Tiananmen Square is a place that hundreds of millions of people yearn for; it is a symbol of the Republic, and every tourist visiting Beijing takes a photo in front of Tiananmen. However, advance reservations are essential, and security checks are a must. The only parts of the Tiananmen area open to the public are the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Tiananmen Gate Tower, and the National Museum. Every year during the National Day holiday, Tiananmen Square is decorated with flowers for photos, and you can arrive early to watch the flag-raising ceremony. In short, a day trip to Beijing can include both Tiananmen and the Forbidden City, leaving a lasting impression of the capital's splendor.