(1974) MiNr. 1179 ** - China - People's Palace, Beijing

People's Palace, Beijing: the Architectural Landmark of Chinese Politics

The Palace of the People (Rénmín Dàhuì Tāng) in Beijing is a monumental building that serves as the headquarters of the Chinese National People's Congress. Located on the west side of Tian'anmen Square, it is one of the largest buildings in China by area.

History and Architecture

The palace was built in 1959 as part of the so-called "Ten Great Buildings", projects celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The main architecture reflects socialist realism with elements of traditional Chinese culture. The building is 356 metres long, 206 metres wide and reaches a height of 46.5 metres.

The interior includes the Main Hall, which can seat up to 10,000 people, a Banquet Hall for 5,000 guests, and dozens of meeting rooms, each representing one of China's provinces. The dominant feature is a large glass dome in the Main Hall with a red star motif.

Current Uses

The People's Palace is the main meeting place of the Chinese National People's Congress and hosts important political and diplomatic events. It is also used for international summits and important meetings of heads of state. It is open to the public only on special occasions.