Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square has been built for large public gatherings. This square is situated south of Tiananmen. Tiananmen, named the Gate of Heavenly Peace in English, is the original gate of the Imperical Palace, commonly known as the Forbidden City. Now, it is one of the entrances for tourists visiting the Forbidden City.

The Square has an area of 44 hectares (109 acres) that can accommodate as many as one million people for public gatherings. It has witnessed many historical events in China’s modern history and is a place for celebrations on such festive days as international Labor Day on May 1st and National Day on October 1st. On this day, Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) declared the foundation of the People’s Republic of China at Tiananmen Square.

Around the Square, there are several famous buildings introduced as follows:

The Great Hall of the People
This is one of the largest congressional buildings in the world. Built in 1959, the hall consists of three parts: a 10,000-seat auditorium in the center, a banquet hall in the north wing facing Chang’an Street, with a seating capacity of 5,000, and offices for the Standing Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress of China in the south.

The Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution
These two museums were also built in 1959. The museum of Chinese History houses a permanent exhibition in four parts, covering the entire process of Chinese history spanning from 1.7 million years ago to 1919.

The Monument to the People’s Heroes
The monument was built to commemorate thousands of martyrs who died for the revolutionary cause of the Chinese people. Its construction began on August 1, 1952. Completed in 1958, more than 10,000 tons of stones were used for the 40 meters high obelisk. The purple piece inlaid in the front of the Monument was brought from Qingdao, Shandong Province. It is not only an historic memorial for immortal heroes, but also an artistic work of excellent architectural value. Chinese characters reading “Eternal Glory to the People’s Heroes!” written by Chairman Mao Zedong were engraved on the front side of the Monument. An article written by Chairman Mao, but in Chinese calligraphy by the late Premier Zhou Enlai, is on the back of the Monument. At the top of the Monument, there are eight gigantic carved wreathes of such flowers as peony, lotus and chrysanthemum, symbolizing nobility, purity, and fortitude. At the base of the monument, there are eight marble reliefs depicting the Chinese historic events since 1840.

Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum
Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, passed away on September 9, 1976. In memory of this great man, a mausoleum began to be constructed in November 1976, and was completed in August of the next year. The Mausoleum was officially opened on September 9, 1977.