Gate Of Heavenly Peace

Lonely Planet review

Hung with a vast likeness of Mao, the double-eaved Gate of Heavenly Peace is a potent national symbol. Built in the 15th century and restored in the 17th century, the gate was the largest of the four gates of the Imperial City Wall. Today's political coterie watch mass troop parades from here, and it was from this gate that Mao proclaimed the People's Republic on 1 October 1949. Climb up for excellent views of Tiananmen Square.

Called Chengtian Men during the Ming dynasty, it was renamed Tianan Men during the reign of emperor Shunzhi at the dawn of the Qing dynasty. The gate is guarded by two pairs of Ming stone lions who blocked the path of Li Chuangwang as he invaded Běijīng at the end of the Ming dynasty. Li fended a lion off by stabbing its belly with his spear while on horseback, leaving a mark that can still be seen. Some locals say it's a bullet hole from the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

The gate has five doors fronted by seven bridges spanning a stream. Only the emperor could use the central door and bridge. The soldiers performing the daily flag raising and lowering ceremony on Tiananmen Square emerge via the gate.

To the left of the gigantic portrait of the ex-chairman runs the poetic slogan 'Long Live the People's Republic of China', to the right 'Long Live the Unity of the Peoples of the World'.