Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong is a memorial hall in the middle of Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Its guarded central room holds Mao’s embalmed body on public display, making a visit a direct encounter with a significant part of modern Chinese history. Inside, the atmosphere is quiet and visitors move through in a line. Photography is not allowed. Pair the stop with a walk around the square and its nearby monuments, including the Monument to the People’s Heroes. Arrive early, bring your passport if you are a foreign visitor, and travel light.

A memorial hall in Tiananmen Square

The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, also called Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, stands in the middle of Tiananmen Square. Mao led the Communist Party of China from 1945 to 1976. After his death in 1976, his body was preserved, and construction of the memorial hall began.

The building’s central room holds Mao’s embalmed body on public display. The heavily guarded hall is a distinctive part of the square, whose monuments and institutions reflect important chapters of China’s recent history.

Inside the hall

Entry involves security and identity checks. The interior is quiet, and visitors move past the central room in a line. Photography is prohibited inside, so plan to put your camera away before entering. Some people pause or show emotion; allow them space and observe the hall respectfully.

The visit can be brief, so it fits alongside a walk around Tiananmen Square. Nearby sights include the Monument to the People’s Heroes. The square is also bordered by the Gate of Heavenly Peace to the north, the National Museum of China to the east, the Great Hall of the People to the west and Qianmen to the south.