Hellovisit Home Destinations China Tiananmen Square

In the summer of 1989 I was 11 years old and I hated social studies. I remember spotty images from the news on a Chinese student uprising and I remember "the tank guy" -because of a political comic in the local news questioning what he had in his little bag. It was not until 1994 when I had received a new audio CD with some music composed to fit history in a memorial sense that I heard of Tiananmen again. I made a brief connection to the story and again "the tank guy." In May 2005 I was in an international studies and geography course on China, that included history form 2000b.c. to present day. Around June 4th, we digressed to discuss something I had almost forgotten: Tiananmen.

The historical connections and implications of the Maoist regime and communism became obvious. What was not as obvious...the full story. I could talk for hours of what I recall from my class and mix in some information from wikis and hidden Chinese websites, instead I'll mention two things: the people and the icon. The rest you can find on wikipedia.

Students first marched on Tiananmen after April 15, 1989 when the former Secretary General died from a heart attack in morning, and in relation to his resignation (Hu Yaobang - more information). Within the first few days the student gathering turned into a sit-in with over 10,000 students protesting...and there were more on the way.

The Icon
His identity is still unknown, but that mystery is part of what helps legends stay alive. On June 5, 1989 as the "tanks danced" into the surrounding Tiananmen area, a man carrying what looks like a shopping bag walked into the street. As the tanks approached him, he stood firm, unwavering. The tanks moved to the right -he followed. Swinging his grocery bag at the chain of war machines as if to say "Leave!" The lead tank turned off its engine and as whitenesses said it was as if everything stopped. Pure stillness and quiet in a moment that could bring tears to your eyes as you await the horror everyone felt would happen; it would be enevitiable. Or would it?

In one of the most shocking moments caught on film, the man boarded the tank and began to beat on it with his bare fists. He climbed higher trying to get into the tank, again beating it with his hands so hard you can hear the sound of flesh hitting hardened steel despite the footage being silent. The man climbed off the tank and again stepped in front, blocking their passage on the road. Eventually some bystanders pulled the man away fearing this would not end well.