総面積40万平方メートル、世界で最も広い広場の1つである。一度に50万人を収容できる。南北は、天安門から正陽門までの880メートル、東西は、人民大会堂から歴史博物館までの500メートルもある。
明清時代には皇帝の即位などに使われる聖なる場所であった。明・清の時代の地図に描かれている現在の広場は、南北に長い「T」字型で、両側には役所が並んでいた。1911年の辛亥革命以後一般に公開されるようになり、1949年の建国の式典の時に広場として整備され、1958年に人民英雄記念碑が、建国10周年の記念に人民大会堂、歴史博物館、革命博物館が、そして1977年には毛主席記念堂が建てられ、現在の姿となった。
新中国を象徴する聖域としての存在でもある。
天安門
中国のシンボルとして、広場の北に位置する。
明・清両王朝の皇城の正門で、創建は明の永楽15年（1417年）。初めは承天門と呼んでいたが、清の順治8年（1651年）の改築後、現在の名に改称されたのである。宮殿建築の二階建ての楼閣で高さは33.7メートルもある。下の部分は城門で、通路が5つある。その城門の中央には毛沢東の肖像画が掲げられている。その上に建つのが天安門の城楼で、黄色の瑠璃瓦に赤い壁、きわめて壮麗である。
明、清時代には皇帝の即位や皇后の冊立などの重大な国事の際はこの楼上より詔を発した。1949年10月1日に毛沢東が中華人民共和国の成立を世界に向けて宣言したのもこの楼上である。
城楼の下を流れる金水河には、精緻な彫刻を施した漢白玉石の「金水橋」と呼ばれる橋が5つ架かっている。
前面には、雄壮な石獅子と華表が一対ずつ配されている。華表というのは中国で皇宮などの前に建てる標柱で、ここでは漢白玉石の円柱に彫刻が施されている。
また、正面には長安街を挟んで、南側には東西500メートル、南北880メートルの天安門広場が広がっている。天安門を背に左には中国革命博物館・中国歴史博物館、右には人民大会堂がそびえている。中国の首都・北京を象徴する堂々たる景観である。
現在は門の上に上ることが出来る。そこから見渡す天安門広場はまた格別である。楼内には、1949年10月1日に毛沢東が楼上から新中国の成立を宣言する場面を描いた絵が掛けられている。
金水河
天安門の前を流れる川は「金水河」と呼ばれ、そこには漢白玉石製の5本の橋が架けられている。真ん中の橋は皇帝と皇后の専用道路、両側のは皇室の人、更にその両側は「三品」以上の大臣の通路である。橋の欄干には見事な龍の彫刻が施されている。これらの橋の四隅には大きな石の獅子が座っている。
華表
橋の袂には彫刻を施した美しい漢白玉石のトーテムポールのような「華表」が1対と、2対の石の獅子が飾られている。
華表とは、宮殿などの前に立っている巨大な石柱、明の永楽年間に建てられ、既に580年以上の歴史を持っており、大きい方の華表の重さは20トン余りに達している。
華表の先端の「承露盤」に乗っている珍獣は「犼」と言い、「望天犼」とも言う。天安門前にある「望天犼」は、頭をもたげ、南を望んでいる。言い伝えによると、これは「南門に面して、天子の帰りを待つ」という役目を持ち、皇帝が城を出た場合、なるべく早く戻って、朝廷の政務を執るよう忠告しているので、「望君帰」とも言う。
天安門の後ろにある華表の「望天犼」は、北を望んでいる。皇帝が皇城にばかりいないで、宮中の豪華な生活に溺れず、外へ出て、庶民の暮らしを見て、庶民の苦しみを視察するよう戒めているので、「望君出」とも言う。その故、「華表」は「望柱」とも言われている。
国旗掲揚台
広場の北端に国旗掲揚台がある。日中は五星紅旗がほんぽんと翻る。掲揚台の周りは夏の炎天下でも冬の寒風の中でも直立不動の姿勢で微動だにせぬ衛兵に守られている。
それを取り囲む見学者も多い。特に人出が増えるのは国旗降揚の儀式の時間帯。毎日、日の出の時間に掲揚し、日の入りの時間に降ろす。
人民英雄紀念碑
天安門広場の中央にそびえる高さ37.94メートルの石碑、1958年4月に竣工され、5月1日に盛大な除幕式が行われた。
台座は2層に分かれ、ともに四方に漢白玉石の手すりをめぐらし、四面に石段が設けられている。下層の周囲には、アヘン戦争から長江渡河まで、百年にわたる革命の歴史を描いた10枚の巨大なレリーフがある。レリーフは中国の彫刻家と石工達が5年がかりで彫り上げたものである。高さ2メートル、総延長40.68メートル、170人余りの人物が彫られている。
碑は高さ14.7メートル、幅29メートル、厚さ1メートル、重さ60トン余りの大石で、正面（北面）に毛沢東撰・筆の「人民英雄永垂不朽」（人民の英雄は永遠に不滅である）の8つの金文字が彫られ、裏面には周恩来の手による、革命闘争で犠牲になった英雄たちを称える題詞が刻まれている。
Why is Tian’anmen Square Special?
