Monument to the People's Heroes

人民英雄纪念碑

The Monument to the People's Heroes is located in the center of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the capital, and was built to commemorate the revolutionary martyrs in China's modern history. The entire monument is carved with more than 170 figures, which summarize and vividly show the great historical facts of the people's revolution in my country over the past century. On the front of the monument are the eight characters "The People's Heroes Will Live Forever" written by Chairman Mao himself, and on the back are the inscriptions drafted by Chairman Mao and written by Premier Zhou Enlai. This is the memory of the older generation and the place of study for the younger generation. When you go to Tiananmen Square, you must come here to commemorate it.

Introduction

  • Attraction Location: Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China (北京市东城区天安门广场)

  • History: The Monument to the People’s Heroes was built between 1952 and 1958 to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during revolutionary struggles in China from the 19th century Opium War to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. It stands as a symbol of national pride and remembrance.
  • Architecture: The monument is a 37.94-meter-high obelisk made of granite and marble, with inscriptions by Chairman Mao Zedong. The base features large bas-relief sculptures depicting historical events, and the top is crowned with a golden emblem of the Chinese national flag. The design blends traditional Chinese symbolism with modern monumental architecture.
  • Cultural Value: It is a national symbol of heroism, patriotism, and the revolutionary spirit. It is the site of national ceremonies, including wreath-laying on national holidays and remembrance days.
  • Other Information: The monument is centrally located in Tiananmen Square, making it highly accessible and a key spot for understanding Chinese modern history and culture.

Visiting Information

  • Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  • Contact Number: +86 10 6521 2071
  • Ticket Price:
    Free entry
  • Best Photo Spots: Wide-angle shots from the square showing the full obelisk
    Close-up of the bas-relief carvings
    Night-time lighting of Tiananmen Square
  • Time Reference: 30–60 minutes for a detailed visit and photography; combine with Tiananmen Square for a 2–3 hour sightseeing session

Where to Sleep (Nearby Hotels & Stays)

  • Luxury:
    Beijing Hotel (北京饭店)
    Grand Hyatt Beijing (北京君悦酒店)
  • Mid-range:
    Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongcheng (北京东城智选假日酒店)
    Novotel Beijing Peace (北京诺富特和平宾馆)
  • Budget & Boutique:
    Beijing Downtown Backpackers Accommodation (北京城中背包客旅舍)
    Hutong-style Boutique Hostel (四合院精品青年旅舍)

What & Where to Eat

  • Must-Try Dishes:
    Beijing Roast Duck (北京烤鸭)
    Zha Jiang Mian – Beijing Soybean Paste Noodles (炸酱面)
    Jianbing – Chinese Savory Crepe (煎饼)
  • Famous Spots:
    Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (全聚德烤鸭店)
    Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant (大董烤鸭店)
    Local street food around Wangfujing (王府井小吃街)

What Souvenirs to Buy

  • Miniatures of Tiananmen Square (天安门广场模型)
    Chinese revolutionary memorabilia (中国革命纪念品)
    Postcards featuring the monument and bas-reliefs (纪念碑明信片)
    National flag souvenirs (国旗纪念品)

Transportation

  • By Subway: Line 1 to Tiananmen East (天安门东) or Tiananmen West (天安门西) Station, then walk 5 minutes to the monument.
  • By Bus: Numerous city buses stop around Tiananmen Square, including routes 1, 2, 5, 52, 82, and 120.
  • By Taxi/Private Car: Direct access via Chang’an Avenue (长安街), central Beijing; traffic can be heavy during peak hours.
  • Walking: Convenient if staying nearby in Dongcheng District or Wangfujing area.

Nearby Attractions

  • Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), 0 km – the monument is inside the square, easily walkable
  • The Forbidden City (故宫), 0.8 km – walk north across Tiananmen Gate (天安门) or take shuttle bus inside the palace grounds
  • Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (毛主席纪念堂), 0.2 km – walk south within Tiananmen Square
  • National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆), 0.5 km – walk east along the square or via connecting underpass

Tips for Visitors

  • Security checks are mandatory; expect queues at entrances.
  • Photography is allowed outdoors; follow rules for indoor sites nearby.
  • Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds, especially during national holidays.
  • Wear comfortable shoes; the square is very large and involves significant walking.
  • Combine with a visit to the Forbidden City and nearby museums for a full cultural experience.
  • Check weather; the square is exposed to sun and wind, so bring a hat, sunscreen, or umbrella as needed.

Recommended itineraries

  • 1-Day Route:
    D1: Monument to the People’s Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑) – Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) – Forbidden City (故宫) – Wangfujing Street (王府井大街) for evening snack/food
    Transportation: Walking between attractions; short taxi if needed
  • 2-Day Route:
    D1: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) – Monument to the People’s Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑) – Mao Zedong Mausoleum (毛主席纪念堂)
    D2: Forbidden City (故宫) – Jingshan Park (景山公园) – Wangfujing Street (王府井大街)
    Transportation: Walking; short taxi or subway Line 1 for longer segments
  • 3-Day Cultural Route:
    D1: Monument to the People’s Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑) – Tiananmen Square (天安门广场)
    D2: Forbidden City (故宫) – Jingshan Park (景山公园)
    D3: National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆) – Wangfujing Street (王府井大街)
    Transportation: Walking, subway Line 1, or taxi for convenience

User Reviews

By Axun wants to see the world |

This is a testimony to great history and deserves our respect

By Tai Shada |

The great martyrs will live forever, and I salute you!

By Kuaiji Gongzhuo|

The Monument to the People's Heroes standing tall in the night is the most glorious symbol of the Republic.

