Great Hall

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The Great Hall of the People

The Opening Ceremony of the ICM2002 will be held at the Main Auditorium of the Great Hall of the People, which is the home of China's governing body, People's Congress. Located on Tiananmen Square, it is a venue for large-scale meetings, conventions and banquets when the People's Congress is not in session. The Main Auditorium, where the government leaders make their speeches, can seat an audience of 10000.

Tiananmen Square

Every visitor to Beijing gravitates to this square which has become the pulse of this exciting city of contrasts. It has been said that it can accommodate over one million people in the 122 acres, and is the largest square in the world.

This area has attracted Beijing citizens and visitors since the mid 17th Century, but only in the late 1950's was it formally laid out. Since then many changes have been made to the original concept. In late 1998 and for nearly half of 1999, the square was closed for a complete refurbishing in anticipation of the October 1, 1999 50th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The square has been the site of many momentous events such as the declaration of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the rallies launching the Cultural Revolution in 1966, the deaths of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai in 1976 when millions of mourners packed the square, and 1989 when student protestors occupied the square for nearly two months while the world watched the events unfold on TV's in their living rooms. In June, 1989 government troops and tanks brought the event to a violent conclusion. On each 5th year anniversary the government hosts huge military parades highlighting their military might and capabilities. The largest of these events occurred on October 1, 1999 when the 50th anniversary was celebrated.

Surrounding the square are the Great Hall of the People, Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, Mao Zedong Mausoleum, and the Qianmen Gate. On the north end is the Gate of Heavenly Peace which is the entrance to the Forbidden City, or Palace Museum as it is sometime called. The Gate Tower has a large portrait of Chairman Mao displayed over the entrance. At the center of the square stands the Monument to the People's Heroes.

Visitors may want to visit the square at sunrise when the national flag is raised each day in a grand ceremony. A similar ceremony is repeated at sunset when the flag is lowered.

Bicycles and kite flyers are usually in evidence in the square as well as hundreds if not thousands of visitors. They are all but specks in this tremendous expanse.

Please send your suggestions and comment to: icmsec@beijing.icm2002.org.cn
Last modified: Dec 8, 2001