Beijing – Tian’anmen Square and Beihai Park

We are slowly getting used to the fact that everything is bigger and grander in Beijing, which is supposed to show how big and powerful China is. We’ve already written about the Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world, and in this post we’ll briefly describe the adjacent world’s largest public square, Tian’anmen Square, and Beihai Park.

We are also slowly getting used to all these fancy names: Temple of Heaven, Square and Gate of Heavenly Tranquility, Temple of Harmony and Peace, Hall of Kindness and Longevity, Pavilions of Harmony…. One would think that we are in a spiritual, free, pacifist country – Peace & Love. Nothing could be further from the truth. It has witnessed many important and sometimes dramatic historical events, including the high-profile bloody crackdown on protesters in 1989.

Tian’anmen Square is often shown in Western media – it’s where the big military parades take place, rehearsed to perfection, elaborated in every detail. As an indication of the momentum and the importance of the event, let’s say that in 2015, when the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II in the Far East was celebrated, 12,000 soldiers, 500 military vehicles and 200 aircraft participated in the parade! How to make it all work? How do you prepare for such a big parade and be able to practice it? Simple, just prepare a copy of the square, which of course the Chinese did, and there they bravely practiced “synchrony.”

However, let’s return to the Square itself. This was our second visit to this place – the first time we quickly passed through the gates and moved towards the Gate of the Heavenly Peace leaving the Square behind, giving it only a quick glance. We came back here another day, because one look is not enough.

Tian’anmen Square tour

Once again, we stood in line, passed the inspection, but this time we immediately went to the square itself. Only standing in the middle did we realize how big it is. Seriously. We had never been to such a large square before.

We tried to compare it to any other place, probably the closest to Revolution Square in Havana, but it’s still not the same. The square is 800 meters long and 300 meters wide.

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One might think square, square, but what more is there to do? In the square itself is the Monument to the Heroes of the People, and behind it is Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum.

This square-shaped building houses the embalmed body of the leader in a crystal coffin. If you want to go inside, you need to find out in advance what hours it is open (until 12 or 11), but currently I think there is some work going on and it is closed at all.

On the sides of the Square are still the National Museum and the Great Hall of the People.

We also encourage you to go behind the mausoleum, because there are two towers hidden there (another one!), or more precisely, it is a gate, only that it is two-part. Now separated by a street, but originally the two buildings were connected.

Surprising, because the towers are quite impressive, in our opinion even more so than the Drum and Bell Towers we’ve already described, and yet there are seemingly fewer people willing to look at them. The Gate Facing the Sun (Zhèngyángmén, also known as the Front Gate, Front Gate) was part of the city wall, and was built during the Ming Dynasty.

Beihai Park

That same day we went to one more place – Beihai Park, a former imperial garden. This park is located at the height of Jingshan Park, more to the west. It is actually an island (Qionghua) where you can walk around or climb a hill to admire the surroundings. The most prominent landmark is the White Dagoba, visible from a distance and 36 meters high. It was built for the Dalai Lama’s visit, but had to be rebuilt after the earthquake.

Immediately after crossing the gates, there is a stone bridge that leads to the island. Boats and pedal boats cruise quietly on the lake, but there is definitely more traffic on the shore. The park is visited by many people and can be quite cramped at times.

We took the road around, which is very picturesque, passing numerous pavilions, gates, corridors, sculptures, stores, a pond.

But something we particularly liked were the beautifully flowering trees. It was probably the best place in Beijing to capture spring.

It is an atmospheric, charming place, ideal for photo shoots. It would have been even more ideal if there had been a quieter atmosphere, but after a few days in Beijing, we were used to the hustle and bustle and crowds everywhere. Nevertheless, it is relatively quieter and more peaceful here than on neighboring streets.

Summary

Heavenly Peace Square itself (or Tian’anmen Square as you prefer) is a must see, but it’s worth it when visiting the Forbidden City. If you have the desire and more luck, you may be able to take a look at the Mausoleum, and it’s a must to go in the direction of the Gate to the Sun.

If we were in Beijing again, we would start the passage from the Gate, then the Mausoleum, the Square and then straight to the Forbidden City. A plan for a day like this :)

If you have more time, you can quietly combine the Square and/or the Forbidden City with any of the parks: Beihai or Jingshan.

Zobacz galerię zdjęć z Placu Tian’anmen i Parku Beihai >>>