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Called the Gate of the Heavenly Peace, Tian an men Square is the symbolic heart of China with its location at the center of Beijing. This is a highly visited tourist spot where you will find four important buildings which contributed to China's history: the Tian an men Tower, The Great Hall of the People, The Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall.
The Tian an men Square is the huge city square where Mao Zedong declared the foundation of the People's Republic of China back in October 1949. This is the main reason why military and official parades are mostly done here. Nowadays, it stands as a symbol of the power of those who have ruled China. Looking at Tian an men Square, one will not be able to fathom the historical events and leaders that have once graced that location. Basically, it appears to be just a big paved open plaza that is believed to hold up to a million people. At the center of the square is the Monument to the People's Heroes which is the largest monument in the history of China. Engraved on the monument is the inscription “The People's Heroes are Immortal” by Mao Zedong. The square offers a great view of other historical landmarks near its vicinity. On the south side of the Square is the Mao Zedong Memorial. The Hall is divided into three different halls with one of them housing the flowery decorated crystal coffin of Mao’s body. The East side of the square is a significant place where many tourists are seen. From researchers, scholars to adventurers, many people visit this part of the square because of the museum. This is China's National Museum; created in 2003, the Museum has two different divisions: The Revolutionary Museum and the History Museum. If you want to gain more insight into how modern day developments of China came about, then you have all the research materials inside the Revolutionary Museum. And if you want to gain more knowledge about the history of China, a large database of cultural materials are to be found in the History Museum. On the West side of the square is the Great Hall of the People which was built in 1959. This was the home of China National People’s Congress where diplomatic and political activities took place. In front of this Hall are three parts: the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and the Banqueting Hall, all of which played important roles in the Great Hall of the People. Each of them has a distinct design and look. The Central Hall has a pavement filled with marble and crystal lamps hanging from its ceilings, while the Great Auditorium just behind the Central Hall is twice as big as the Banqueting Hall, which seats an audience of about 5,000 people. Today, the square is like a gathering area where Chinese nationals and tourists alike can relax, mingle around or enjoy the scenery. This is also the only place in China where people from other parts of the globe are able to sense and feel the energy of the country that is dubbed as the most populated. A very distinct sight which many people can see around the Square is the Five Star Red Flag. This is China’s national flag which rises above the Square. Every morning before sunrise, the assigned guard on duty performs the raising of the Flag. This is a must-see for every tourist that comes to Beijing on a tour. The daily flag rising ceremony is an event which attracts a huge crowd every morning to remind them of their patriotic duties to their country. Tian an men Square is indeed a place to visit on your next China tour if you want to try and live again all the memories that China has undergone over the years; from its changes, independence and modernization, the whole history of China is to be found in the Tian an men Square. |
