Beijing travel:Tian Anmen Square

Tian Anmen Square is the largest city center square in the world, about 440,000 square meters. In the Ming and Qing dynasties it was the front Courtyard of the Forbidden City, but smaller in size and was a T-shaped square. On the both sides of that square, all the government offices were arranged according to the concept of “civil offices on the east and military offices on the west”. But when the last dynasty collapsed, all the buildings on the square were destroyed. After the founding of the People’s Republic   of China, large renovation work took place. Especially during 1959, on the Square two important buildings were built. One is the Great Hall of the People on the west, another is the Museum of Chinese history and Museum of Chinese revolution on the east.
      Tian’an Men Square actually got its name from the grand gate that standing on the north side of the square, which is called Tian’an Men, means gate of heavenly peace. Tian’an Men Gate originally was one of the front gates of the Forbidden City and is a two-story building, five gates in the lower part and one wooden palace on the top. In the center of the square it is the Monument to the People’s Hero, built with marble stone in 1950s. From the monument southward, there stands the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, built in 1977. From the memorial hall continue southward, there stands two ancient gates, one is called Zhengyang Gate, another Archery Gate. They were both old gates of the Forbidden City. The night scene of Tian’an Men Square is definitely a MUSAT for any visitor to Beijing.