Tiananmen Square is perhaps best known in the western world for its pro-democracy uprising that left a lot of heartbreak behind it. But if we examine its original meaning, it has been the site of many historical events over the years. Its name means “Gate of Heavenly Peace.”
Today, the Tiananmen Square is where millions of people gather each year, locals and tourists alike. This is also the site of many other exciting attractions, sculptures, and buildings that you must see.
What’s the Purpose of Tiananmen Square?
Tiananmen Square is like your typical city square in the center of the city, in this case, it’s in Beijing, China. It’s located in the northern part of the city and is separated by the Forbidden City.
Inside the square is the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the National Museum of China, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, and the Great Hall of the People.
It was Mao Zedong who set up a memorial in the square on October 1, 1949, to proclaim the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Each year, a festival of this event is held to commemorate that day.
Tiananmen Square is one of the top 10 largest city squares in the world today. It covers over 109 acres of land.
Besides their recent tragedy in 1989, it’s also a site of many important historical events in Chinese history.
Quick Facts About Tiananmen Square
Perhaps the first protests that the rest of the world heard about were during April 1976. These occurred after the death of Premier Zhou Enlai. The police went in with clubs and batons to remove people from a protest in the square. Over 4000 people were arrested. It’s unclear if there were any deaths.
Hu Yaobang used to be the General Secretary of the Communist Party. He got ousted by the organization for his belief that there should be a more open political system in China. On April 15, 1989, he passed away. In his honor, thousands of Chinese students gathered in Tiananmen Square to mourn him. He had become a symbol of reform for a student movement. But all was well on this day.
It wasn’t until the following week that thousands of students marched on Tiananmen Square. It’s estimated that at one time, there may have been over a million people demonstrating here. This led to a tragic showdown where many young people were killed, and hundreds imprisoned.
After many weeks of demonstrations, Chinese troops entered Tiananmen Square and fired on the civilians. Keep in mind that many tourists visited the Square each year, and many people got caught up in the events who knew nothing about the student movement.
The Chinese government did try to warn the students. There were pleas on live TV, and martial law was imposed earlier. Reporters were forbidden to cover the demonstrations.
According to the Chinese government, hundreds of people were killed. Sadly, it’s believed that the estimate is more in the thousands.
Over 10,000 people were arrested during and after these protests. Neighbors were turning in neighbors. It’s also come forward that many people have been tortured over the years and many executed for their roles in the demonstrations. It’s believed many people were innocent, but they confessed to stop the torture.
Sadly, this is a country where you don’t have the right to free speech or democracy. On the other hand, it’s what works for China as a communist nation.
Like any significant historical event, it’s essential to gain an understanding of the country you visit. A trip to Tiananmen Square is necessary during your visit, so you can pay your respects and check out the sights. Sadly, there will be no mention of these uprisings anywhere, not even in the National Museum which reopened in April 2011.
In October 2016, the last prisoner from the uprising had been released. Of course, we can’t know for sure.
It’s relatively safe to visit China, just like any other country in the world. You’ll want to observe as much safety and care as you would in your own country.
To the western world, Tiananmen Square is known to be a revolutionary legend. Let’s check out what else Tiananmen Square has to offer during your visit.
Monument to the People’s Heroes
This monument is located outdoors and can be found on the southwest side of the square. It’s a cenotaph, a type of structure where the person’s remains are kept on another site. It stood 38 meters tall and was built from marble and granite in 1952.
The monument lists 8 important revolutionary events over the years, but there is no mention of the protests in Tiananmen Square.
This monument is where there will often be gatherings of people to mourn all the deaths over the years.
The Great Hall of the People
This is the site of a long state building. It originally opened in 1959 by architect Zhang Bo. In 2009, Lucy Angel, an American Country Music group was the first American and western world band to be invited to perform at the Great Hall of the People. The audience included dignitaries and officials.
The Hall is located on the western side of the square. It’s used for ceremonial and legislative events of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) government and the Communist Party of China. The Great Hall is also the meeting place for the full sessions of the Chinese parliament and congress.
The Great Hall is also a meeting place used for special events, meetings, anniversaries, and memorial services. Visitors are allowed inside to see the building and the main auditorium.
The National Museum of China
The National Museum of China is located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square. The museum’s purpose is to educate the people about the arts and the history of China. It’s run by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China.
This museum is one of the largest in the world today. Each year it gets about 7.6 million visitors. It’s also the most visited museum in the world. The museum was established in 2003 and was two museums that were merged that had existed in that building since 1959. These two museums are the Museum of the Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History.
Within the museum are many interesting collections. It contains artifacts from 1.7 million years ago, leading up to the Qing Dynasty, which is the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history.
The museum has over 1 million artifacts in their collection. Many items located here cannot be found in any other part of the world.
The museum has met with some criticism, as there was a Louis Vuitton exhibition in 2011 that led many to think that the museum should contain only items of cultural significance.
The front of the museum is often where countdown clocks have been located for special events. This includes the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Expo.
The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong is located in a large building in the middle of the Square. He was the Chairman of the Community Party of China from 1943, and the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1945. He passed away in 1976.
His body was embalmed, and he was placed in a mausoleum. This is a popular attraction. It’s where the Gate of China used to be located. This was the main and southern gate to the Imperial City during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
He has been nicknamed “The Great Helmsman”. His body is on open display for viewing under a glass display case. It’s believed that a wax sculpture has been placed over his real body, though others claim that the right lighting makes his skin look natural and free of wrinkles. The building has been tested extensively for manmade disasters and can withstand an 8.0-magnitude earthquake.
His survivors visit the Mausoleum on his birthday and his death day every year.
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Plan Your Trip to China Now
If you’re planning a trip to Beijing, China, you must visit Tiananmen Square. You’ll learn much about the history of China and how their government system works. The National Museum of China is one of the best in the world where you’ll see artifacts that you can’t see anywhere else.
During your visit here you’ll also want to quietly mourn the loss of thousands of people during the protests over the years. They may not be commemorated in any public way in China, but you can do your research both before you go on your trip and after your return home.
You’ll have a fun and exciting time visiting China. There is plenty to see and do during your time here. Book a tour if you wish to have someone else do all the work for you, plus, you won’t have to worry about transport all over the city.
Visiting Beijing, China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never forget!
