After the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven, Marc and I felt like we really hit the most important sights of Beijing.  What place next to visit?  Well, it was Tianamen Square for us.  Honestly, we went to Tianamen Square everyday while we were in Beijing.  In fact, we walked through it, around it and in it from our first full day until our very last day in the Chinese capital.  It was huge and I mean huge.  It seemed like downtown San Francisco could fit in it many times over.  I actually loved being in the square.  It was overwhelming.  Chinese soldiers in full regalia were everywhere.  They were in front of the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and by Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.  The Lonely Planet Beijing City Guide stated that the square is obsessively monitored to quickly suffocate any signs of dissent, beggars, and vagrants.  I remember Marc and myself having to go through security every time we entered the area.  Discipline and restraint clearly reigned there.

Halfway through our stay in Beijing, we set aside ample time to really enjoy the square and see its sights.  Anyway, the following pictures were taken during the different occasions we visited Tianamen Square.

A more frontal view of the National Museum of China

Although big and imposing, the museum was not recommended for a visit by many guide books we read.  It is said no to not have a lot in terms of exhibits or collection.  With that said, we gave it a miss.  Besides, we really didn't see anybody going in.  There were no crowds nor lines of people wanting to enter the premises.

Right in the middle of Tianamen Square.  Tianamen Gate is in the hazy distant background.  If you have been reading my blog, you know that people have to pass through the Tianamen Gate to reach the Forbidden City.

Chairman Mao's Mausoleum

The mausoleum was closed for most of the time we were in Beijing.  One afternoon, however, one Chinese soldier told us that the mausoleum was going to open to visitors and encouraged us to come, visit, and see Chairman Mao's body in state.  It is said that there are two bodies inside the mausoleum.  One real and the other made of wax.  Per the Frommer's Guidebook, the decision to preserve Mao's body was made hours after his death in 1976.  The mausoleum was built in 1977 and all tours are free and fast, with no stopping, picture taking, drinking, or carrying bags allowed inside.  We knew the lines to get into the mausoleum always got very long as early as 9 am and so we no longer went.  Perhaps on our next visit in the near future.

Statues of this kind, depicting scenes of the People's Revolution, stood in the front and back of the mausoleum.

A side view of Chairman Mao's Mausoleum

The rear of Chairman Mao's Mausoleum

In front of the Great Hall of the People

Unlike the National Museum of China on the opposite side of the square, the Great Hall of the People seemed more active with tourist buses parked in front of the building and visitors actually streaming out of it.  The gates surrounding the hall were closed though so the buses must have carried Chinese government officials and employees.

The facade of the Great Hall of the People

The seal hanging high above the Great Hall of the People

In the center of Tianamen Square stands the Monument to the People's Heroes, a 121 ft. granite obelisk erected in 1958, engraved with scenes from famous uprisings with the inscription:  The People's Heroes Are Immortal.

The Monument to the People's Heroes

The Tianamen Tower.  Chairman Mao and other high ranking Chinese officials used to stand atop this tower while an impressive parade passed by.  Marc and I went up this tower on our second to the last day in Beijing.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Tianamen Square.  Too bad it is a bit hazy.

The TianamenTower

Another favorite picture of mine.  I must say, Beijing, truly, truly surprised me by its modernity.  I never expected it to be so new and elegant.  Although I would have loved to see more hutongs, new Beijing is without any doubt very grand and impressive.  So beautiful I want to go back now.

Marc and me at Tianamen Square.  Here I am wearing a Chinese soldier's winter hat.  I bought two of these hats.  The first one I bought was black and paid 30 yuan ($5) for it.  The second, a brown colored one,  I bought cost me a mere 20 yuan ($3) from another vendor.  People stared as I went around town wearing this hat.  Could it have been because I looked so much like a tourist wearing it? Heck, all the Chinese soldiers I saw all over Tianamen Square and Wangfujing wore one.  I loved wearing it though.  I certainly kept my head and ears warm.

Marc solo pic in Tianamen Square

A view of Tianamen Square atop the Tianamen Gate one afternoon.  The red signs on both sides of the square looked really nice, at least to me.  Guess what they were made of?  LED lights.  By the way, that's the Monument to the People's Heroes and Chariman Mao's Mausoleum right behind it.  Behind the mausoleum is the Qian Men Gate or Front Gate in English.

One would be hard pressed not to see this huge gate called Zhengyang Men right behind Chairman Mao's Mausoleum in Tianamen Square

A closer view of the Zhengyang Men or Zhengyang Gate

A view of the Zhengyang Men and the Qian Men in Tianamen Square

Qian Men or The Front Gate

A clsoer view of the Qian Men or The Front Gate

Right behind this old historic gate is a wonderful shopping area recently developed and actually still under development called Xian Men Business District.