The Great Hall of the People is located on the western side of Tiananmen Square. The building is used for legislative and ceremonial functions and acts as the Chinese "Houses of Parliament".

The hall was built in 1959, to mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.  At the centre is the Great Auditorium, which can seat around 10,000 people and is decorated with thousands of ceiling lights surrounding a giant red star.  There also halls representing each province of China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, furnished in the style of that province.  There is a state banquet hall that can seat 7000, which is often used to entertain foreign dignitaries as well as many other halls and assembly rooms. 

The Great Hall of The People is used for two yearly meetings of branches of the Chinese government, and also every five years for the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.  Parts of the building are open to the public outside of these events.

For photos of the Great Hall of People, click here!