Monument to the People's Heroes Monument

Address: Tiananmen Square, East Chang’an Avenue, Beijing, China

Hours: Monument area open daily (public square)

Admission: Free entry to Tiananmen Square and Monument; admission to nearby National Museum varies

The Monument to the People’s Heroes is a large cenotaph-style obelisk located on the southern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, commemorating those who died in revolutionary struggles of modern China. It is a major public memorial and focal point within the square.

The monument is constructed from stone with reliefs and inscriptions honoring revolutionary heroes and events; it functions as both a symbolic national memorial and a site for state ceremonies. The structure is several storeys tall and rises above the open expanse of the square.

Construction took place in the 1950s and the monument was unveiled in the late 1950s as part of the new People’s Republic of China’s program of national monuments. It has since been an integral element of Tiananmen Square’s layout and state commemorations.

The obelisk stands centrally on Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, immediately north of the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and surrounded by government buildings and museum precincts.

• Inscription: The obelisk stands on Tiananmen Square and bears an inscription written by Chairman Mao Zedong praising the nation’s martyrs.

The monument sits in the middle of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, a short walk from Tiananmen East and West subway stations (Lines 1 and 2). Most city buses stop near the square; extensive security screening is required to enter.

• Visit early in the morning for the flag-raising ceremony (crowds gather for the daily patriotic ritual).
• Security screening is strict-have ID/passport handy and expect bag checks.
• Pay attention to opening hours of nearby museums if combining visits (the National Museum of China is close by and has separate ticketing).