At its peak, nearly one million people —mostly students and workers—occupied the square. On May 20, the government declared martial law .
While the official Chinese government report stated that about 200–300 people died, Western sources and human rights organizations like Amnesty International estimate the death toll in the hundreds or even thousands. The Legacy of "Tank Man" ti_na_men_li
On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China from the gate. His mausoleum still sits on the square. The 1989 Protests and Crackdown At its peak, nearly one million people —mostly
Originally built in 1651 and later expanded, it marks the entrance to the Imperial City and the Forbidden City . The Legacy of "Tank Man" On October 1,
The events most often associated with the square occurred between April and June 1989.