Tiananmen Square Tourism

Tiananmen Square, located at the center of Beijing, China, is one of the largest public squares in the world. Its expanse marks the symbolic heart of the Chinese nation. Built in 1651, and since enlarged multiple times, it covers an area of 440,000 square meters. The square has been the site of several important events in Chinese history, including the May Fourth Movement in 1919, the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 by Chairman Mao Zedong, and the infamous Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Surrounding the square is a collection of culturally and politically significant edifices: to its north is the Gate of Heavenly Peace, beyond which lies the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace; the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China flank it to the west and east, respectively. The square features the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Tiananmen Square is not only a tourist destination but also a social, cultural, and political center of the Chinese world.