About this place

Forming the exact heart and center of the city, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) is usually a first port of call on any Beijing tourist’s itinerary.  Like the Forbidden City (紫禁城), the words Tiananmen Square are almost synonymous with Beijing.  It is worth a visit not just for its historical significance, but also for the sheer prominence of its size.  Said to be the largest public square in the world, this spotlessly clean, massive area of paved concrete can accommodate up to a million people.  It was here that Chairman Mao (毛主席) proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.      You’ll probably find yourself visiting, or at least passing by, Tiananmen more than once due to its central location and close proximity to other tourist stops, namely the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of History and Revolution, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall (毛泽东纪念堂), and Tiananmen Gate(天安门), the main entrance to the Forbidden City.  Above Tiananmen Gate hangs a huge portrait of Chairman Mao, supposedly the only public place in which Mao’s portrait is still displayed.   Bar the incessant hawkers, Tiananmen Square is the perfect spot to people watch and soak up the Beijing atmosphere; it is also great if you’re a keen kite watcher.  Try and catch a glimpse of Tiananmen in the evening as it is beautifully lit at night.