Great Hall of the People

The building's facade presents a mountain-like silhouette, with its central section rising slightly above the two wings. Surrounded by 134 towering circular columns, the structure comprises four floors above ground and one basement level. From north to south, the complex is divided into three zones, housing over 300 halls, lounges, and offices in total. Parts of the first and second floors in Zones 1 and 2 are accessible to tourists. Must-see attractions include:
 

A Distant View of Great Hall of the People

 
The first hall you encounter upon entering the Great Hall of the People is the Central Hall, renowned for hosting China's highest-level press conferences. Adorned with 20 towering vermilion pillars, each over 10 meters high and decorated with intricate golden cloud carvings, the hall’s domed ceiling is graced with five enormous golden crystal chandeliers. Dominated by a golden color scheme, it is often referred to as the "Golden Hall".
 
Named for its capacity to seat ten thousand, the Ten Thousand People Auditorium is where important conferences are held. It features a central stage and three tiers of rising seats that sweep around it in a fan shape. The elliptical dome is crowned at its center by a five-pointed star lamp weighing 1.2 tons, encircled by 70 beams of golden light. The rest of the ceiling is studded with 500 additional crystal glass lamps, resembling a starry sky.
 

Ten Thousand People Auditorium

Reception Hall

 
Designed to receive foreign dignitaries and for high-level talks, the Reception Hall boasts the largest carpet in the Great Hall of the People—a handwoven, pure wool tapestry carpet measuring 17 meters wide, 23 meters long, and weighing over 3 tons. A massive Chinese landscape painting hangs on the wall, depicting lush green mountains in the foreground, snowy peaks in the background, and the Great Wall and two major rivers in the middle, topped by a rising sun.
 
Capable of hosting 5,000-10,000 guests, this hall is used for hosting banquets. A stage at the southern end can be used for performances, while the other three sides are lined with two-story lounges. Kitchens are situated in the northeast and northwest corners. Beyond state banquets, this hall is available for private rental, hosting events such as weddings and corporate galas.
 

A Plum Painting in the Hall

 

Hunan Provincial Hall

There are 34 Provincial Halls, each showcasing different regional characteristics. For instance, the Beijing Hall is decorated with motifs of iconic ancient structures like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, while the Shanghai Hall reflects modern vitality through its depiction of the bustling riverside scenery around the Oriental Pearl Tower.
  
Admission is CNY30 per person, with free entry for those under 18 and over 60. Tickets must be booked through WeChat mini-program three days in advance at 17:00,  which does not have an English version. A successful reservation for the Great Hall also grants you access to Tiananmen Square without a separate booking.
 
The Great Hall of the People is open throughout the year from 8:30 to 15:00, with the last entry at 14:30, except when there are events like government meetings and special ceremonies. 
  

Carpet & Steps inside the Hall

Guangdong Provincial Hall

 
Access to the Great Hall of the People requires passing through the Tiananmen Square security check. The most convenient of the five security checkpoints is the southern checkpoint on the west side of the square (Security Checkpoint 07). To get there: 

Take Subway Line 2 or 8 to Qianmen Station (Exit C) and go through an underground passage to Security Checkpoint 07, which is approximately 13-minute walk. After passing the checkpoint, walk north for 2 minutes to find the east entrance of the Great Hall. 
 
Arrive at the Great Hall 10 minutes before it opens at 8:30,  and you may enter within 10 minutes. Alternatively, arriving around 14:00 tends to have fewer people, but do not miss the last entry at 14:30. Weekends and holidays see long queues most of the day, which is best to avoid.
  

Selfie with the Great Hall

The visitor route inside the Great Hall is fixed and follows a single path: Central Hall → Ten Thousand People Auditorium → Reception Hall → Banquet Hall → Central Hall. Along the way, you will pass several Provincial Halls where you may choose to stop based on your interests. The entire tour typically takes about one hour.
 
The background of the CNY100 note features the Great Hall of the People. Bring one along to take a memorable photo at the entrance.  Read  more: China Sightseeing Tours to Top 6 Attractions on CNY Banknotes