The heart of the city

Built in 1420, Tian'anmen or "Gate of Heavenly Peace" is the entrance to the Imperial City of Beijing, within which the Forbidden City is located. It was where the emperors issued imperial edicts during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, when no building in Beijing was allowed to exceed Tian'anmen Rostrum's height of 32 m.

On Oct 1, 1949, Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People's Republic of China on the Tian'anmen Rostrum. Tian'anmen continued to be a national symbol, with a portrait of Mao positioned over the central gate, along with the slogans: "Long Live the People's Republic of China" and "Long Live the Solidarity of the World People".

Tian'anmen Square, located to the south of the Tian'anmen Rostrum, is the largest square in the world. Many a celebration and political activities have taken place here.