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Tiananmen: The People Versus the Party

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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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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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