Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is the center of socialist China: here the triumph of socialism over imperialist and feudal shackles was immortalized in public space. Tiananmen Guangchang (Tiananmen Guangchang, Heavenly Tranquility Gate Square, often incorrectly called Heavenly Tranquility Square) was created on a modern scale for the tenth anniversary of the state in 1959. Its size and perimeter buildings correspond to the policy of the time: the revolutionary masses of the people were supposed to rejoice at the sight of members of the Party leadership. The site is of great significance to the whole of China’s recent history. With a student demonstration here, on a vacant lot at the Gate of Heavenly Tranquility, the May 4 Movement of 1919 began, which allowed China a belated entry into the 20th century. On October 1, 1949, the masses jubilantly welcomed the solemn proclamation of the People’s Republic of China from the lips of Mao Zedong. On August 18, 1966, Mao hosted here the first of nine parades of young Red Guards, in which more than a million people from all over China participated. On June 4, 1989, the square at the Gate of Heavenly Tranquility brought a bloody end to the student movement that took over the square for a week and kept the Party and state leadership in fear all that time. In everyday life, the square was generally used for non-political purposes, such as kite flying. Subway Line 1: Tian’anmen-West, Tian’anmen-Ost stations, Subway Line 2: Qianmen station.

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    People’s Heroes Memorial Stela

    In the center of Tiananmen Square stands the 38-meter-high People’s Heroes Memorial Stela, inaugurated on May 1, 1958. In doing so, the Communists disrespected an age-old tradition: formerly, the late emperors looked out at their empire through the palace gates, but now their eyes would see the calligraphic inscription “The People’s Heroes are Immortal”, which Mao Zedong ordered to be inscribed on the north side of the stela. On the south side is a calligraphy by former Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, which is a eulogy in honor of the revolutionary heroes of Chinese history. The reliefs on the pedestal represent episodes of the revolutionary movement beginning with the Opium War.

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    Flag-raising ritual

    Watching the raising of the national flag at dawn has been almost a patriotic duty for Chinese tourists visiting the capital for several years now. This ritual is calibrated to the exact second. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a sunny day or not: it’s the exact time of sunrise that’s decisive.

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    Gate of Heavenly Tranquility (Tiananmen)

    Starting from the north along the perimeter of Tiananmen Square stand (clockwise) the following architectural structures: a fortress-like building erected in 1417 as the southern gate of the so-called “Imperial City” on October 1, 1949 became a symbol of the state when Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China from these walls. The only portrait of Mao in Beijing still hangs here. This gate, with its five passages, was usually closed during the imperial era; imperial decrees were proclaimed from here. In front of the gate is a moat of water, enclosed by a marble fence, over which five bridges of white marble are crossed. Two white columns surmounted by dragons and two white marble lions decorate the area in front. The grandstands on either side of the gate are used on the great celebrations in Tiananmen Square today primarily on the National Day holiday. The path through the gate leads along the north-south axis of Beijing, then through the equally large Duanmen Gate, straight to the Imperial Palace.

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    National Museum

    On the east side of Tiananmen Square since 1959 stands a giant palace museum opened in 1961 as the Museum of History and Revolution. It has had a new name since 2003. The renaming was the first step to expand and restructure the exhibition. As a result, it is to become one of the largest museums in the world and to present the best of Chinese art and culture in international exhibitions. Opening hours: Tues.-Fri. 8.30-16.30.

    Mao’s Mausoleum

    The 34-meter-high monumental structure was built after the death of the Great Chairman (September 9, 1976) within one year. Materials from all provinces of the country were used for it. The architectural prototype was the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Much labor and imagination were expended for the glory of the deceased. In the center of the entrance hall sits a 3.5-meter-high marble figure of Mao smiling amiably against a perfect Chinese landscape on a 7 x 24-meter tapestry. A mummy in a crystal coffin, half-covered by a party flag, is displayed in the center of the square structure. During unvisited hours, the deceased’s body is immersed in a refrigerated chamber located in the basement. Since its preservation caused considerable problems, a wax replica was also made, so it is not always clear whether the original is actually in front of us. Mao’s body is positioned exactly on the north-south axis of old Beijing – thereby incorporating it into the Confucian world order, something the late revolutionary himself would hardly have liked. Stopping and taking photos inside the mausoleum is not allowed; bags and cameras must be checked in beforehand. Opening hours: daily. 8.00-11.30,14.30-16.00.

