Internationally, the square is best known for the 1989 protests and massacre that ended with a military crackdown, which is also known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre or the June Fourth Massacre, as a result, depending on estimates, between 200 and 3000 people were killed (Red Cross: 2600). As with all democracy movements, the regime is trying to erase the memory of it because it would ultimately endanger the CP dictatorship. Nothing on the subject can be found in Chinese textbooks. Fortunately, historical revisionism is becoming increasingly difficult, thanks to the availability of the Internet.
Used as a venue for mass gatherings since its creation, its flatness is contrasted by both the 38-meter (125 ft)-high “Monument to the People’s Heroes” and the “Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.” The square lies between two ancient, massive gates: the Tiananmen to the north and the Zhengyangmen (better known as Qianmen) to the south. Along the west side of the square is the Great Hall of the People. Along the east side is the National Museum of China (dedicated to Chinese history predating 1919). Erected in 1989, Liberty, a statue representing the western icon holds her torch over the square. Chang’an Avenue, which is used for parades, lies between the Tian’anmen and the square. Trees line the east and west edges of the square, but the square itself is open, with neither trees nor benches. The square is lit with large lamp posts which are fitted with video cameras. It is heavily monitored by uniformed and plain-clothes police officers.
[caption id="attachment_27363" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Pont de Sully (front) with the Institut du Monde Arabe in the background to the right,...
