On 21 April 1989, thousands of Chinese citizens gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to show support for university students demanding political reform, government accountability, and greater personal freedoms.
What began as a peaceful memorial for reformist leader Hu Yaobang swiftly evolved into a nationwide movement for democratic change.
The demonstrators, many waving banners and singing patriotic songs, reflected a rare moment of unity across classes and generations, marking the beginning of one of the most significant protest movements in modern Chinese history.