Tiananmen Square 1989 Video Exclusive -

: This PBS documentary uses eyewitness reflections and secret documents to trace the seven-week protest. It is available on PBS.org and the PBS App.

: A trove of footage released around the 30th anniversary shows rare scenes of joy and optimism in the student camps in the weeks leading up to the massacre. tiananmen square 1989 video exclusive

The Tiananmen Square protests began on April 15, 1989, following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China who had been ousted for his liberal policies. The demonstrations, initially sparked by mourning for Hu, quickly evolved into a broader call for political reform, democracy, and an end to corruption. Students, intellectuals, and citizens from all walks of life gathered in Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of Beijing and China, demanding change. : This PBS documentary uses eyewitness reflections and

Decades after the world watched the events of 1989 unfold in Beijing, "exclusive" and "rare" footage continues to surface, offering new perspectives on the internal fractures of the Chinese leadership and the harrowing reality on the ground. Most recently, a significant leak has brought a legendary figure of defiance back into the spotlight. The Leaked "Secret Trial" of General Xu Qinxian In late 2025, a rare six-hour video recording of General Xu Qinxian The Tiananmen Square protests began on April 15,