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Tiananmen Square was designed and built, about four centuries back in the year 1651. It is a large city square in the centre of Beijing the capital of China. Most low cost airlines, direct or cheap flights to China arrive straight away at Beijing International airport. It requires at least a day’s trip to visit the Tiananmen square and other nearby city attraction as the “Forbidden Palace China” located in the city centre.

The path to the Tiananmen Square is lined up with trees in the east and west edges. However the square itself is open with no site of any trees, plants or benches, it is kept clean like a ‘holy place’. It is located between two massive and ancient gates “the Tiananmen” to its north and “Zhengyangmen” in its south. The famous “Great Hall of the People” is situated along the west side of the Square while the ‘National Museum Building’ is visible in the east of the Square. The other famous Avenue, where most of the parades occur, “the Chang’an Avenue” lies between the Tiananmen gate and the Square. In evenings, this vast and beautiful Square is lit with large lampposts illuminating the stunning and memorable building.

The Tiananmen Square is one the most heavily monitored buildings in China, due to its political and historic significance. The Square is named after the Tiananmen Gate. The word literally means “The Gate of Heavenly Peace”, the square itself holds great prestige in Chinese culture as being the place of some of China’s most memorable and historic events, revolutionary national moments and demonstrations. At the orders and wishes of China’s most legendry leader and reformer Mr. Mao Zedong, Tiananmen Square was enlarged about four times its original size.

The glorious vision of Mr. Mao Zedong, to make Tiananmen Square the largest and most spectacular in the world, resulted in its massive and historic expansion in November 1958, that only took 10 months in transforming the Tiananmen into world’s biggest Square. It has become a must see attraction in the city of Beijing. Mao’s vision to exceed this square’s capacity to holding 500,000 people has not only been achieved but performed in the best possible way. The process caused demolition of a huge number of residential buildings and other structures making the expansion possible. The “Monument to the People’s Heroes” was also erected to beautify the flat structure and commemorate the ten year anniversary People’s Republic of China as part of ‘the Ten Great Buildings’ all constructed between 1958-59. The urban context of the square was altered in the 1990s with the construction of National Grand Theatre in its vicinity and the expansion of the National Museum.

Today, Tiananmen Square is known as the largest city square in the world (440,000 m² – 880m by 500m). It has been used as a massive meeting place since its creation. Presently, the Square has become fully rectangular and is able to accommodate 600,000 persons. The identity of the square is a huge portrait of the visionary leader Mr. Mao Zedong, placed at its wall facing the entrance. Unlike monuments in memories of leaders, national heroes or politicians, Tiananmen Square is known as the monument in honor of the People of China. It is the peaceful home to Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

If you are getting flights to Beijing for a business trip or plan to spend your holidays in China, Tiananmen Square is a must visit.