Tian'anmen Square

With a total area of 440,000 square meters, the Tiananmen Square found in the center of Beijing boasts the largest of its kind. Over a hundred years, many ceremonies and demonstrations have been held here.

The grand of Tiananmen Gate (Heavenly Peace Gate) is a national symbol with the Great Hall of the People on the western side and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History to its east and west.

The Monument to the People's Heroes - the 36 meters high 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

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-eave tower functioned as a rostrum for proclaiming pronouncements to the assembled masses. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the new China here. 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 entral door is a gigantic portrait of Chairman Mao with slogans on each side saying 'Long Live the People's Republic of China' and 'Long Live the Unity of the Peoples of the World'. The gate leads to the imperial city - Forbidden City with no charge while a panoramic view from the tower costs 15 Yuan for foreigners.

Huabiao

Right beside a pair of marble lions in front of the Tian'anmen Gate stand obelisk marble columns engraved with entwining 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 improve the quality of governance, it is said that wooden crosses were erected at marketplaces for people to write down complaints. During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -- 220 A.D.), wooden posts were replaced by stone pillars, which gradually developed into the sumptuous columns that lead to palace gates. Huabiao can usually be found in imperial gardens and mausoleums.

On top of the Huabiao is a plate-like disc called Chenglupan (dew-collecting) on which squats an animal called kong (a legendary animal for keeping guard) facing 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," was considered to supervise the emperor's behavior in the court when he neglect court affairs.

Great Hall of the People

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.

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 bas-relief carvings of key revolutionary events such as the Chinese destroying opium in the 19th century.

Mao Zedong Memorial Hall (Mao Zhuxi Jiniantang)

Located just behind the Monument to the People's Heroes is the hall where the remains of Chairman Mao is kept. Many Chinese show deep respect when confronted with the physical presence of Mao.