Hey guys! Have you noticed that every year on the eve of the National Day, the upper floor of Tiananmen Square is always a little different?
That's right, it's that super-photogenic portrait of a great man! It seems to have a life, and it has to undergo a "big transformation" every year.
What is this operation? Is it to maintain the "appearance" of a great man? Or is there some untold secret?
Let's take a look at this interesting "dress-up" story!
Tiananmen Tower: From "Old Antique" to "Internet Celebrity Check-in Place"
Speaking of Tiananmen Tower, it is an "old antique".
It has been "in business" since the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, and it has a history of more than 600 years.
But you know what? The history of its portrait is actually not that long.
The first person to hang a portrait on Tiananmen Square turned out to be Yuan Shikai, who wanted to be the emperor but didn't do it!
In 1912, this "drama spirit" borrowed from the practices of Western countries and hung his portrait in military uniforms on Tiananmen Square.
This move can be said to be a precedent and an example for future leaders.
The current Tiananmen Tower has turned from an "old antique" to an "Internet celebrity check-in place".
Every National Day, countless people flock to Tiananmen Square in order to take a "group photo" with the portrait of that great man.
The charm of this portrait is even stronger than that of popular traffic stars!
Portraits of Great Men: Eight Versions of the "Evolutionary History of Appearance"
When it comes to portraits of great men, you may think, isn't this just a painting? What's all the fuss about?
What I'm telling you is that this painting is not simple!
It has undergone a full eight versions of "appearance evolution"!
From 1949 to the present, the portrait of the great man has undergone many "plastic surgeries".
Some versions are frontal, others are sideways; Some wear iconic octagonal hats, while others have bald heads.
Every change touches the hearts of the people of the whole country.
Can you imagine? This is probably the most talked-about "plastic surgery" case in the world!
Moreover, every "facelift" is carefully designed.
Painters have to consider multiple factors such as light, angle, expression, etc., and strive to present the most perfect effect.
This is even more elaborate than celebrities making blockbusters!
Portrait Change: The Annual "Dress-Up Show"
Every year on the eve of the National Day, a special "dress up show" will be staged on the upper floor of Tiananmen Square.
A crane and a wagon will quietly drive out of the middle door of the Tiananmen Gate Tower and stop under the portrait of the great man.
The staff then carefully remove the old portrait and replace it with a new one.
This process may seem simple, but it is actually very informative.
The production of the new portrait takes 20 days and is completed by a team of professional painters.
The brushes and paints they use are specially made to make the portraits stand up to the elements.
You say, isn't this more elaborate than makeup?
In addition, the size of the portrait is also particular.
It is 6 meters high, 4.6 meters wide and weighs 1.5 tons.
With such a big "avatar", it is estimated that even the P-map software does not live, right?
Every year, the portraits are changed in the dead of night.
The staff were cautious as if they were on some secret mission.
This "dress-up show" can be said to be the most low-key but most concerned fashion show in the country!
The gaze of the great man: always with his eyes on the people
Speaking of portraits of great men, have you ever noticed a magical phenomenon?
No matter where you stand in Tiananmen Square, you will feel the eyes of great men watching you.
What kind of black technology is this? Could it be that the portrait of the great man has a camera hidden in it?
Don't be nervous, it's not magic, it's the skill of the painters.
Through subtle composition and painting techniques, they created this magical effect.
Isn't this kind of gaze that is always on the people the best interpretation of the spirit of a great man?
It symbolizes the care and expectation of great men for their people, and it also inspires us to keep going.
Come to think of it, that's a lot more advanced than those moving billboards!
The meaning of a portrait: more than just a painting
The replacement of the portrait of a great man is not as simple as changing the "avatar".
It carries a deep historical significance and cultural connotation.
Every replacement is a reinterpretation and inheritance of the spirit of the great man.
From the original "Chengtianmen" to the current Tiananmen, from Yuan Shikai to Mao Zedong.
The portrait on the upper floor of Tiananmen Square bears witness to the vicissitudes of modern Chinese history.
It is not only a national symbol, but also a condensation of the spirit of the Chinese nation.
You can think of it as a super version of the "Moments avatar".
Every time it is replaced, it is showing the world the new look and new atmosphere of China.
This portrait is simply China's "national emoji"!
National Day: The best time to be "in the same frame" with great people
Every year, the National Day is the best time for people to "be in the same frame" with great people.
Countless people flocked to Tiananmen Square, just to take a "group photo" with the portrait of the great man.
Some people say that this is a kind of "spiritual punch card".
In this way, we seem to feel the spiritual power of the great man.
Tiananmen Square on National Day is simply a huge "emoji making site"!
People held national flags, posed in various poses, and posed for photos with portraits of great men.
These photos have become the "blockbuster of the year" in the circle of friends of countless people.
You say, isn't this cooler than any Internet celebrity check-in place?
So, the next time you're standing in Tiananmen Square and looking up at that familiar portrait.
Think about it: this is not just a painting, it is the spiritual totem of a nation, and the driving force for a country's progress.
It is like a never-extinguishing "spiritual beacon" that illuminates our way forward.
Let us once again feel the gaze of great men and inherit their spirit on this National Day.
Work hard to realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
Remember, you are not alone in the battle, the eyes of the great man are always with you!