Tiananmen Square history at a glance
The name Tiananmen belongs first to the gate. Building began in 1417, when it was called Chengtianmen. In the Ming and Qing periods it was the main gate of the Imperial City. The open square in front of it, with the buildings you see today, took its present form later, with a large rebuilding in 1958 and 1959.
That difference matters when you read about the place. A date can refer to the gate, to the monument or to the square as a whole. This page keeps them apart and gives each date separately. It describes events and dates only. If you want to see the sites in person, start with the facts about the square and our guide to Tiananmen Square tours.
From the Ming and Qing gate to 1949
The gate before the square.
1417: Chengtianmen
Building of the gate begins under the name Chengtianmen. It stands at the entrance to the Imperial City, the main gate in the Ming and Qing periods.
1651 or 1654: rebuild and new name
The rebuild and the name Tiananmen date from the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign, which is given as 1651 or 1654, so you will find either year in print.
1 October 1949: proclamation
Mao Zedong announced the founding of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China from the Tiananmen gate tower.
Tiananmen Gate guide →Our pick: the story on a guided walk
Our take: a guide walks you across the square before the palace visit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Beijing tours that pass Tiananmen Square
Guided city tours and day trips around the center. Check what each one includes before you book.
The monument and the rebuilt square, 1949 to 1959
Most of what stands around the square today dates from these years.
The Monument to the People's Heroes was decided on 30 September 1949, and its foundation stone was laid on the same day. Building began on 1 August 1952. The work was completed in April 1958, and the monument was unveiled on 1 May 1958. It is 37.94 m high, on a base of 3,000 m².
In 1958 and 1959 the area was rebuilt on a large scale. The Great Hall of the People went up on the west side and the museum building on the east side. The work ended in early September 1959. The open square has therefore not stayed unchanged since the Ming period.
The mausoleum south of the monument was completed and opened on 9 September 1977. For today's opening times and booking, see the Mao Mausoleum guide.
Later events on the square
Two dates that visitors ask about.
1976
Around the Qingming festival, memorial gatherings for Zhou Enlai took place. On 5 April 1976 there were serious clashes on the square between the people gathered and militia, police and troops, and the protests were suppressed.
1989
Demonstrations began after the death of Hu Yaobang on 15 April 1989. Martial law was declared in Beijing from 20 May 1989. The demonstrations were put down by the military in the night of 3 to 4 June 1989, and people died.
Figures
Estimates of the number of deaths in 1989 differ widely, and not all deaths took place on the square itself.
Where to go next
The same history, seen on site.
Square facts
Size, monuments and buildings with their dates.
Qianmen and Zhengyangmen
The southern gate tower, reopened in July 2026.
National Museum
Opening hours, booking and permanent themes.
The palace that the gate once led to has its own history in the guide to the history of the Forbidden City.
Reading the dates
Why you may meet different years.
Gate or square?
Many texts use the name Tiananmen for both. Check whether a date belongs to the gate, to the monument or to the rebuilt square.
Two years for one rebuild
The Qing rebuild is dated 1651 or 1654, so you will find either year in print.
Dates and facts
The entries for 1976 and 1989 are plain chronology. For the sites you can visit today, see the guides to the museum, the mausoleum and the Great Hall.
Tiananmen Square history: frequently asked questions
When was the Tiananmen Gate built?
Building began in 1417, and the gate was then called Chengtianmen. It was rebuilt and renamed Tiananmen in the Qing period, in 1651 or 1654 depending on the text.
Is the square as old as the gate?
No. The large open square with the Great Hall and the museum building dates from the rebuilding of 1958 to 1959. The Monument to the People's Heroes was unveiled on 1 May 1958.
What happened on 1 October 1949?
Mao Zedong announced the founding of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China from the Tiananmen gate tower.
When did the Mao Mausoleum open?
It was completed and opened on 9 September 1977. It reopened to visitors on 1 September 2026.
Is there an agreed number of deaths for 1989?
No. Estimates differ widely.
Is this an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by the square's administration, a museum or any operator.