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With a total area of 440,000 square meters,
Tian’anmen Square
is the largest downtown square in the world. For over a hundred years,
many ceremonies and demonstrations have been held here. The grandeur
of Tian’anmen Gate (Heavenly Peace Gate) is a national symbol, with
the Great Hall of the People on the western side and the National
Museum to its east. The Monument to the People's Heroes - the 36 meters obelisk, made of Qingdao granite, dominates the center of the
square. The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Qianmen gate, sit in
the south.
Tian'anmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) was built
in the 15th Century and restored in the 17th Century. From imperial
days, the yellow glaze-tiled double-eaves tower functioned as a rostrum
for proclamations to the assembled masses. October 1, 1949, Chairman
Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the new China.
The tower has five doors and in front of it are seven bridges spanning
a stream. Only the emperor could use the central door and bridge.
On the top of the central door is a gigantic portrait of Chairman
Mao with slogans on each side stating 'Long Live the People's Republic
of China' and 'Long Live the Unity
of the Peoples of the World'. Walking through the gate, you can enter
the imperial city - Forbidden City
with free charge while a panoramic view from the tower costs 15RMB
for Foreigners.
Right beside a pair of marble
lions in front of the Tian'anmen Gate stand obelisk of marble engraved
with entwisting dragons and clouds - an ornamental architecture called
Huabiao. Its history can be traced back to the Yao and Shun, legendary kings in remote antiquity.
To solicit public criticism, it is said that wooden crosses were erected
at marketplaces for people to write down complaints. Later during
the Han (206 B.C. -- 220
A.D.) wooden posts were replaced by stone pillars,
which gradually became the sumptuous columns to palace gates. Huabiao
can be usually found in imperial gardens and mausoleums.
On the top is a plate-shape flat called Chenglupan (dew-collecting)
on which squats an animal called kong (a legendary animal for watch-keeping)
facing to the south. They were called "Wangjungui" or "looking
forward to the emperor's return," who watched over the emperor's
excursions and called him back. The couple inside the gate facing
north, called Wangjunchu or "looking forward to the emperor's
progress," were considered to supervise the emperor's behavior
in the court when he neglect court affairs.
This is the venue of the legislature, the National
People's Congress. Summit
meetings are often held in the 10,000-seat auditorium with the familiar
red star embedded in a galaxy of lights in the ceiling. Also you can
visit the 5000 seat banquet room where US
president Richard Nixon dined in 1972. The admission costs RMB
15.
Monument to the People's Heroes (Renmin Yingxiong Jinianbei)
Built in 1958 on the southern side of Tian'anmen Square, this 36-meter
obelisk bears brass-relief carvings of key revolutionary events such
as the Chinese destroying opium in the 19th century.
Behind the Monument to the People's Heroes is the hall
where the embalmed body of Chairman Mao is kept and many Chinese show
deep respect when confronted with the physical presence of Mao.
First you
book the ticket,
then book
your personal tour-guide!
Best Beijing
Tours
Create Joyful Memories |
| With a total area
of 440,000
square meters, Tian’anmen Square is the largest downtown
square in the world |
| Tian'anmen Gate
(Gate of Heavenly Peace) was built in the 15th Century and
restored in the 17th Century |
| 'Long Live the
People's Republic of China'
and 'Long Live the Unity of the Peoples of the World' |
One of the
best places to take pictures in Beijing!
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