AP PHOTOS: The anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown
Security personnel stand on duty near the Tiananmen Gate which is under renovation on the anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
For most Chinese, the 36th anniversary of a bloody crackdown that ended pro-democracy protests in China has passed like any other weekday. And that’s just how the ruling Communist Party wants it.
Security was tight Wednesday around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, where weeks of student-led protests shook the party in 1989. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed after the military was sent in to end the protests. The Communist Party bans any public commemoration of the events. In recent years, that ban has been extended to Hong Kong, and it is only in Taiwan that June 4 gatherings can still take place.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Visitors look at Chinese paramilitary police officers practicing for the flag lowering ceremony at the Forbidden City on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Visitors look at Chinese paramilitary police officers practicing for the flag lowering ceremony at the Forbidden City on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A boom lift partially blocks the view of a screen depicting a lit candle at the Canadian Embassy on the anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A boom lift partially blocks the view of a screen depicting a lit candle at the Canadian Embassy on the anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Activist Lui Yuk-lin, center right, is detained by police officers in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The activist was stopped at a subway station in Causeway Bay and brought to a police van. It wasn’t clear if she had been arrested. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Activist Lui Yuk-lin, center right, is detained by police officers in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The activist was stopped at a subway station in Causeway Bay and brought to a police van. It wasn’t clear if she had been arrested. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Police officers set road blocker on the street in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Police officers set road blocker on the street in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Police officers stand guard in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Police officers stand guard in the Causeway Bay area on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A man, center, is escorted by police officers at Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A man, center, is escorted by police officers at Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A Pro-Beijing market at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A plain clothes security person stands on duty near security cameras overlooking Tiananmen Square on the anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A plain clothes security person stands on duty near security cameras overlooking Tiananmen Square on the anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Police vehicles parked on both sides of the road near Tiananmen Square as they closed the road ahead of the flag lowering ceremony on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Police vehicles parked on both sides of the road near Tiananmen Square as they closed the road ahead of the flag lowering ceremony on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Residents walk by security surveillance cameras casting shadow on the Forbidden City’s wall on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Residents walk by security surveillance cameras casting shadow on the Forbidden City’s wall on the eve of the June 4 anniversary, in Beijing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square to mark the 36th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
A man appears to be praying at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A man appears to be praying at the Victoria Park, the city’s venue for the annual 1989 Tiananmen massacre vigil, on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A projection of “VIIV”, Roman numerals in reference to June 4, displayed on the wall outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
A projection of “VIIV”, Roman numerals in reference to June 4, displayed on the wall outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong on the 36th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)