Place Of Culture And Tradition With Modernization: Beijing

Beijing has a very long history which goes back when it became capital of China in 1421. That’s why it is one of the four great ancient capitals of china. After Shanghai, Beijing is the second largest city in china. It is also a major transportation hub with huge railway, roadways and airways facilities within the city. Beijing is one of the few cities in world who serve as a political and cultural centre. It has also host worlds most prestigious game event ‘Olympics games ‘in 2008.

Even though the city has witnessed world wars and Japanese invasion in 1931 followed by the civil war, there are few ancient buildings that would mark has national historical significance and has the most magnificent palaces, temples and large stone walls and gates which are enlisted in UNESCO’s world heritage site.

Human habitation has been found in the cave of Dragon Bone Hill in Fanshang district which is said to be Peking man. Peking is a French term, who are believed to come to Beijing some four thousand years ago and the term ‘Peking’ is also a name of the city according to Chinese Postal Map Romanization. Even homos erectus fossils were found in the cave which is dated around 230,000 to 250,000 years old.

Except for the fossils, there are other interesting places to go and visit because of its architecture:

Tianning temple

It is situated in Guang’anmen in Beijing. The specialty about this temple is that it was made in during Liao dynasty around 1100 and 1119. The temple is made up of stone and bricks but is a good imitation of Chinese traditional wooden- constructed pagoda.

Wooden constructed pagoda is Chinese traditional architecture which is less known and studied by the western.

The Imperial palace

The imperial palace is located in center of the Beijing city and for five centuries it has served the emperor of china- from Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It has also been used for ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government but now houses the Palace museum. It is also known to be the Forbidden City and has been declared world heritage site in 1987, even listed in UNESCO as a largest preserved ancient wood structure in the world.

Other great temple is the Temple Of Heaven which is situated in Xuanwu district. It is listed in UNESCO world heritage, describing it as masterpiece of architectural and landscape design. It was made during reign of Yongle Emperor between 1406 and 1420. For the Beijing Summer Olympics games in 2008, it underwent for restoration costing around 5.9 million USD.

Tiananmen gate

This gate symbolizes People’s Republic of China and it also features in emblem of China. In 1420, during Ming Dynasty it was build. It is the front entrance of the Forbidden City.

One of the most known and famous site in china is the Great Wall of China. It is the eastern fortification of the China and protects the northern borders of China. It was built during 5th century and still has been maintained and rebuild. The whole wall is made of rocks and stones. It is the longest wall in the world.

The Beijing city is not famous for its ancient architecture but its modern architecture is also noticeable such as Beijing’s Central Business District, which is becoming the one of the major financial center in china.

Another attraction about Beijing is the festivals like Spring Festival; it comes between January and February, it marks the Chinese Lunar New Year, lantern festival.

The Beijing also promises good night life as there are many pubs and clubs you can go to.

For staying there is not a problem. You will find from luxurious five star hotels to inexpensive lodges.