Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GATE OF HEAVENLY PEACE
( Tian'anmen; admission ¥15, bag storage ¥2-6; 8.30am-4.30pm; Ti-
an'anmen West or Tian'anmen East)
Hung with a vast likeness of Mao Ze-
dong, and guarded by two pairs of Ming stone lions, the double-eaved Gate of
Heavenly Peace ( Tian'anmen), north of Tian'anmen Sq, is a potent national
symbol. Built in the 15th century and restored in the 17th century, the gate was
formerly the largest of the four gates of the imperial city wall, and it was from
this gate that Mao proclaimed the People's Republic of China on 1 October
1949. Today's political coterie watches mass troop parades from here. Climb
the gate for excellent views of the square, and peek inside at the impressive
beams and overdone paintwork; in all there are 60 gargantuan wooden pillars
and 17 vast lamps suspended from the ceiling.
There's no fee for walking through the gate en route to the Forbidden City,
but if you climb it you'll have to pay. The ticket office is on the north side of the
gate. For Forbidden City tickets, keep walking about 600m further north.
Historic Site
FRONT GATE
( Qian Men; admission ¥20, audio guide ¥20; 9am-4pm, closed Mon; Qi-
anmen)
Front Gate, or Qianmen , actually consists of two gates. The northern-
most is the 40m-high
Zhengyang Gate
( Zhengyang Men Chenglou), which
dates from the Ming dynasty and was the largest of the nine gates of the inner
city wall separating the inner, or Tartar (Manchu) city, from the outer, or
Chinese, city. With the disappearance of the city walls the gate sits out of con-
text, but it can be climbed for decent views of the square and of Arrow Tower
immediately to the south.
Zhengyang Gate Arrow Tower
( Zhengyangmen Ji-
anlou), directly south, can't be climbed.
Historic Site
Mausoleum
CHAIRMAN MAO MEMORIAL HALL
( Mao Zhuxi Jiniantang; Map admission with passport only; bag storage ¥2-10,
camera storage ¥2-5; 8am-noon Tue-Sun; Tian'anmen West, Ti-
an'anmen East or Qianmen)
Chairman Mao died in September 1976 and his
