That Was Beijing: The Peaceful Liberation of Beiping

To mark the 60th anniversary of the PLA marching into what was then Beiping on this day in 1949, the management of one of Beijing’s landmarks, the Zhengyang Gate have announced that from noon today until 4pm, the gate will be open to the public for free. Beiping was officially liberated on Jan 31, 1949, but the images you see here are from Feb 3, 1949 when the victorious PLA paraded through the city's streets. They entered the city from both the southern Yongdingmen gate, heading through the Zhengyang Gate at Qianmen before heading north through the city. Another group of troops entered from the Xizhimen gate and headed south.

Those interested in taking a free gander around the often over-looked gate, can head over to the ticket office by the east entrance at noon today. If you don’t have time to head over there this afternoon, you can always just pay the RMB 10 entrance fee some other day.

Links and Sources
The Beijing Times: 正阳门明日免费开放半天 前100名观众赠送纪念品
China Heritage Quarterly: 1948: How Peaceful was the Liberation of Beiping?
kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu: Liberation of Beiping (1963)
www.bjma.gov.cn: Images from the parade on Feb 3, 1949
ce.cn: 1月31日:北平和平解放日