Y J

All museum visits need to be booked and paid via wechat app in advance, so non-chinese may need to ask a Chinese for help with that. Otherwise, it is just overwhelming to visit the Forbidden City(a whole day is just not enough for me), National museum (which I took 4 hours for exhibition at the basement and top floor.), Mao memorial hall(free for visit, it's amazing that this the place probsbly with the highest density of population but the quietest in China.), and the building of TianAnMen itself where you can have the 360 degree view of the whole square just like the chairmen does when there is the parade.

Advanced booking via wechat needed, passport needed, all bags and waters need to be stored in the Bag Deposit first. We'll, let's don't talk about politics, this is just someplace that holds my breath when I went up there and took the view.... anything else's were suddenly so tiny in view... and for one second, I could have been brainwashed by the redness/goldeneye up there. Entrance fee: 10 RMB.

I personally am disappointed by this mall... a luxary mall with really ill-equipped restrooms. Even the brandname stores are just having the look outside, we went into Dior and the merchandise and furnishing inside were so understandard... it is more like an outlet mall selling full-price items... only some fast food restaurants in food courts were open when we visited during Ramadan. The imax movies were only in French during weekdays. So basically no activities fitted for us...

Book via wechat 7 days in advance otherwise you won't get tickets at all, this place is very popular with the locals too. Recommend to start from the exhibition at the basement, where they exhibit in accordance with the history/dynasty line of China. Incredible bronze and other artfacts items from more than 3000years ago are just presented right in front of your eyes... I m total overwhelmed... better to search for information of items that you might interested to witness before hand otherwise you might be bombarded with artifacts while lost in information/translation.

There is a dining area on the basement floor, but possibly due to exihibition-safty concern only cold/dry food (like cold noodles in sesame sauce) was offered, so maybe you can pack your own sandwiches or snacks to eat inside canteen area.

Visiting time for us was 4-5hours FYI.