solemn moment!

a group of soldiers of guard of honor coming through the Gate of Heavenly Peace
a group of soldiers of guard of honor coming through the Gate of Heavenly Peace

Approaching the sunrise time, a group of soldiers of guard of honor coming through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, south of the Forbidden City.

A fully raised national flag.
A fully raised national flag.
A fully raised national flag.
China National Museum ( East of the Square)
The eastern side of the square is brightened by the rising sun.
The eastern side of the square is brightened by the rising sun.
The national flag with a backdrop of the rising sunlights.
The national flag with a backdrop of the rising sun lights.
Watch the rising sun over Chang'an Avenue
Watch the rising sun over Chang’an Avenue
The Gate of Heavenly Peace looks more beautitul under the rising sunlights.
The Gate of Heavenly Peace looks more beautiful under the rising sun lights.
The spectacular view of the twin Qianmen Towers
The spectacular view of the twin Qianmen Towers

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Autumn Tour
Great Wall Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Walking Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Gui Jie ( Ghost Street) Food Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

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