    Front Gate (Qianmen)

    South of Mao’s mausoleum stands the gray Front Gate, the central passageway between the Inner and Outer City. It now consists of two parts: the northern Gate Tower and the Gun Tower of the south-facing bastion. The walls connecting the two towers and surrounding the large bastion courtyard were demolished in 1915-16. The two lower floors of the North Main Gate gate tower house a fine exhibition of photographs of old Beijing. Opening hours: daily. 8.30-16.00.

    Hall of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

    The Hall of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (aka Great Hall of the People) on the west side of Tiananmen Square is 350 meters long and is the seat of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, China’s parliament. This hall is also used for state receptions and other political events, and is open for viewing on days free of them. Several luxurious and differently styled provincial halls can be seen, as well as the plenary hall with a seating capacity of ten thousand. The exterior, with columned galleries reaching to the roof, is inspired by distinctly Egyptian examples. There is an entrance from an adjoining street to the south. Bags should be deposited in the luggage room located there. Opening hours vary, no later than 3 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 13.00.

    Museum of Urban Planning

    Just a few steps east of the Front Gate invites you to enter the modern Museum of Urban Planning, which has some very noteworthy exhibits: a bronze model represents Beijing in 1949, a nearby model of the city, which is partially walkable, shows the modern development of the city, including the 2008 Olympic venues Qianmendong Dajie 20. Opening hours: Tues.-Fri. 9.00-17.00.

    From Tiananmen Square westward

    From the northern tip of Tiananmen Square, a large east-west axis (Chang’an Boulevard) extends in both directions. Actually, “east and west streets of Eternal Rest” (Dong Chang’an Jie, Xi Chang’an Jie) are called only the central sections on both sides of the Gate of Heavenly Tranquility (Tian’an Men), often these names mean the whole straight as an arrow series of streets more than 40 km long. Emerging at its present scale in the 1950s, it is a product of socialist urban planning and is meant to rival the imperial north-south axis.

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    National Theater

    Right on the boulevard west of the PRC State Council Hall, one can see the most unusual architectural structure in all of China: the Grand National Theater, designed by French architect Paul André. The highly structurally daring building, which has caused heated controversy, is like a giant oval bubble rising from a lake. The theater has concert, opera and drama halls.

    Zhongnanhai

    From the National Theater, a boulevard leads west along the long red wall. Beyond it is the Forbidden City, which includes the former imperial pleasure garden where the leaders of the new China, including Mao Zedong, entered in 1949. Mao’s slogan, “Wei renmin fuwu” (Serve the People!), written in calligraphy on the Spirit Wall, can be seen outside. Subway Line 1: Tian’anmen-West station.

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    From Tiananmen Square to the east

    “Beijing Hotel”

    A building with a rich history. Directly on Wangfujiug stands an 18-story high-rise building, built in 1974 but brand new in the basement and rebuilt in 2000-2001 in a modern style; to the west is the oldest wing built in 1917, followed by the 1954-1955 portion with the famous large banquet hall and palace-like lobby that welcomes visitors to the country.

    Oriental Plaza

    Hong Kong billionaire Li Kashin undertook what was then the largest construction project in the city between 1996 and 2000, a giant 520-meter-long retail, office and hotel complex. Visitors are attracted not only by the two-story shopping arcade, which also houses inexpensive cafes, but also by the fountain in front of the Grand Hyatt luxury hotel.”

    Ancient Observatory (Guguanxiangtai)

    Where the east-west axis once crossed the eastern city wall, now stands an important testament to the ancient cultural exchange between China and Europe. A 14-meter terrace (erected in 1442) displays astronomical instruments (exquisite bronze castings), including a celestial globe, a sextant, and three armillary spheres. Six of these instruments were made in 1670 according to the drawings of Belgian Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbist, and two more were created in 1744. Southeast corner of Jiangomun intersection. Opening hours: Apr.-Oct. daily. 9.00-17.00; in the rest of the month Wed-Fri. 9.00-11.00, 13.00-16.00. Subway lines 1, 2: station “Jianguomen”.

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