Area:16,800 km*km/Population: 9.2 million China, is the
political,commercial and cultural center of the most highly
populated country in the world.Together with Shanghai and
Tianjin, it is the third centrally administered municipality
and the east of the central government. Party conventions
take place here. The National People's Congress holds its
sessions and the highest public authorities and ministries
have their seat here.The outstanding artistic skill of the
Chinese architects, craftsmen and artists who have createed
the image of the city since the Jin and Yuan eras, will fill
the Western visitor with amazement and enthusiasm. But
especially in Beijing, he will inevitably be confronted with
the infamous history of Western and Japanese imperialistic
powers. Conflicts erupted here, caused by agressive foreign
lust for power and the weakness of the instable Manchurian
Qing Dynasty. Traces of this policy, the forcible opening of
China, can still be seen today.
Beijing is visited by millions of guests from China and
abroad every year. Visitors on a short trip should also
visit the Summer Palace, YiheYuan. Equally attractive are
the temple complexes, as for example the lama temple or the
complexes in Xishan, the Western Hills. A must in every
program is a trip to the Great Wall.
Wanli Chang Cheng,The
Wall of 10,000 Li(Great Wall)
Most visitors to Beijing will get the chance to take a trip
to the Great Wall. There are special daily tourist trains to
Badaling, 85km north of Beijing. The tour takes about two
hours, no matter what means of transportation is used.
Juyong Pass is about 60km away. In former times it was of
utmost strategic importance because it was a check point for
the northern entrance to the capital. Today it is still
tenowned due to its 14th-century
gate complex. Within the
gates is Yuntai, the Cloud Terrace,a marble
Terrace from
1345. Originally, there were three towers on to of the
terrace, but they were destroyed towwards the end of the
Yuan and the beginning of the Ming eras. Then the Tai'an
temple was built, but it burned down in 1702; only its
terrace survived. the semi-hexagonal arches, richly
decorated with reliefs, are unusual. Travelers arriving by
train will discover a bronze statue of the railway
Qinglongqiao station. After the Americans and build the
Beijing-Baotou line through this steep mountain range, Zhan
Tianyou realized this idea with the range, Zhan Tianyou
realized this idea with the help of an ingenious plan. To
express their appreciation, a monument was erected in his
honor.
Once in Badaling, the right or the left part of the wall can
be ascended; the left part is steeper and more difficult to
traverse, but it is more attractive. Sturdy footwear is
strongly recommended.
Tian'an Men, Gate of Heavenly Peace On the national coat of
arms of the people's Republic of China, the Gate of Heavenly
Peace is reepresented as the symbol of the revolutionary new
China.
This is where Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the
People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Tian'an Men
is located north of Tian'anmen Square and leads to the
imperial Palae. It was built as early as 1417 and mentioned
as the main gate of the former Imperial Palace,Chengtian
Men. The wooden structure burned down in 1457 and was
reerected in 1651 and then called Tian' an Men. It is 34 m
high, has red stone walls, a wooden roof and five entrances
A portrait of Mao Zedong hangs over the main entrance, which
in earlier times only the emperor had the right to use; to
the left are the signs "Long live the People's Republic of
China" and to the right: "Long live the grat union between
the peoples of the world." A grandstand for up to 20,000
guests is above those banners.
The gate is surrounded by a ring-moat, the Golden Water
Spring, which was arranged to guard the Imperial Palace.
Five white marbes, the Golden Water Bridges, lead to
the five passages of the gate. Two stone pillars stand in
front of the entire complex, symbols of heavenly peace and
the emperor's authority. They show a relief of dragon motifs
and stylized clouds. On top sits the mythical beast Kong.
Next to each piliar stands an iron lion. The gate, as well
as the square in front of it, were not accessible to the
public in imperial times. Often religious and military
ceremonies were heeld here, imperial decrees and the results
of Mandarin tests announced,and death sentences carried out.
More summaries about the Flying Hammers, Walking Chisels: The Workers of Tianjin (China)