Posts Tagged ‘Tiananmen Square’

Mr. Crawford responds to questions

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Q: How do you get across the moat at the Forbidden City and do people swim in the moat?

A: There is a large moat around the Forbidden City and bridges to cross it at the North, East, South, and West Gates. I don’t think any one would swim in the moat. I would be too scared myself because even today there are security guards watching everything that is going on. The Forbidden city itself was beautiful and extremely large. Check out the gallery photos to see what we saw.

Q: I want more pictures of Flat Mr. Crawford!

A: Flat Mr. Crawford has had quite an adventure so far. He has also gotten a few nicknames along the way. He enjoyed his time at the Ministry of Education, visited with the elephant statues, and saw everything he could at the Forbidden City. He has also picked up the nicknames of Flat Mr. C., Little Man, and The Little Guy. He is enjoying the trip tremendously so far! Check out more the photos from his adventures in the photo gallery.

Tiananmen Square History

Friday, April 10th, 2009

As seen from the Google Earth Video, Tiananmen Square is a very large open plaza.  It is extremely flat with only lampposts breaking up the long streches of concrete.  The square itself is 880 meters by 500 meters, almost 100 acres large!  It was originally designed and built in Beijing in 1651.  It was expanded to current size, fourtimes the original size, in 1958. In 1958, the Monument to the People’s Heroes was also added to the square.

The square itself has been used for many different purposes over the last few centuries.   Occupying armies have used it to station their troops specifically the English and the French in the 1860’s and the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.  Tiananmen Square has also been a location to showcase national pride and strength.  It has frequently been the site used for parades and speeches. This includes the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949.

Zaijian,

Mr. Crawford