would rate Tiananmen Square differently based on the time of year. During the eight warmer months, I would rate it as "Excellent, a must-see." But, during the other four months, my rating would be "Very Good." It's mostly just a cold, barren area of concrete during the colder months. However, it is the history of the square that is significant, and that stays the same throughout the year.

You must book tickets in advance and they are day and time specific. Our visit in March just after the yearly Chinese Party Conference, left the square looking locked down and baren. We were luck to get in as it had been closed the previous day. It is a huge space and I can only imagine where the tank and one lonely figure would have been.

I've read up on the incident before visiting and the feeling was surreal. It's a beautiful space with rich history, so massive in size. The security is also really tight – we had 3 passport checks and an airport style bag check before we were allowed to enter. The square has lots of barricades set up and it's under heavy surveillance. This all adds to a somewhat interesting and sinister atmosphere to the visit. You have to make a booking one day in advance on WeChat mini program. The reservation is free and they are date and time specific so plan your visit.

You need a permit to visit this important square in Beijing, and we couldn’t manage to get one. We couldn’t get the Chinese WeChat to work with our mobile number. A good tip: Make sure you sort out this detail. Entry is free, but security is extremely strict. We were turned away, politely but firmly, because we didn’t have the permit. We especially wanted to photograph the large iconic picture of Chairman Mao, but alas. We had to settle for the nice photo on the 1 yuan banknote. Fortunately, the Forbidden City is right next door, and it’s also worth seeing.

Yes, some of the architecture is wonderful, including the buildings and monuments. But none of them stand out as ‘the best’ in the city of Beijing. There is a large history here and while that is interesting, the square is simply a sight to look at and pass through before you get to the forbidden city. That would be my advice - don’t go out of your way to visit Tian’anmen square, but if you’re headed to the forbidden city anyway then you might as well pop in and walk through the square beforehand.