Tiananmen Square is the large plaza near the center of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen (literally Gate of Heavenly Peace), which sits to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. It has great cultural significance as a symbol since it was the site of several key events throughout Chinese history.
Measuring 100 acres, Tiananmen represents the largest urban square in the world. It can hold about one million people for public celebration or gatherings. In this square, you can climb the Tiananmen Rostrum, attend the national flag raising ceremony in the morning (the time varies subject to the sunrise), visit the National Museum of China, and go to the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in which you will see the body of the great Chinese leader.
The Tiananmen Rostrum, standing to the north of the Tiananmen Square, was the main gate of the royal palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Before the Rostrum are the Golden Water Bridge, the white Huabiao (a pair of ornamental columns made of white marble sculptured with dragon designs) and a pair of big stone lions.
