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Tian'anmen Square
With a total area of 440,000 square meters,
the Tiananmen Square found in the center of Beijing boasts
the largest of its kind. Over a hundred years, many ceremonies
and demonstrations have been held here.
The grand of Tiananmen Gate (Heavenly Peace
Gate) is a national symbol with the Great Hall of the People
on the western side and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution
and the Museum of Chinese History to its east and west.
The Monument to the People's Heroes - the
36 meters high obelisk made of Qingdao granite, dominates
the center of the square. The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
and the Qianmen gate, sit in the south.
Tian'anmen Gate
Tian'anmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace)
was built in the 15th Century and restored in the 17th Century.
From imperial days, the yellow glaze-tiled double-eave tower
functioned as a rostrum for proclaiming pronouncements to
the assembled masses. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong
proclaimed the founding of the new China here. The tower
has five doors and in front of it are seven bridges spanning
a stream. Only the emperor could use the central door and
bridge. On the top of the entral door is a gigantic portrait
of Chairman Mao with slogans on each side saying 'Long Live
the People's Republic of China' and 'Long Live the Unity
of the Peoples of the World'. The gate leads to the imperial
city - Forbidden City with no charge while a panoramic view
from the tower costs 15 Yuan for foreigners.
Huabiao
Right beside a pair of marble lions in front
of the Tian'anmen Gate stand obelisk marble columns engraved
with entwining dragons and clouds - an ornamental architecture
called Huabiao. Its history can be traced back to the Yao
and Shun, legendary kings in remote antiquity. To improve
the quality of governance, it is said that wooden crosses
were erected at marketplaces for people to write down complaints.
During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -- 220 A.D.), wooden posts
were replaced by stone pillars, which gradually developed
into the sumptuous columns that lead to palace gates. Huabiao
can usually be found in imperial gardens and mausoleums.
On top of the Huabiao is a plate-like disc
called Chenglupan (dew-collecting) on which squats an animal
called kong (a legendary animal for keeping guard) facing
the south. They were called "Wangjungui" or "looking
forward to the emperor's return," who watched over
the emperor's excursions and called him back. The couple
inside the gate facing north, called Wangjunchu or "looking
forward to the emperor's progress," was considered
to supervise the emperor's behavior in the court when he
neglect court affairs.
Great Hall of the People
This is the venue of the legislature, the
National People's Congress. Summit meetings are often held
in the 10,000-seat auditorium with the familiar red star
embedded in a galaxy of lights in the ceiling. Also you
can visit the 5000 seat banquet room where US president
Richard Nixon dined in 1972.
Monument to the People's
Heroes
Built in 1958 on the southern side of Tian'anmen
Square, this 36-meter obelisk bears bas-relief carvings
of key revolutionary events such as the Chinese destroying
opium in the 19th century.
Mao Zedong Memorial Hall
(Mao Zhuxi Jiniantang)
Located just behind the Monument to the
People's Heroes is the hall where the remains of Chairman
Mao is kept. Many Chinese show deep respect when confronted
with the physical presence of Mao.
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