Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the
largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters
(about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 10,000,000 people at one time. The
square is a conglomeration of splendid and beautiful flowers and the red
national flag which flutters in the wind. The raising of the national flag is
something which should not be missed by visitors to Tiananmen Square.
With the towering Monument to the Peoples Heroes at the center, Tiananmen
Square has the magnificent Tiananmen Tower in the north, the solemn Mao Zedong
Memorial Hall in the south, the National Museum of China in the east and the
Great Hall of the People in the west. Surrounded by these lofty buildings, the
Square looks most splendid and majestic and attracts many tourists every
day.
In the center of the Square stands the Monument to the Peoples Heroes,
which commemorates the martyrs who devoted their lives to the Chinese people. It
reaches 37.94 meters (124 feet) which makes it the biggest monument in Chinese
history. The body is made of hardy granite and is surrounded by white balusters.
Engraved is the epigraph written by Mao Zedong, the founder of Peoples Republic
of China. Eight relieves depict the crucial events which took place in modern
times, showing a part of the centuries-old history of China.
Tiananmen Tower in the south was built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644). During this dynasty and the following Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) it
was where proclamations were issued to the whole nation. The common people were
prohibited from entering the tower, but now tourists with tickets are permitted
to climb it. It has five arched gates and nine principle hall columns. With the
delicately carved white marbles on its base and yellow tiles on the roof, the
tower is quite resplendent. Under the tower flows the limpid Jinshui River,
across which seven exquisite bridges are perched, named the Golden Water
Bridges.
In the south of the Square is the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Mao Zedong, the
first chairman of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), is greatly admired by
the Chinese People. The hall was built in 1977. It is divided into three halls:
the main hall, the north hall and the south hall. The remains of Mao Zedong are
laid in a crystal coffin in the main hall. From the exhibit in the north hall,
you can learn something about Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other founders of the
state. While visiting the main hall, it is necessary to observe a respectful
silence.
In the east of the Square is the National Museum of China which is a great
treasure trove. This museum was officially opened in 2003. Its predecessors are
the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of the Chinese
Revolution. It is a comprehensive museum with an emphasis on Chinese art and
history. The National Museum of Chinese History has more than 3,000,000 precious
articles which provide a vivid portrayal of Chinese history. In the National
Museum of the Chinese Revolution there are displays of over 4,500 articles,
including literature, pictures, drawings and sculptures. These depict the
peoples revolutions and movements to save China, which happened after the Opium
War in 1840.
In the west of the Square is the Great Hall of the People which was built
in 1959 and occupies a construction area of 170,000 square meters (42 acres). It
is so called because the National Peoples Congress is held in this hall. When
entering the building you will see the central hall which is decorated with
white marble columns and crystal lights. At the back of the hall is the great
hall which can hold 10,000 people. The banqueting hall in the north has 5,000
seats and grand banquets are conducted on important occasions. In the south are
the offices of the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee.