Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Tower

Tiananmen Square

The sweeping square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace – Tiananmen Square is the great symbol of China. This vast expanse of paving stones, scene of the 1989 student demonstrations and their gory climax, is an ordered microcosm of the communist universe and a colossal statement of state power. Chairman Mao is interred here, and the monolithic Chinese Parliament overlooks the square.

Tiananmen Square was the riotous scene of exultation at the launch of the Cultural Revolution in 1966. Today, it is one of the favorite destinations of the hordes of both local and foreign tourists, who crowd just about every inch of the square on a daily basis eager to soak up its history.

Despite the authorization design, the square has become a battleground in the lopsided tussle between government and disaffected groups. In May 1919, disgruntled Chinese university students and intellectuals marched here to protest the unequal Versailles Treaty, which stipulated that China cede territories to Japan. On April 4, 1976, hundreds of thousands of Beijing residents gathered to mourn the death of Premier Zhou Enlai. Wreaths laid to commemorate his passing vanished, leading to a massive riot (the Tiananmen Incident), which was branded a counterrevolutionary plot by some.

Democracy protests in the spring of 1989 were similarly molded from public grief (on this occasion, the death of reformer Hu Yaobang). Sadness again smoldered to anger when the authorities rebuffed the people. Bizarrely, the government sent tanks against unarmed workers and students, rather than riot police and tear gas.

Almost all Beijing Day Tours and Beijing Tour Packages will include Tiananmen Square within their travel itinerary. A visit to Beijing without a stop at Tiananmen Square signifies that your tour is not complete.

Tours might suit your interests
	Beijing Day Tour to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park & Summer Palace Tour Code: BJPDT1001 Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park & Summer Palace
	Beijing Day Tour to Tiananmen, Forbidden City & Beijing Hutong Tour Code: BJPDT1005 Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Beijing Hutong
	Beijing Day Tour to Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Tour Code: BJPDT1009 Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace
	2 Days Beijing Easy Tour Tour Code: BJPPW2003 Highlights: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Mutianyu Great Wall
	6 Days Beijing Deep Exploration Tour with Hotel Tour Code: BJPPH6001 Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Ding Tomb, Beijing Great Wall, Beijing Hutong, Beihai Park & Prince Gong’s Mansion