Beijing: For the past 50 years, Tiananmen Square has been the nearest thing the Chinese Communist party has had to holy ground. It is the plaza that Mao built, famed for its rallies during the Cultural Revolution, and it became notorious after the crackdown on student protesters in 1989.

But in a sign of widening intellectual debate in China, one of its young architects has proposed a radical transformation of the square.

Ma Yansong, an award-winning urban planner, believes the Beijing square should be transformed into a park and forest. In his model, the vast expanse of paving slabs outside the Forbidden City are replaced by trees and grass. "We want to transform this empty political square into something that can be enjoyed," Mr. Ma said. "Our aim is to raise the issue of public space."

He believes that the square need not be considered sacrosanct, because its origins are relatively recent and foreign.

However, his plan is too controversial for the authorities. The mainland media have been told not to publish images of his model.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007

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