Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Favorite thing: This photo is taken from the Tian An Men Gate, where I stood directly over the big Mao portrait. The entrance fee is very expensive. And I think it is not worth it. But for the Chinese people this Gate is very important as Mao Zedong proclaimed the formal establishment of the People's Republik here. That was on Oct. 1st 1949. I was there around Oct 1st 1993 invited by the Beijing Language Institute (no entrance fee :) ). The Tian An Men Suqare was full of flowers and people.

Fondest memory: What impressed me most in Beijing? Well, crowded almost everywhere. I remember the local people told me never go out on holidays. I didn't take their kind suggestion then and so I went to Tian'anmen square. WOW!!! Then I really regret - tooooooo maaaaaannnnyyyy people!!(I am not lieing. Looking at the picture so you know.) You have to walk chest to back against each other. A ten meter distance took 10 minutes to finish. That's crazy! But that's also one very special experience for me.

Favorite thing: In Beijing, remember wake up earlier and go out for some morning walk, you can feel the energetic side of the city. Walk along the Cheung On Street from Wang Fu Jing to the Tian An Mun Square, you will find the morning sun is climbing up right behind you. At about six every morning, old people gather at the Square for exercise while the Liberation Army hold the Flag Lifting Ceremony.

Fondest memory: Tian An Mun is a must see site. It is so historical and it has been the center of capital for many centuries. Worldwide known events or issues either recent one or happaned decades ago were taken place right here.

Favorite thing: the People's Hall

Fondest memory:
This building is one of the most important polictial centres of People's Republic of China.

If you are a foreigner and has no idea of the Chinese political structure, I think you can regard it as another parliament building. :-)

Favorite thing: GATE OF HEAVENLY PEACE
Tian An Men square has got several highlights: south of the Palace Museum and north of Tiananmen Square is the Ming Dynasty rostrum of Tiananmen (gate of Heavenly Peace ). From this vantage point you can scan the golden roofs of the place and the square which is called 'the heart of China'.

Favorite thing: TIANANMEN SQUARE
Tian an Men is said to be the biggest square in the world. I don't know if that is true, but it seems so!. Anyway, it is always full; most of the people here is chinese, they take lots of photos everywhere. They sit on the floor (strange, there are no benches in all this huge square) eat and drink here... If you visit in summer, bring a hat or umbrella, there's little shadow here.
During the Ming and Qing eras, the square was enclosed by a red wall. Commoners were permitted entry only to be executed. The wall was destroyed during the 1911 revolution, and the square has quadrupled in size. Now a half-million people can stand there.

Favorite thing: Every tourist sight you've ever heard about should be seen. The people were charming and friendly. Tiananmen Square was interesting. Filled with flowers left over from celebration. A couple wanted me to hold their toddler while they took my picture, but we compromised and I held the toddler while we both took pictures.

Fondest memory: Seeing a person sweeping up dirt along the 'freeway', the bicycles and the contrast of bright colors against the gray building.

Fondest memory: This picture-perfect postcard gives you an aerial view of TianAnmen Square. If you can drag yourself out of bed (yes, DRAG!) before sunrise, you can actually catch the flag raising ceremony here at the crack of dawn, performed by PLA solders taught to march at a precised timing of 108 paces per minute, 75 cm per pace!!!!!! You can also watch the SAME ceremony - done in reverse order - at sunset. However you will probably melt in the throngs and throngs of people gathered here in the evenings. And you can't get a good view of the ceremony!!!!!!

Favorite thing: Tiananmen Square -- the heart of the city. Major rallies were held here during the Cultural Revolution when the then Chairman Mao attended parades of up to 1,000,000 people. And in 1989, huge army tanks and soldiers squashed pro-democracy demonstrators here; the result that followed was tragic.

Fondest memory: That's me at another section of the huge TIAN' ANMEN SQUARE. This is definitely the heart of Beijing. Today, the square is a place for people to stroll and wander (aimlessly??) or to fly decorated kites!