Sign in or register
for additional privileges

Asian Migration and Global Cities

Anne Cong-Huyen, Jonathan Young Banfill, Katherine Herrera, Samantha Ching, Natalie Yip, Thania Lucero, Randy Mai, Candice Lau, Authors
Official Texts, page 1 of 5
Previous page on path     Next page on path

Other paths that intersect here:
 

You appear to be using an older verion of Internet Explorer. For the best experience please upgrade your IE version or switch to a another web browser.

Tian'anmen



"我爱北京天安门” (I Love Beijing Tian'anmen) a Chinese Children's song goes. . . 

The Gate of Heavenly Peace is of central importance to Beijing. It is the front gate to the Forbidden City. It also sits at the northern end of fourth largest square in the world: Tian'anmen, where so much of China's 20th Century history has run through. 

Tian'anmen is the central reference point of the city. It is the square of Chinese power. Where Mao proclaimed the founding of the PRC and welcomed Red Guards. It is lined by buildings such as the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum, as well as containing Mao's Tomb. It is also the space of Chinese state repression. All you have to do is think of 6/4 or 1989. All these things, all these ghosts, linger in the square, embedded in its concrete. 

Mao's portrait looks out over the empty space. . . 

Patriotic videos of China's greatness play in the middle. Tourists mingle. The seal of the PRC sits giant on top of the soviet style building. 

It is a place of ambivalent feelings and layered meanings, yet it is still striking to be here. To come on the October Holiday and see the people mingle, proud of their country. Or to sit in the rooftop garden of one of my favorite restaurants, Capital M, and look out over the square. I don't always know what to think. 

All roads in Beijing lead through Tian'anmen. . . 
Comment on this page
 

Discussion of "Tian'anmen"

Add your voice to this discussion.

Checking your signed in status ...

Previous page on path Official Texts, page 1 of 5 Next page on path

Related:  Beijing MonumentsYoudu 幽都Beijing: YonghegongTaijian BowuguanLos Angeles: Reading the CityWudaokouLine 13: Experiencing MigrationsBeijing, ChinaBeijing Subway VisualizationMigrant Children in the RubbleBeijing TourismSeeing Foreign Bands in BeijingBeijing Light MapBeijing Capital International AirportBeijing by Peter CarneyBeijing, ChinaSkylinesPinguoyuanBeijing: A Global City?Beijing to SeattleBeijing: PastFahaisiBeijing: Chang'an JieLong Live Shougang SteelBeijing 1968TsinghuaBeijing 1968 MapWelcome to the Northern CapitalL.A. Songs: Desperados Under the EavesBeijing 1907Los Angeles: Light and DarkBeijing DoorsBeijing: Asian Migrants and LaborersBeijing LiteratureBeijing Smog MapEducational MigrantsBeijing SkyRural to Urban MigrationBeijing FlybyLine I: Orientations & PlacesNorth Korean RestaurantLos Angeles: Futures798Expat MigrationMulholland DriveBeijing, January 2009Beijing GhostsBeijing: BookwormBeijing: Reading the City (Culture)Beijing Cover ImageBeijing Subway Close UpThe 8th Ring Road: Limits/Speculative Futures/ConclusionsVirtual Dubai: Spec Ops: The LineBeijing TaxiBeijing: First Ring RoadBeijing Subway MapTimeout BeijingL.A. Songs: Funtimes in BabylonSanlitunRecyling VillageBeijing Vimeo MoviesBeijing: Reading the City (Official Texts)Beijing Airport - LandingBeijing: GulouBeijing: FuturesWangjing: Korean MigrationBeijing Smog Map IIKeanu & Man of Tai ChiBeijing Death CloudBeijing SimulacraHutongsLine II: Past and PresentBeijing Music SceneBeijing: Recycling VillageL.A. Songs: HappyBeijing - ShichahaiBlade RunnerBeijing FilmBeijing Skyline南锣鼓巷BeijingBeijing PhotosL.A. Songs: It Was a Good Day