Uncover the true story of the seven-week period that changed China forever. On June 4, 1989, a violent and bloody pro-democracy demonstration ended, leaving thousands dead, and laying the foundation for China’s future.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHow to Watch Tiananmen: The People Versus the Party
Tiananmen: The People Versus the Party is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
About the Show
On June 4, 1989 the world’s biggest, longest, and most famous pro-democracy demonstration was brought to a tragic end. The images from those final bloody days still burn bright in our imaginations; the death toll — from the Chinese official figure of 300 to estimates as high as 15,000 — is still disputed.
Tiananmen tells the gripping narrative of a period of just seven weeks in which the whole future of China today was founded, where at various turning points the final outcome could have avoided the massive bloodshed. These turning points unfold over two hours in a story told with the drama and pace of a political thriller.
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