Tian'anmen Square

Location: East Chang'an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Reasons to visit: Landmark of China; the world's largest city center square
Our ratings: ★★★★★
Entrance fee: free
Opening Hours: Whole day for free

Tian'anmen Square, the heart of Beijing, is the world's largest city center square. The ground of the square is all paved with specially processing light-colored granite stone. The ceremony of raising the national flag in every morning and dropping flag in every sunset time is the most solemn ceremony. Tian'anmen Square was the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. While strolling in Tian'anmen Square, looking up at the magnificent layout, the majestic momentum, the vast and deep landscape, you will feel China's rapid development. Tiananmen Square is the Holy Land in the hearts of the Chinese people, and it is the heart of great China.

Historical Events in Tian'anmen Square

1) On May 4th, 1919, the May Fourth Movement broke out here, the Chinese youth declared war on imperialism and feudalism.
2) On December 9th, 1935, the 12•9 Movement broke out here, which was a large scale students' patriotic movement leaded by Chinese Communist Party.
3) On October 1st, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China, and personally hoisted the first five-star red flag in Tian'anmen Square to say good-bye to the humiliation and slavery. Since then, Tian'anmen has become a symbol of the new China, and its solemn image has been an important part of China's national emblem.

Join the Tian'anmen Square Flag Raising Ceremony

It is a once in a lifetime experience! The national flag is a symbol of a country and a pride of a nation. The national flag brings people not only glory, but also patriotic feelings. Since the founding of People's Republic of China, the flag-raising ceremony of Tiananmen Square has been adjusted several times. However, the time remains the same. At around 6 am, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army's honor guard will come here to raise the national flag. Along with the national anthem, the national flag and sun will rise together. Please check the timetable for the exact time of each day's flat raising ceremony. Every day, many citizens and tourists come here to witness this moment, and patriotism and national pride are raising in their hearts, too.

Main Highlights to See around Tian'anmen Square

【Chairman Mao Memorial Hall】
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the leader Mao Zedong. It is located in Tian'anmen Square, to the south the People's Heroes Monument. This memorial hall was completed building on May 24, 1977, covering over 57,000 square meters, of which total construction area is 28,000 square meters. The main building of it is square; outside of it has 44 yellow granite building columns. Between columns have floral Guangzhou Shiwan ceramic plates. There are two layers of glass roof cornices, and there are sunflower reliefs between eaves inlay. The hall is 260 meters long from north to south and 220 meters wide from east to west. 

【The Tian'anmen Rostrum】
The Tian'anmen Rostrum is located in the northern end of Tian'anmen Square, the center of Beijing, which is the capital of People's Republic of China, facing Chang'an Avenue. The opposite site of it is the People's Heroes Monument in Tian'anmen Square and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People and National Museum of China. It is one of the most magnificent buildings in ancient China. It attracts worldwide attention with outstanding architecture and special political status. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared: "The Central People's Government of the PRC established!" on the Tiananmen Rostrum. And he personally raised the first flag. The pattern of The Tian'anmen Rostrum appears in the national emblem of the People's Republic of China, become a symbol of the People's Republic China. 

【The Great Hall of the People】
The Great Hall of the People is situated on the west of Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest open square, opposite the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History on the east. On the north and the south are located Tiananmen and Zhengyang Gate in Tian'anmen Square. It is 46 meters high, 336 meters long and 206 meters wide. The gross floor area of it is seventeen thousand square meters, bigger than the Forbidden City. This is the place where holds national political, diplomatic, and cultural activities of China. The Central Hall, Auditorium, National Reception Hall, Welcome Hall and Ballroom are the main site in the Great Hall.

How to Get to Tian'anmen Square

- By subway. You may take Subway Line 1 and get off at Tian'anmen East Station or Tian'anmen West Station. Then walk to reach the square area.