Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is a large gathering place in the middle of Beijing where several different sightseeing buildings are located. It is named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square is the fourth largest city square in the world. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history. Outside China, the square is best known in recent memory as the focal point of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, a pro-democracy movement which ended on 4 June 1989 with the declaration of martial law in Beijing by the government and the shooting of several hundred or possibly thousands of civilians by soldiers.

Located as a cultural center of Beijing, it is also one of the best places to catch public transportation and is a major subway line stop.