- Three "styles" of Beijing architecture
- Old Beijing
- What to visit in Beijing?
- National treasures
Great China has always been and remains a mystery for a tourist from Europe, but an alluring mystery that you want to discover and understand. That is why every year thousands of tourists think about what to visit in Beijing and other cities, buy a plane ticket and go to get acquainted with the amazing culture, rich history and admire today's realities.
Three "styles" of Beijing architecture
Cultural historians argue that three areas of architecture are clearly visible in the urban development of the capital of the People's Republic of China:
- traditional, typical of Beijing, the city of emperors and great dynasties;
- urban development in the style of the Soviet era of the 50s – 70s of the twentieth century;
- masterpieces of modern architectural thought, directed to the future.
For a tourist, the architecture of ancient Beijing seems to be the most interesting to see. In the list of attractions, the first positions are given to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Already from the very names of these masterpieces of architecture, the soul becomes solemn and blissful.
Old Beijing
For a complete immersion in Chinese history, you can go to the Old City. Of course, it is better to do this with a guide, as you can easily get confused walking along the hutongs - narrow lanes that connect parts of the old quarter.
Hutongs are formed from siheyuan, traditional buildings for Beijing, consisting of a square courtyard with a house and outbuildings located on it. The courtyard is organized in such a way that the gates face south and north, that is, residents adhere to the Feng Shui philosophy.
The lanes and streets are very narrow, in some of them two pedestrians can barely pass each other. Such quarters have their own atmosphere and aura, are an attractive "highlight" for tourists, and therefore turn into museum quarters, open-air museums.
What to visit in Beijing?
The answer suggests itself, of course, the Forbidden City. In fact, this is a gigantic palace complex, which occupies the first place in the world in terms of its area. Two great dynasties, twenty-four rulers were located in this imperial residence. Legend has it that astronomers chose the place for it, and that it is here that the center of the earth is located, no more and no less.
True, time is ruthless even to such architectural masterpieces, earlier ambassadors and foreign guests had to go through five gates to get into the courtyard. Modern tourists only need to pass three gates. During its long history, the palace complex also experienced many troubles, but each time it was restored, and the restorers tried to preserve the original appearance.
This is not just a complex of palaces, administrative buildings and utility structures. Many small architectural forms have been created on its territory, there are beautiful galleries, graceful gazebos, refurbishment has been carried out, ponds, lakes, paths and flower beds have been equipped. Everything adjusts to a philosophical mood, the desire to know the world, to become wise.
Lovers of eternal values will be delighted that the Forbidden City is also a museum, the collections of which are growing every year and becoming richer. Fund workers, curators, claim that the number of museum items has already exceeded one million. Paintings, jewelry, furniture, emperors' clothing, books, manuscripts, calligraphy - everything can be found in this unique place. This is what you should first visit in Beijing on your own.
National treasures
The collections of the National Museum of China are more modest in number than those in the Forbidden City. But here, too, there are rarities, true values that reflect the history of China from ancient times to the present. There are unique record-breaking exhibits in the museum, for example, the world's heaviest museum item - the tripod Dean. It has been used in rituals related to sacrifice, weighs over 800 kilograms and is three thousand years old or so.
Another exhibit with an amazing history is the so-called Jade Prince. His robe is made of fragments of jade, polished to a mirror shine, the fragments of clothing were held together by the finest wire rolled out of gold. Visitors to the National Museum are deeply emotional when they are told that Prince Zhongshan and his wife were buried in this garment thousands of years ago.
After such deep immersion in Chinese history, many want to air, to freedom. Many Beijing residents and guests of the capital consider Tiananmen Square as one of their favorite places. It occupies a huge territory, decorated with dozens of ancient monuments and cultural attractions. Beijing residents love to spend time in this square, indulging in their favorite pastime - flying kites.
