Originally Posted by
calvinoeh
We made a quick detour to check out Tiananmen Square which is located opposite the north entrance before heading into the Forbidden Palace. To better control traffic by trying to force the crowd in one direction, there is only one entrance on the north side with the exit on the south side.
Minor clarification:
-Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) is the gate with the Mao portrait, and effectively serves as the
south entrance to the Forbidden City
-Tiananmen Square is directly across the street (south) from Tiananmen and stretches down to Qianmen