About the Tiananmen and the Making of Modern China Walk in Beijing
Situated at the heart of Old Beijing, Tiananmen Square symbolizes the rise of modern, communist China in the 20th century and its current history. During this three-hour walk, with a scholar of Chinese history, we'll walk the extent of the square, visiting its key monuments, and framing it within a discussion of Chinese modern history from the beginning of the 20th century to the present.
We begin with the figure of Mao Zedong, the enigmatic Chinese general who led the communist revolution in China. Visiting both his tomb and the enormous portrait that hangs over Tiananmen Gate, we'll explore Mao's life and philosophy and trace the events of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s that led to the establishment of communist China.
Our exploration of the making of modern China will look closely at the remaking of Beijing, an ancient city that was transformed by Mao and the communists, with Tiannamen Square as its symbolic heart. We'll consider the major monuments that frame and anchor the space and
read more
Situated at the heart of Old Beijing, Tiananmen Square symbolizes the rise of modern, communist China in the 20th century and its current history. During this three-hour walk, with a scholar of Chinese history, we'll walk the extent of the square, visiting its key monuments, and framing it within a discussion of Chinese modern history from the beginning of the 20th century to the present.
We begin with the figure of Mao Zedong, the enigmatic Chinese general who led the communist revolution in China. Visiting both his tomb and the enormous portrait that hangs over Tiananmen Gate, we'll explore Mao's life and philosophy and trace the events of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s that led to the establishment of communist China.
Our exploration of the making of modern China will look closely at the remaking of Beijing, an ancient city that was transformed by Mao and the communists, with Tiannamen Square as its symbolic heart. We'll consider the major monuments that frame and anchor the space and help to explain the history of Beijing and China in the 20th century, including the Great Hall of the People, the history museum, and the Monument to the People, unraveling the iconography of communism, propaganda, and the major events of 1950-1980 that shaped Chinese history. Along the way we'll look at the cultural revolution.
We'll also spend some time discussing the precursors to the rise of communism in China, including the 1919 May Fourth students movement and the presence of American philosopher John Dewey in China during the 1920s.
We'll conclude with a look at 1989 and the student-led protests in Tiannamen and elsewhere in Beijing that culminated in massacres. We'll explore the causes and ongoing effects of those events as China embraces the rocky road of reform and growth. Through the entire story we'll use Tiananmen as a touchstone, referring back to this central spot and its critical role in Chinese national identity.
