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 Tiananmen Square (or the Gate of Heavenly Peace) is the geographical
center of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. It
occupies 440,000 sqm and can accommodate 1 million people at one
time. The square is known for the ritualistic flag raising
ceremony-performed every day at dawn and dusk. Located at the center
of Beijing City is Tiananmen Square, where you can visit Tiananmen
Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People,
Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and see the national flag raising ceremony.
Thousands of people come to the Square every day. It is the must
place to visit in Beijing City.
Tiananmen was originally built during the Ming Dynasty, but
renovated during the Qing Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing
dynasties, the area was full of offices for imperial ministers. In
the final days of the Qing Dynasty, many of the buildings were
destroyed and the area was cleared out. The square was enlarged in
1949 and is now surrounded by The Forbidden City, Mausoleum of Mao
Zedong, Great Hall of the People and National Museum of China.
However, it is best known for the towering Monument to the People's
Heroes, located in the center of the square.
The
Monument to the People's Heroes commemorates the revolutionary
martyrs. The towering monument is 37.94m high, weighs approximately
10,000 metric tons and is made out of 17,000 pieces of marble and
granite. Engraved is an epigraph written by Mao Zedong. Eight
reliefs depict the critical events of modern China.
South of the Square is the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, which pays
tribute to the first chairman of the People's Republic of China. The
hall was built in 1977 after Mao's passing. Mao Zedong's remains are
laid in a crystal coffin in the main hall for viewing. To show
respect, visitors are advised to observe a moment of silence when
viewing the body of Mao.
The
Great Hall of the People was built in 1959 and lies west of the
Square. The hall is characterized for its white marble columns and
crystal lights. In the back is a huge hall that can accommodate up
to 10,000 people. A banqueting hall to the north can accommodate
5,000 people at one time. The Hall is also the National People's
Congress and serves as the offices of the National People's Congress
Standing Committee.
Flag-Raising Ceremony
Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky
above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must
for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early
and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you
see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the
ceremony every day.
Check our Beijing Bus Tour Programs. You can tour Beijing with our
group bus tour programs for various routes.
Learn more about Beijing private and
non-private tours.
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