The 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests (Tiananmen Square Massacre or June 4th Massacre or 6/4 Incident), were a series of student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the People's Republic of China, between April 15, 1989 and June 4, 1989. The protest, denouncing China's economic instability and political corruption, was violently suppressed by armed soldiers ordered into Beijing by the PRC government.

Although student protests had been occurring for over a year, the famous protest began in mid-April 1989. It was triggered by the death of Hu Yaobang, the general secretary of the CCP between 1981 and 1987. Hu was forced to resign by Deng Xiaoping because of his soft attitude toward the student unrest in 1986. He was widely respected among students and intellectuals.

Photo: Destroyed bicycle and tank-track - symbol of Chinese protest in Polish city, Wrocław

The Tiananmen or Tian'anmen (Simplified: 天安门; Traditional: 天安門; Hanyu Pinyin: Tiān ān mén), is the main entrance to the Imperial Palace Grounds, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, People's Republic of China. It is located along the northern edge of Tiananmen Square.

The gate was originally named Chengtianmen (Simplified: 承天门; Traditional: 承天門; Hanyu Pinyin: chéng tiān mén). The gate was damaged by lightning in 1457, and was not repaired until 1465. It suffered another blow in the war at the end of Ming Dynasty. In 1644 during the Qing Dynasty, the gate was again burnt down by rebels led by Li Zicheng. It was rebuilt and given its present name in 1651.

(Source: Wikipedia)

(Source: Wikipedia)

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