Protests led by students and workers, known in China as the June Fourth Incident, were held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, from 15 April to 4 June 1989.
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Tiananmen Square, 1989
Seven weeks of protest, ended by force
It began in April 1989 as students gathered in Beijing's vast Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu Yaobang, a reform-minded Communist Party leader. Mourning turned into a movement. Students, later joined by workers, called for free speech, a free press and an end to corruption, and some went on hunger strike.
The government declared martial law in May. On the night of 3–4 June, troops and tanks moved into central Beijing and cleared the square, opening fire on crowds in surrounding streets. The true death toll has never been confirmed, with estimates from hundreds to several thousand. The events remain heavily censored inside China to this day.
Did you know?The famous "Tank Man" who stood in front of a column of tanks on 5 June has never been publicly identified.
The 38th anniversary falls on April 15, 2027.