By China Eagle |

The people's heroes who sacrificed their lives in the People's Liberation War and the People's Revolution over the past three years will be immortal!
The people's heroes who sacrificed their lives in the People's Liberation War and the People's Revolution over the past 30 years will be immortal!
This dates back to 1840. Since then, the people's heroes who have sacrificed in successive struggles to oppose internal and external enemies and fight for national independence and the freedom and happiness of the people will be immortal!

By Yi|

In the evening, when I was taking pictures, the armed police had already started to clear the area~~

By Blue Lover Bear |

The people’s heroes will live forever!

By CiCi My Neighbor Totoro |

Solemn and solemn, the People's Heroes Memorial under the blue sky is even more majestic~~

By let go |

A must-learn lesson in the nine-year compulsory education. The Monument to the People's Heroes is something that can only be felt in person.

By How old is the teenager|

Summer 2013, night, didn't go anywhere close, must be 5 stars

By Southern Sunshine |

It reminds me of a Xi'an resident's description of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an: "What's so good about such a lousy Big Wild Goose Pagoda?"

By Fengxing|

To the south is the Monument to the People's Heroes, the iron backbone of the Chinese nation.

By Y a r p |

The Monument to the People's Heroes is erected behind the national flag.

By ★Xin Shao JoShun★ |

The people's heroes will live forever! The people's heroes will live forever

By Highbury Fluttering |

In the center of the square is the Monument to the People's Heroes. Before we took pictures of the Great Hall of the People, we saw many tourists coming forward to visit. But when they turned around after taking pictures, they found that they had been stopped, so we couldn't see the inscriptions up close.

By Xiao Dong |

The 20th stop of the 2017 Spring Festival Beijing tour was on February 3 (the seventh day of the first lunar month). The Monument to the People's Heroes was fenced off and could not be approached, so I could only look at it from a distance.

By Tokasumi |

It is still so majestic, but it's a pity that we are not allowed to visit it up close. I remember when I came here as a child, I could visit it from the platform.

By Xing Wanlilu|

You are not allowed to approach. I am nearsighted and can hardly see the small words on the monument. Is it still a monument if you are not allowed to approach?

By 張旭震 |

天安門廣場前.也是遊客必經之處.順便拍張照吧

By 小瓶Sophia |

The Monument to the People's Heroes is the center of the square and the place that needs to be revered and worshipped the most.

By Han Yu79 |

The Monument to the People's Heroes is 37.94 meters high. The front (north) side of the monument is made of a single piece of stone, 14.7 meters long and 2.9 meters wide.

By ZOE Zhu Zhu |

I went to watch the flag raising ceremony before daybreak. I arrived at 5am and there were already huge crowds of people (⊙o⊙)… It seems I have to arrive at 3am.

By A@z@ |

Monument to the People's Heroes Salute to the Heroes

By Haihe Riverbank|

Monument to the People's Heroes, let us commemorate the revolutionary martyrs together.

By Enjoying Flowers and Jade|

You can also go and see it when you go to Beijing. It would be a pity if you don't see it.

By Mouthwash and Little Tiger |

There are many scenic spots in this area, and they all look like that, without any special features. However, in reality, these buildings are not as majestic and tall as rendered by wide-angle lenses.

By Freesia |

The Monument to the People's Heroes on the square commemorates the martyrs!

By key |

Although I couldn't stand very close, I seemed to see the moment when the heroes sacrificed their lives for the country, and felt that my country was proud of them.

By Friends |

This is to commemorate those heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

By Lemon Seal |

The glory of our motherland is hard-won! Salute!

By A. Zhou Meili |

I was passing by on a business trip and felt that I had to come and punch in.

By Flavored Yogurt |

Monument to the People's Heroes, the people's heroes will live forever

By A Chao|

I passed by in the evening and it was a bit difficult to get in as people were gathered around to watch the flag-lowering.

By sarah |

I was just passing by, it might seem ordinary to me.

By Rene |

On a cloudy day, some very stylish armed police officers...

By Police uncle defends the imperial city |

The monument is to remind everyone of the heroes who fought bravely. Last year, I had the honor to climb the steps of the monument on September 30 and lay flowers. The relief sculptures on the monument are lifelike.

By Wang Da Mi Hu is a road idiot |

The revolutionary martyrs will live forever, and the revolutionary will will live forever. This is a landmark building in China.

By Mutye |

It is magnificent, well carved and beautiful.

By Rulaifu|

On September 29, 1995, I took a train from Nanchang and arrived at Beijing Station at around 10:00 pm on the 30th. (It took more than 30 hours for a train to reach Beijing at that time)

By Xiaodie|

The weather was not very good during the days I went there, it was gloomy, so the photos were not taken well. This is also a must-visit place

By Muzhiyuan|

Always remember them, famous and unknown...

By Wen Guoer Li |

China's capital, Beijing. Like it. Chinese style just

By Qian Kun|

A sacred place, a must visit, without these people I wouldn't have the life I have now, thank them.

By Big Golden Cat Grasshopper |

The Monument to the People's Heroes is the first national public art project after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is also the largest monument in Chinese history. It brought together a large number of China's most outstanding literary and historical experts, architects, and artists at the time, including Zheng Zhenduo, Wu Zuoren, Liang Sicheng, and Liu Kaiqu. Ten large white marble reliefs are inlaid around the large monument base. These large reliefs are two meters high and a total length of 40.68 meters. There are about 20 heroes in each relief, each of which is the same size as a real person, and their faces, personalities, thoughts, feelings, and postures are different.

By jkmeil |

The Monument to the People's Heroes has ten huge white marble reliefs under the monument, most of which reflect events in China's modern and contemporary history. When I was a child, I could go up to the base of the monument to see the reliefs.

By Smart Chicken |

Every time I see it, I am filled with awe. Without their blood and lives, there would be no China today.