Overview
“Tiananmen” is Chinese name which literally means “Gate of Heavenly Peace”, Tiananmen Square is named after the Tiananmen, it located in the center of Beijing with size of 440,500 square meters that makes it one of the top 10 largest city square in the world.
Brief
The Monument to the People’s Heroes stands In the center of this Square; On the other side of this giant square, there are the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Forbidden City is on its north and can be reached by foot within minutes from this Square
The Square
Tiananmen Square was designed and built in 1651 AD, and was enlarged four times on its original size in the 1950’s. Near the centre of the square stood the “Great Ming Gate”, the southern gate to the Imperial City, renamed “Great Qing Gate” during the Qing dynasty, and “Gate of China” during the Republican era. Unlike the other gates in Beijing, such as the Tiananmen and the Zhengyangmen, this was a purely ceremonial gateway, with three arches but no ramparts, similar in style to the ceremonial gateways found in the Ming tombs. This gate had a special status as the “Gate of the Nation”, as can be seen from its successive names. It normally remained closed, except when the Emperor passed through. Commoner traffic was diverted to side gates at the western and eastern ends of the square. Because of this diversion in traffic, a busy marketplace, called “Chess Grid Streets”, was developed in the big, fenced square to the south of this gate.
The Gate of China
In 1954, the Gate of China was demolished, allowing for the enlargement of the square. In November 1958, a major expansion of Tiananmen Square started, which was completed after 11 months. On its southern edge, the Monument to the People’s Heroes has been erected. Concomitantly, as part of the Ten Great Buildings constructed between 1958 – 1959 to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the Great Hall of the People and the Revolutionary History Museum (now the National Museum of China) were erected on the western and eastern sides of the square.
Tiananmen Square is also used as a large military parade place that hosts several military parades in the past time. The urban context of the square was altered in the 1990’s with the construction of National Grand Theater in its vicinity and the expansion of the National Museum.
Tips on Wathcing Raise & Lower China National Flag
This is a daily based ceremony that happens in the morning when sunrise, and in the evening when sunset
The time for the Ceremony of Raising National Flag happens is slightly difference everyday, the whole process may last 3 -4 minutes, it is strictly follow the moment when sun is rising in the east above the horizon.
When it begins, the squad of uniformed troops emerge from Tiananmen a few minutes before sunrise, and then they march to the flag pole in formation crossing through the bridge in front of the Tiananmen.
A security check is required, travel light for this ceremony is recommended
How to Get There
By bus : Take No. 1, No. 5, No. 10, No. 22, No. 52, No. 59, No. 82, No. 90, No. 99, No. 120, No. 126, No. 203, No. 205, No. 210 and No. 728 to reach North of the Square.
By bus : Take No. 2, No. 5, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 17, No. 20, No. 22, No. 44, No. 48, No. 53, No. 54, No. 59, No. 66, No. 67, No. 72, No. 82, No. 110, No. 120, No. 126, No. 301, No. 337, No. 608, No. 673, No. 726, No. 729, No. 901, No. 90, No. T2, No. T4 and No. 7 to reach the South of the Square.
By Metro : Take Metro Line 1 at stops of “Tiananmen West” and “Tiananmen East”, both stops are on the northwest and northeast side of the square on Chang’an Avenue.
By Metro : Take Metro Line 2 at stop “Qianmen”. It is at south of the square.