Tiananmen Square is located at the center of Beijing City. It is named after the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, which separates it from the Forbidden City. Covering an area of 440,000 square meters, Tian’anmen Square is the second largest city square in the world. It is no doubt a must-see place during your visit in Beijing.
Tian’anmen Square Highlights
Tiananmen Tower
Tiananmen Tower is located at the north end of the square. It was first constructed in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.) and was served as the front door of the Forbidden City. During the ancient times, Tiananmen Tower was the place to declare in a big ceremony to the common people who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.
At the north end of the Square is Tiananmen Tower. Initially built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.), the Square was the front door of the Forbidden City. The most important use of it in the past was to declare in a big ceremony to the common people who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.
Monument to People's Heroes
The granite Monument to the People's Heroes is just at the center of the Tiananmen Square. Built in 1952, it is the largest monument in China's history. 'The People's Heroes are Immortal' written by Chairman Mao is engraved on the monument. Eight unusually large relief sculptures show to the people the development of Chinese modern history. Two rows of white marble railings enclose the monument, simple and beautiful.
Great Hall of the People
West of the Square is the Great Hall of the People. This building, erected in 1959, is the site of the China National People's Congress meetings and provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities. Twelve marble posts are in front of the Hall which has three parts--the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall seats 10,000. The Banqueting Hall is a huge hall with 5,000 seats.
Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao
Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao is at the south side of the Square. This Hall is divided into three halls and our dear Chairman Mao's body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.
National Museum of China
Another important place for the tourist to visit is the China National Museum at the east side of the Square. It just came into existence in 2003 and is a combination of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum faces the Great Hall of the People. Inside the Chinese Revolutionary Museum are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models to present the development of modern China. The Chinese History Museum shows a large number of cultural relics illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1921 when the last emperor left the throne.
Flag-Raising Ceremony
Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the ceremony every day.
Why is Tian’anmen Square Special?
Tiananmen Square is located at the center of Beijing City. It is named after the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, which separates it from the Forbidden City. Covering an area of 440,000 square meters, Tian’anmen Square is the second largest city square in the world. It is no doubt a must-see place during your visit in Beijing.
Tian’anmen Square Highlights
Tiananmen Tower
Tiananmen Tower is located at the north end of the square. It was first constructed in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.) and was served as the front door of the Forbidden City. During the ancient times, Tiananmen Tower was the place to declare in a big ceremony to the common people who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.
At the north end of the Square is Tiananmen Tower. Initially built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.), the Square was the front door of the Forbidden City. The most important use of it in the past was to declare in a big ceremony to the common people who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.
Monument to People's Heroes
The granite Monument to the People's Heroes is just at the center of the Tiananmen Square. Built in 1952, it is the largest monument in China's history. 'The People's Heroes are Immortal' written by Chairman Mao is engraved on the monument. Eight unusually large relief sculptures show to the people the development of Chinese modern history. Two rows of white marble railings enclose the monument, simple and beautiful.
Great Hall of the People
West of the Square is the Great Hall of the People. This building, erected in 1959, is the site of the China National People's Congress meetings and provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities. Twelve marble posts are in front of the Hall which has three parts--the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall seats 10,000. The Banqueting Hall is a huge hall with 5,000 seats.
Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao
Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao is at the south side of the Square. This Hall is divided into three halls and our dear Chairman Mao's body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.
National Museum of China
Another important place for the tourist to visit is the China National Museum at the east side of the Square. It just came into existence in 2003 and is a combination of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum faces the Great Hall of the People. Inside the Chinese Revolutionary Museum are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models to present the development of modern China. The Chinese History Museum shows a large number of cultural relics illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1921 when the last emperor left the throne.
Flag-Raising Ceremony
Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the ceremony every day.
