The square that I visited in May, 2001 was without gatherings of revolutionaries, or demonstrators, only tourists, tourists, and more tourists. Mao would've been proud =)
Mao Zedong lived from 1893 - 1976, he achieved many great things during his lifetime, such as the Long March (1934), driving the KuoMingTang out to Taiwan / proclaiming the People's Republic of China (1949) and meeting with President Nixon (1972). There were so not so great things too, like the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution (1958 and 1966). Despite these setbacks, he is still officially viewed as a great leader and father figure to the Chinese, that's why his body has been preserved and can be viewed at the Square.
When I decided to view his body, I didn't really know what to expect. First, guards make sure you aren't bringing in cameras, purses, bags, actually anything other than the clothes on your back, even bottled water was forbidden. Then you line up to get into the building with no talking (the guards will 'shush' you if you speak). The building has a funeral parlour feel to it and rightly so. Once you waddle into the main chamber, there he is, without any sort of warning, you're about 3 metres away from MAO ZEDONG. There's no stopping and glaring, so you only get a short glimpse of him before exiting the building. It was very strange and everyone at the exit had the same look on their face, as in, 'what the....hell...just happened?....'
