QYPE*

The biggest square in the world!!!!!

TianAnMen means ‘Heavenly Peace Gate’ - Beijing traditionally had a series of thick city walls interrupted by massive and ornate gateways, gates/doors being very symbolic in chinese culture.

Don’t worry, they don’t roll the tanks out that often anymore. Alongside the square on one side is the national museum, and on the other is the great hall of the people - from where the government operates. Therefore there are countless armed guards not only posted at various points around the square but also constantly marching around it. This is fun to watch and one almost gets the feeling that they’re just there for the tourists to admire.

On the north side of the square is the forbidden city, with its famous portrait of the great leader, and in the south is the gate itself… south of that is another gate called ‘Qianmen’ or ‘front-gate’. You can walk up the tiananmen gate for a couple of kuai to get a good view over the city.

In the centre of the square is the monument to the people, inscribed with an inspirational message in mao’s own handwriting, and the mausoleum (or ‘MAOsoleum’) where you can go and see the great leaders body (or, some say, a waxwork duplicate) preserved and on display - this is of course free to enter, in true communist spirit, and you will find it is the only place in china where the people are quiet… it doesn’t take long and is quite awesome just to appreciate the reactions and attitudes of the chinese people as they look upon the body.

Apart from that Tiananmen square is a lively place… always busy and you can often see lots of very impressive kites, even at night time when some of them have little lights on them.

The down side is that there are no good restaurants or bars nearby for one to refresh themselves after a tiring walk and it’s impossible to get a taxi as no cars are allowed to stop due to security reasons (not to mention the terrible traffic). Best get on the subway (either tiananmen east/west in the north or qianmen in the south) to get away from the centre.

P.S. it is very unwise to try any sort of demonstrations here. and you shouldn’t talk to chinese people about 1989 either, not because you’ll be arrested but because it’s quite rude.