Tiananmen square

The Tiananmen square (天安门广场, Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng in Chinese) is a large square in the centre of Beijing, south of the Tiananmen gate ("Gate of Heavenly Peace"), a gate in the wall of the Imperial City. It has great cultural significance because it has been the site of several key events in Chinese history. The square measures 880 metres from south to north and 500 metres from east to west and is the largest open urban square in the world. The Tiananmen Gate was built in 1415 during the Ming dynasty. The Tiananmen square was originally designed and built in 1651 and was enlarged four times over the centuries. On the eastern side of the Tiananmen square lies the National museum of China, while on the western side there is the Great hall of the people.