Tian An Men Square

     I have been to Beijing twice. I remember my first experience about Tian An Men Square, when i was in Beijing.
     I was shocked at the huge, when i saw the Tian an Men Square, although i have seen it through TV too many times. I was proud of it.
    Tian'anmen Square is one of the largest squares in the world. It covers an area of 440,000 square meters. On the north is the red Tian'anmen Gate Tower. On the south is Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall. At the center stands the Monument to the People's Heroes. On one side of the square is the Great Hall of the People and on the other side is the Museum of Chinese History. Tian'anmen is standing at the end of square, and it is the head of the the Forbidden City. In the huge square, it seems protecting the palace and the whole China.

      Tian'anmen， is located in the center of Beijing. It was first built in 1417 and named Chengtianmen. At the end of the Ming Dynasty， it was seriously damaged by war. When it was rebuilt under the Qing in 1651， it was renamed Tian'anmen，and served as the main entrance to the Imperial City，the administrative and residential quarters for court officials and retainers.  
      I like two lions in front of Tian'anmen. The two stone lions by the Gate of Tian'anmen，one on each side were meant as sentries. They gaze toward the middle axis，guarding the emperor's walkway. In front of the gate stands a pair of marble columns called Huabiao. They are elaborately cut in bas-relief following the pattern of a legendary dragon. Behind the gate stands another pair of similar columns. The story of Huabiao may be traced to a couple of sources. One of the versions accredits its invention to one of the Chinese sage kings named Yao，who was said to have set up a wooden pillar in order to allow the ordinary people to expose evil-doers， hence it was originally called a slander pillar. Later it was reduced to a signpost，and now it serves as an decoration.

    I want to go back to see the Forbidden City. Maybe next year, i will plan it.