Tiananmen square Wechat reservation

Question

Hi, i tried to reserve the entry for Tiananmen square via the wechat mini-program, but i did not succeed. It asks for a verification code that is sent but it is not received on my phone...strange because i did receive the codes for setting up Wechat or Alipay. What would be the workaround for this?

Answer

Reserving entry to Tiananmen Square via the WeChat mini-program can sometimes be tricky for foreign visitors because the verification system is optimized for Chinese phone numbers. If you are not receiving the SMS verification code, it is likely due to your international number not being fully supported by the reservation system.

Here are some detailed workarounds and options you can consider:

Use a Chinese phone number: If you have access to a Chinese SIM card, this usually resolves the verification issue instantly. Many travelers buy a short-term SIM upon arrival at Beijing airport or in major cities.
Use a local contact: If you know someone in China with a local phone number, they can help receive the verification code and complete the reservation on your behalf.
Try alternative booking platforms: Some authorized third-party websites or travel agencies allow you to reserve Tiananmen Square entry without using WeChat. They often cater to foreign visitors and accept international phone numbers.
Walk-in option: While online reservation is strongly recommended, especially during peak tourist periods, some visitors have reported that early morning arrivals at the entrance can still allow entry without pre-booking. Arrive very early to avoid long lines.
Check network issues: Make sure your phone can receive international SMS from China. Sometimes, roaming carriers block such messages or there is a delay. Trying a different network or enabling Wi-Fi-based code delivery can sometimes help.

Recommendation: The most reliable method is to use a Chinese phone number for the WeChat reservation. If that is not possible, using a travel agency or arriving very early in person are the safer alternatives. Avoid relying solely on international SMS if your code isn’t arriving reliably.