Tian'an Men (Gate of Heavenly Peace)
This gate is the largest in what was once known as the Imperial City and the most emblematic of Chinese government grandeur. Above the central door, once reserved for the emperor, now hangs the famousportrait of Mao, flanked by inscriptions that read: LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (left) and LONG LIVE THE GREAT UNITY OF THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD (right). Mao declared the founding of the People's Republic from atop the gate on October 1, 1949. There is no charge to walk through, but tickets are required if you want to ascend to theupper platformfor worthwhile views of Tian'an Men Square. Pretend to be the Great Helmsman addressing a sea of Red Guards, all struggling to understand your thick Hunan accent and waving your little red book. Note the pair ofhuabiao(ornamental columns) topped with lions, wreathed in dragons and clouds, and facing the square. In their original form,huabiaowere wooden posts in the shapes of a battle-axes, upon which subjects would attach petitions or scrawl their grievances to the king. Over time, their function was reversed. Turned to stone and wreathed in the ultimate symbol of the emperor's mandate -- the dragon -- they became a warning to the ruled to keep out.
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| Hours | 8am-4:30pm in summer; 8:30am-4pm in winter | |
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| Location | North of Tian'an Men Sq.; ticket office to left as you enter | |
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| Prices | Admission ¥20 ($3) in summer, ¥15 ($2) in winter | |
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| Other | Mandatory bag storage (¥2-¥6/30¢-75¢) behind and to left of ticket booth; cameras allowed | |