Tiananmen Square - Every visitor to Beijing gravitates to this square which has become the pulse of this exciting city of contrasts. It has been said that it can accommodate over one million people in the 122 acres, and is the largest square in the world. This area has attracted Beijing citizens and visitors since the mid 17th Century, but only in the late 1950s was it formally laid out. Since then many changes have been made to the original concept. In late 1998 and for nearly half of 1999, the square was closed for a complete refurbishing in anticipation of the October 1, 1999 50th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China.

The square has been the site of many momentous events such as the declaration of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, On each 5th year anniversary the government hosts huge military parades highlighting their military might and capabilities. The largest of these events occurred on October 1, 1999 when the 50th anniversary was celebrated.

Surrounding the square are the Great Hall of the People, Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, Mao Zedong Mausoleum, and the Qianmen Gate. On the north end is the Gate of Heavenly Peace which is the entrance to the Forbidden City, or Palace Museum as it is sometime called. The Gate Tower has a large portrait of Chairman Mao displayed over the entrance. At the center of the square stands the Monument to the Peoples Heroes.

At sunrise and sunset the flag to the front of the square is raised or lowered by a squad of army personnel.  This in itself is an interesting thing to watch.  All the traffic on the busy Chang An Avenue is halted, around 30 soldiers march very ceremoniously across the road and  the flag is hoisted up, or down the poll.  Many people come to watch this, so get there an hour or so before if you want a good view.

Travel Tips

• Admission fee: Free
• Opening Hours: Various
• Getting to Tiananmen Square is best done by subway or walking as taxis are not really allowed to stop anywhere near it.  The are two subway stations on line 1, Tiananmen East (116) and Tiananmen West (117).  They are both inconveniently situated a 5 to 7 minute walk away from the center of the square so there is no best station.  Walking from the south entrance to Wangfujing Street takes about 20 minutes and is very pleasant.  Just find the Beijing Hotel on Changan Avenue, walk past it and keep going west on Changan Avenue.

                                              Forbidden City Tour