Beijing's 'Book-It-All' Culture? No Thanks, I'm Out.
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If everyone could just go in without booking, wouldn't there be stampedes every single day? Even if Chang'an Avenue were a thousand kilometers long, it wouldn't be enough for everyone to cycle.
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You didn't need to book before.
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Just got back and here's my advice: skip Nanluoguxiang and Dashilanr. Don't eat at tourist spots; try Niujie (Ox Street) instead. The Summer Palace is worth a visit, so are the Great Wall, Yonghegong (Lama Temple), Tanzhe Temple, Jietai Temple, and Badachu (Eight Great Sites). Beihai Park is nice too, and the spruce trees at the Botanical Garden are a sight to see.
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The photos look amazing!
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I really don't get what's so bad about reservations. Booking isn't a hassle, it helps control crowd sizes and manage risks, and you can enjoy your visit with peace of mind once you've booked. Honestly, if there were no reservations, it would be so packed you wouldn't see a thing, and then you'd be the one complaining that nobody's managing the crowds and asking why there are so many people.
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Before the pandemic, when I traveled to Beijing, there was no such thing as reservations, and I don't recall any major issues back then.
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It's because the office folks found out reservations save them a lot of trouble.
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You're right, we never used to need reservations. I haven't been for several years, and now I'm planning to take my parents, but everywhere requires booking – it's so frustrating! My mom has a disability certificate, and while the Palace Museum offers tickets for disabled visitors, the instructions say to call for inquiries, but no one ever answers the phone. It's ridiculous. By the way, any food recommendations? We're only there for a day and a half.
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Another victim here +1! My friend and I cycled for an hour, and the backs of my thighs are still sore.
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Do you need a reservation to take photos from this spot?
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Beijing is really worth visiting. My family of three just got back. If you don't want to plan everything yourself, hiring a guide is a great option. Since we weren't familiar with the area, didn't know much about some attractions, and booking tickets was tricky, the guide handled it all. For a five-day trip including hotel, meals, and tickets, it was over a thousand RMB, which was quite reasonable. I'm planning to take my parents next time. 
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Any recommendations?
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When did Tiananmen start requiring reservations? I've been to Beijing five times and never booked for Tiananmen, didn't even know I had to, but I always got in. My last visit was in October last year.
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It seems you also need to book Tiananmen Square to visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. When I went through security, they asked if I had a Tiananmen Square reservation, saying I couldn't enter without one. Luckily, I had pre-booked Tiananmen Square for that day.
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I haven't booked anything yet but want to go to Beijing for the National Day holiday. Is it still possible?
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Haha, same here!
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Just a few days ago, I saw something online about a new rule: it seems like places other than the Forbidden City, museums, Tiananmen, etc., no longer require reservations.
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Yes, they do. I just finished booking mine.