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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> China >> Beijing, China Photo Travelogues (March 2011) >> Beijing, China - Tian'anmen Square (March 2011) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Beijing, China - Tian'anmen Square (March 2011)

Beijing’s Tian'anmen Square is the largest city square in the world. It has great cultural significance, having been the site of several important events in Chinese history. It was designed and built in 1651, and has since been enlarged four times. Near the center of today's square, stood the "Great Ming Gate", later called "Gate of China" during the communist People's Republic of China era. Being only a ceremonial gate, it was demolished in the early 1950s. That allowed for an enlargement of Tian'anmen Square between 1958 to 1959. That fulfilled Mao Tse-tung’s desire to make the square the largest and most spectacular in the world and able to hold over 500,000 persons. The year after Mao's death in 1976, his Mausoleum was built near the site of the former Gate of China. In connection with this project, the square was further enlarged to accommodate 600,000 persons, and it was made fully rectangular. In 1989, the square gained notoriety during the Tiananmen Square Protests, that resulted in government soldiers opening fire on and killing at least 400–800 Chinese protesters in the streets to the west of the square and adjacent areas. Tian'anmen Square was the scene of the iconic image of Tank Man, a single protester who stopped a column of tanks in its tracks.
Beijing, China - Tian'anmen Square cover page.
Beijing, China - Tian'anmen Square cover page.		 Map of China with the star indicating Beijing.
Map of China with the star indicating Beijing.		 View of Tian'anmen Square from Nanchang Jie Street in Beijing. It is the largest city square in the world.
View of Tian'anmen Square from Nanchang Jie Street in Beijing. It is the largest city square in the world.		 It is the symbol of modern China and featured on the emblem of the People's Republic of China.
It is the symbol of modern China and featured on the emblem of the People's Republic of China.
View of Tian'anmen Tower which was constructed in 1420. It sits on a platform with five archway entrances.
View of Tian'anmen Tower which was constructed in 1420. It sits on a platform with five archway entrances.		 The center archway was used as the passage for Ming and Qing emperors. The side ones were used for ministers and officials.
The center archway was used as the passage for Ming and Qing emperors. The side ones were used for ministers and officials.		 Above the center archway is a portrait of Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong in Chinese).
Above the center archway is a portrait of Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong in Chinese).		 The placards next to him say: Long Live the People's Republic of China and Long Live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples.
The placards next to him say: "Long Live the People's Republic of China" and "Long Live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples."
Soldier guarding the Tian'anmen Tower and Mao Tse-tung.
Soldier guarding the Tian'anmen Tower and Mao Tse-tung.		 Close-up of Chairman Mao. He lived from 1893 to 1976 and ruled China from from 1949 to 1976.
Close-up of Chairman Mao. He lived from 1893 to 1976 and ruled China from from 1949 to 1976.		 People walking across Tian'anmen Square with the Monument to the People's Heroes in the background.
People walking across Tian'anmen Square with the Monument to the People's Heroes in the background.		 Me posing in the middle of the square in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes behind me.
Me posing in the middle of the square in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes behind me.
It was conceived of in 1949 and completed in 1958 to commemorate the people's heroes in modern Chinese history.
It was conceived of in 1949 and completed in 1958 to commemorate the people's heroes in modern Chinese history.		 The words of Chairman Mao are inscribed into the monument reading Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes.
The words of Chairman Mao are inscribed into the monument reading "Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes."		 View of the Great Hall of the People where the National People's Congress is held.
View of the Great Hall of the People where the National People's Congress is held.		 It was completed (between 1958-1959) in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China.
It was completed (between 1958-1959) in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China.
Close-up of the communist logo over the Great Hall.
Close-up of the communist logo over the Great Hall.		 Opposite the the Great Hall is the National Museum of China. They were completed at the same time (between 1958-1959).
Opposite the the Great Hall is the National Museum of China. They were completed at the same time (between 1958-1959).		 Some unusual light fixtures that adorn Tian'anmen Square.
Some unusual light fixtures that adorn Tian'anmen Square.		 Police car in Tian'anmen Square keeping order. They don't want any more protests like there were in 1989.
Police car in Tian'anmen Square keeping order. They don't want any more protests like there were in 1989.
These electronic billboards in the square exemplify China's emergence as a technological force in the 21st century.
These electronic billboards in the square exemplify China's emergence as a technological force in the 21st century.		 The billboards are huge, and the graphics are amazing.
The billboards are huge, and the graphics are amazing.		 The pedestrians in the square seem oblivious to the huge images on the screen
The pedestrians in the square seem oblivious to the huge images on the screen		 Revolutionary worker's statue which stands in front of Mao's mausoleum in Tian'anmen Square.
Revolutionary worker's statue which stands in front of Mao's mausoleum in Tian'anmen Square.
Note the carving of Mao Tse-tung on the worker's statue.
Note the carving of Mao Tse-tung on the worker's statue.		 Close-up of some of the workers. The statue is promoting socialism and the communist system of the People's Republic of China.
Close-up of some of the workers. The statue is promoting socialism and the communist system of the People's Republic of China.

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