China Three Gorges Museum, Chongqing: a 2026 visitor guide

Quick answer

Checked September 2026.

• Free, no booking. Since 1 October 2025 you enter with a valid ID document.
• 9:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays except on national public holidays. The official visitor rules say no entry after 16:00, so arrive by 16:00.
• Metro: Line 10 to Great Hall (Dalitang) station.
• The People's Great Hall is across the square. It is run separately and has its own ticket.

Do I need to book?

No. On 30 September 2025 the museum announced that from 1 October the main museum would drop advance booking, and that visitors enter with a valid ID document.

Many articles still say to book through the WeChat account. That is the old rule.

On busy days the museum posts live crowd warnings on its official WeChat account and Weibo.

Opening hours

• 9:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays, except national public holidays (Chongqing municipal government, June 2026).
• The museum's visitor rules: no entry after 16:00, galleries cleared at 16:45, doors close at 17:00.
• Hours can change over long holidays such as National Day. The 2026 arrangements had not been published as of 27 September, so check the museum's WeChat account before you go.

Tickets

The permanent galleries are free. Some temporary exhibitions charge separately; the notice at the museum tells you which.

If you want a human guide, the museum charges 300 yuan for 60 minutes over two galleries, or 450 yuan for 90 minutes over three, for groups of up to 30, booked in advance. The notice does not say whether English-speaking guides are available.

Free audio guide: join the museum's free Wi-Fi, scan the code to follow the official WeChat account, and you get the audio and video guide. The museum describes it as multilingual.

What to see

The four highlights are the museum's own list: the half-panorama of the wartime bombing of Chongqing, the circular-screen film The Great Three Gorges, the digital model of the Three Gorges Dam, and the interactive display wall.

The latest official information on film showtimes and charges dates from 2015, so this page does not repeat it. Check on the day.

Entry rules (from the official visitor rules)

• There is a security check. Take metal items out of your pockets first.
• Not allowed in: knives, dangerous goods, lighters, food, toys, pets. Drinks are allowed once they have passed the check, or after you take a sip in front of staff.
• No flash, selfie sticks or tripods, and no video in the galleries.
• Large bags can be left free of charge at the storage point on the left of the entrance corridor.
• Wheelchairs and pushchairs can be borrowed free at the front desk against a deposit. Lifts serve every gallery.

The People's Great Hall across the square

• The museum, the People's Square and the Great Hall face each other and form one landmark group.
• Run separately, ticketed separately. The Great Hall is managed by the Chongqing People's Great Hall Administration, not the museum.
• Open 8:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30. It can close for meetings and events; it was closed from 19 to 28 January 2026, for example.
• Address: 173 Renmin Road, Yuzhong District. Line 2 to Daxigou station, Exit A, then about 510 m on foot.
• It charges a small admission fee. The most recent figure we could find is from 2023 (8 yuan), so treat it as a guide only.

How to fit it in

The museum and the Great Hall are one square apart, so they fit the same morning or afternoon. The museum is closed on Mondays. If you want both, do not plan it for a Monday.

Where each figure comes from

FAQ