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On June 4, 1989, Chinese soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilian demonstrators at Tiananmen Square. Those people, many of them students, were protesting for government reform. A quarter-century later, demonstrators have been replaced with tourists, but security is still prominent. For more on the anniversary, read a report from The Globe's Nathan VanderKlippe.

Tanks, Changan Boulevard

A lone Chinese man standing to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Changan Boulevard near Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. Almost 25 years later, a convoy of cars drive across Changan Boulevard. (Jeff Widener/Associated Press, left; Helene Franchineau, right)

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Chairman Mao portrait

Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers and tanks guard a portrait of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong and Tiananmen Gate on June 9, 1989. Visitors stand at the same spot on June 4, 2014. (Richard Ellis/Reuters, left; Petar Kujundzic, right)

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Tiananmen Gate

People's Liberation Army troops stand guard with tanks in front of Tiananmen Gate on June 10, 1989. Almost 25 years later, Chinese paramilitary policemen march through to clear tourists from the area for a flag-lowering ceremony. (Sadayuki Mikami/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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Tiananmen Gate

People cycle past armoured vehicles parked in front of Tiananmen Gate in June, 1989. On May 24, 2014, a security guard watches an empty bicycle lane, still cordoned off from an area in front of Tiananmen Gate. (Sadayuki Mikami/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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Cleaning the square

A sanitation worker cleans up Tiananmen Square on May 26, 1989. In 2014, a cleaner, wearing a red armband, who is part of the civilian security informers, watches tourists on her electric tricycle in Beijing. (Jeff Widener/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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Monument to the People's Heroes

​Medics rush a Beijing University student from Tiananmen Square after he collapsed during the third day of a hunger strike on May 16, 1989. In 2014, high-school students dressed in uniforms carry red flags onto a bus after they perform a ceremonial post guarding Young Pioneers, a youth group, under the Chinese Communist Party. (Sadayuki Mikami/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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Great Hall of the People

On April 18, 1989, a Chinese student leader reads a list of demands to students staging a sit-in in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. At the same venue almost 25 years later, Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers march to their positions before an honour-guard performance for a welcome ceremony. (Kathy Wilhelm/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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'Prosperity, Democracy'

A May 28, 1989, photo shows students resting in litter on Tiananmen Square as their strike for government reform enters its third week. On May 31, 2014, Chinese tourists use their smartphones and digital cameras to take souvenir photos as slogans are shown on electric screens in the square. The words in the slogans are "Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony, Justice, Rule of Law, Patriotism, Professional Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness." (Jeff Widener/Associated Press, left; Alexander F. Yuan, right)

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Changan Blvd.

In 1989, cyclists pass by slogans which read "Mobilize all citizens to crush martial law, protect Beijing, " under a bridge where tanks are positioned on Changan Boulevard, a road leading to Tiananmen Square. A jeep full of armed Chinese paramilitary policemen patrol under the same bridge in 2014. (Vincent Yu/Associated Press, left, Ng Han Guan, right)

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Before/After interactive created by CHRISTOPHER MANZA, edited by ARIK LIGETI/THE GLOBE AND MAIL