Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of
Beijing,
China, named after the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, separating it from the
Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the third largest city square in the
World (440,000 m² - 880m by 500m or 109 acres - 960 by 550 yd). It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history.
Configuration
Used as a massive meeting place since its creation, its flatness is contrasted by the 38-meter (125 ft) high Monument to the People's Heroes, and the
Mausoleum Of Mao Zedong.The square lies between two ancient, massive gates: the Tian'anmen to the north and the
Zhengyangmen, better known as Qianmen to the south. Along the west side of the Square is the
Great Hall Of the People. Along the east side is the
National Museum of China (dedicated to Chinese history predating 1919). Chang'an Avenue, which is used for parades, lies between the Tian'anmen and the Square. Trees line the east and west edges of the Square, but the square itself is open, with neither trees nor benches. The Square is lit with large lampposts which are fitted with video cameras. It is heavily monitored by uniformed and plain clothes policemen.
Events
Tiananmen Square has been the site of a number of political events and student protests.
Perhaps the most notable events are protests during the May Fourth Movement in 1919, the proclamation of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949, the Tiananmen Square protests in 1976 after the death of premier Zhou Enlai, and the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, which resulted in military suppression and the deaths of multiple protestors. The Communist Party of China forbids discussion of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Other notable events include annual mass military displays on each anniversary of the 1949 proclamation until 1 October, 1959; the 1984 military parade for the 35th anniversary of the People's Republic of China which coincided with the ascendancy of Deng Xiaoping; military displays and parades on the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic in 1999; the Tiananmen Square self-immolation incident in 2001; and military displays and parades on the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic in 2009.
