China: Day Fifteen Part Two - Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is the city square in the center of Beijing, named after the gate to the Forbidden City. Tiananmen means "Gate of Heavenly Peace."

The underground entrances to the square have airport type security and can change.

There are lots of people and lots to see in and around the square...

Including Mao's Mausoleum...

It is flanked by these two sculptures by the entrance...

The Monument to People's Heroes...

And Tiananmen  Tower. It was built in 1417 as the entrance to the Forbidden City. It was here that it was announced to the common people who their emperor and empress would be until 1911.

And it is still used as the entrance to the Forbidden City today...