[Billy]

Tian'anmen or The Gate of Heavenly Peace

Tian'anmen, the main entrance to the Forbidden City, is a symbol of the nation and an image of China. When the gate was first built in the 15th Century, it had five gateways and was the main door to the imperial city. Until 1911, and the overthrow of the Ming and Qing dynasties, this was the entrance to the "forbidden area" for ordinary people. The most important function of the Gate Tower was to provide a platform for great ceremonies- Mao's proclamation of the Peoples Republic of China. Mao's image is in the center, surrounded by two slogans: On the left, the motto "Long Live the People's Republic of China", to the right, "Long Live the Great Union between the Peoples of the World". The tourists can climb up the Gate Tower and view Tian'anmen Square.