|
|
Tiananmen Square
Home » China » Beijing - Activities and Attractions » Tiananmen SquareThe massive Tiananmen Square is a tourist magnate, more for history than aesthetics. At 99 acres, it is the world’s largest public square and at peak standing capacity, the square can hold 300,000 people. There is a flag-raising ceremony each morning at dawn.
The Monument to the People’s Heroes, a 124-foot obelisk, stands in the center of the square. Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum stands to the south, where you can view the preserved body of the legendary Chinese leader. The Great Hall of the People, the Museum of Chinese Revolution, and the Museum of Chinese History are also located in the square.
Most Americans visit Tiananmen Square with images of the 1989 student uprising floating in their heads. On May 4th of that year, some 100,000 students and workers marched peacefully to protest government corruption and demand democratic reforms. On May 20th the government declared martial law against them, but the demonstrations continued. The government ordered military action, and troops and tanks advanced into the Square against the protestors. Hundreds, and possibly thousands of protestors were killed (the estimates vary widely depending on who is asked). The incident has defined the image of Tiananmen Square in the minds of Westerners.
Related Beijing - Activities and Attractions Articles
- Beijing - Activities and Attractions Overview
- The Forbidden City
- Tiananmen Square
- The Temple of Heaven
- The Summer Palace
- The Great Wall of China
- Other Beijing Sites