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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- China
- Beijing
- Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
The famous square at the heart of Beijing, recently renovated,
is still not much to look at, but it attracts curious tourists
simply because it was the scene of so many historic events and is
the largest city square in the world. In the ancient imperial days
it was a gathering place and the site of government offices, but
more modern history, particularly the 1989 massacre of
pro-democracy demonstrators, has made it a site of great political
significance. Major rallies took place in the square during the
Cultural Revolution when Mao Tse Tung reviewed military parades up
to a million strong. The square is surrounded by several monuments,
some ancient and some modern, including the former gates to the
Forbidden City, the Gate of Heavenly Peace and Qianmen (the front
gate); the Chinese Revolution Museum; and the Mao Mausoleum where
China's former leader lays preserved in state.
Information & Facts
Language
The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but there are
hundreds of local dialects.
Money
The currency used in China is the Renminbi Yuan (CNY). The Yuan
is divided into 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Make sure you exchange
your leftover Yuan before returning home because this currency can
be exchanged only within China's borders. Travellers cheques,
preferably in US Dollars, and foreign cash can be exchanged in
cities at the Bank of China. Banks are closed weekends. The larger
hotels and the special 'Friendship Stores' designed for foreigners
will accept most western currencies for purchases. Major credit
cards are accepted in the main cities at various establishments,
but outside the major cities acceptance is limited. ATMs are scarce
outside the main cities.
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