Tourist Attractions
Tiananmen Square
Literally meaning the 'Gate of Heavenly Peace', Tiananmen Square takes its name from the entranceway to the Forbidden City, which lies as its northern edge. First constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in 1417, it measures 962x547 yards, and it the largest urban square in the world.
Stepping onto the square from the south, you first encounter the imperial-era Zhengyangmen (colloquially known as Qianmen – front gate). Directly east stands the former Peking Railway Station, one of many examples in the area of Western-influenced architecture. Indeed, the land to the east of the station was formerly known as the Legation Quarter- a walled compound with eight forts that was once home to a slew of international emissaries, a Gothic church and horse racing track.
The former American Legation compound, built in 1903, has recently been redeveloped by Chinese-American entrepreneur Handel Lee (the name behind Shanghai's imperious Three on the Bund) and opened early 2008. The area is worth a gentle stroll to admire its Western edifices now home to stylish retail outlets, art galleries, a design centre, nightclub, repertory theater and several chic eateries.
On your way back to the Square, pop your head in at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall. The displays are rather hit and miss, but the massive scale model of the city alone is well worth the RMB 30 entrance fee. Constantly updated to reflect the capital's ever-changing urban landscape, you can travel in a few short strides from the Temple of Heaven in the south to the new Olympic Green in the north, the grand capital laid out at your feet.
Leaving behind delusions of grandeur, a quick duck underground brings you back up, blinking, onto the vast plains of Tiananmen Square. From here, heading due north from Qianmen, it is hard not to be awed by imposing edifice of the Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China. Literally laced with symbolism, the tomb was constructed using natural materials sourced from the length and the breadth of China, including rock from Qomolangma (the Chinese name for Mount Everest) and sand from the Taiwan straits.
In front of Mao's final resting place is the only other structure on Tiananmen Square itself, the Monument of the People's Heroes. Rising to a height of almost 125 feet, the obelisk was built in 1958 and stands directly between the Great Hall of the People (China's parliament building and the National Museum of China, which run along the Square's western and eastern edges respectively. Carved into the pedestal at its base are eight bas-reliefs, which tell the story of the nation's long, revolutionary struggle; from the Opium War of 1840, to the War of Resistance against Japan in 1931, and eventually the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
From here, it is just a short stroll to the northernmost edge of the Square, past locals flying kites under the watchful eye of the omnipresent policeman (note the security cameras attached to the overly tall lamp posts). Follow the steady stream of tourists heading underground, and traverse the passageway to the other side of the road, where you'll emerge at the heavenly gate itself. Most pause here for a photo underneath the giant portrait of Mao, before ducking through the giant gates into the Forbidden City proper.
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Opening Hours:
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All Day
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Entrance Fee :
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Free
(CNY 15 for tower ascending)
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Bus Route:
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1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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More Top Visitor Attractions in Beijing:
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace,
Ming Tombs, Old Beijing Hutongs
