Great Hall of the People
Rendahuitang West Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, Northern China, 100031
Sitting to the west of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the Great Hall of the People is where the National People’s Congress is held, along with other administrative, social, and ceremonial events. The Stalinist structure was built in just 10 months and completed in September 1959. It’s worth stepping inside to see the 10,000-seat auditorium.
The basics
Many travelers walk past the Great Hall of the People during a visit to Tiananmen Square, but few step inside the monolithic building featured on the ¥100 note. Visitors can see the grand auditorium with its red star embedded in the ceiling, as well as the banquet hall where President Richard Nixon dined in 1972. Some tours to Tiananmen Square include a visit to the Great Hall of the People, but it’s a good idea to double-check before you book. In-depth tours of the Tiananmen Square area include the hall, as well as several other of Mao’s Great Buildings.
Things to know before you go
- The Great Hall of the People is an interesting diversion for those interested in Soviet architecture or Maoist history.
- Bags must be checked at the ticket office on the south side of the building if you plan to go inside.
- The building’s interior is sometimes closed to tourists when the NPC is in session.
- Cameras and photography are permitted within the hall.
How to get there
To enter the Great Hall of the People, take the metro to Tiananmen West and enter the building through the East Gate.
When to get there
Plan to visit the Great Hall of the People after touring the Forbidden City. The building is open daily, with shorter hours in the winter (December to March).
Mao’s 10 Great Buildings
A total of 10 structures were built in 1959 to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The Great Hall of the People was one of them, along with the National Museum of China, the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, Beijing Railway Station, Minzu Hotel, and the Chinese People’s Revolutionary Military Museum (among others).
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