|
HomeTopics...Asia VacationsBeijing
Sightseeing in BeijingBeijing, China's capital, is the nation's hub of political power and amicrocosm of modern day Chinese society. Twenty-first century Beijing is an incongruous mix of eastern tradition and western attitudes, where businessmen in suits jostle on the streets with itinerant workers and local entrepreneurs skillfully negotiate their produce-laden bicycles through the traffic.
In many ways, modern Beijing has lost much of its former glory and is no longer a beautiful city in the classical sense, but the city and its environs still retain a distinct grandeur that is hugely appealing to those vacationing in and around Beijing.
The Great Wall of ChinaDescribed as a "brave folly," a "futile contrivance," a "colossal endeavor" and a "splendid achievement," the Great Wall of China (Cheng Cheng) is still capable of capturing the imagination of visitors from all corners of the globe. The Great Wall of China, albeit disconnected and crumbling in places, extends across 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers), from the east coast of China to Jiayuguan in the Gobi desert.
The Great Wall of China: Background HistoryThe Great Wall of China was originally constructed as a series of ramparts to protect China from northern invaders and was built by slaves, prisoners, soldiers, local farmers and laborers.
Work began on the Great Wall of China during the early seventh century BC. During the Qin dynasty (221 to 210 BC), the existing ramparts of the Great Wall of China were linked to create long sections of wall, punctuated by watchtowers and strategic fortifications. Building continued throughout the Han dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD), when the Great Wall of China was extended into the Gobi desert. Construction work slowed down during the flourishing Tang and Song dynasties, but work resumed under the Jin dynasty (265 to 420 AD). It wasn't until the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644) that the wall was encased with bricks made of earth. From a strategic point of view, the Great Wall of China never really fulfilled its original purpose of protecting China from invaders and hostile neighboring tribesmen. Ultimately, the Great Wall of China remains largely a symbol of division but, above all, an impressive example of human endeavor. Nowadays, the Great Wall of China is largely a tourist attraction where people from all over the world come to marvel at its magnitude. Sections of the Great Wall of China wall have been rebuilt and cosmetically enhanced for the benefit of visitors. Beijing is not the only starting point for a visit to the Great Wall of China. Organized tours are also available from Shanhaiguan, where the wall meets the sea, and from Jiayuguan, in the western region of Gansu.
The Forbidden City Of BeijingThe Forbidden City of Beijing (Zijin Cheng), where emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644) and Qing dynasty (1644 to 1911) ruled China for over five centuries, is one of the most amazing architectural structures in the world.
Located in the center of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City of Beijing is set on 78 acres of land and dominates the heart of the city with its imperial yellow roofs and vermilion walls. Also known as the Palace Museum (Gugong Bowuyuan), the Imperial Museum or simply the Imperial Palace, the Forbidden City of Beijing boasts a proud history dating back to centuries. Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406 and took 14 years and 200,000 men to build. Once completed, the Forbidden City remained the administrative center for the Ming and Qing dynasties. Under the Ming dynasty, Beijing was walled into sections, or small cities within a city. From there on, the Forbidden City of Beijing was considered to be the most important city of all because it housed the emperor. Entry to the Forbidden City was denied to all but those on official business until 1911, when Beijing's last emperor, Puyi, was overthrown. Over the years, the Forbidden City of Beijing has undergone considerable renovation and most of the buildings you see today were, in fact, built during and after the eighteenth century. If your schedule permits, try to fit in a visit to the park and classical gardens, northwest of the Forbidden City, located on the original site of the Mongol capital, Dadu.
Tiananmen SquareEvery year, vast crowds gather in Tiananmen Square on the October 1 to celebrate China's National Day.
Tiananmen Square, "the Gate of Heavenly Peace," has been more aptly described as "the soul of China." Awe-inspiring, a symbol of both state power and liberation, Tiananmen Square is dominated by the vast Chinese parliament buildings. Chairman Mao is buried beneath the huge expanse of gray paving stones that make up Tiananmen Square. In the latter part of the twentieth century, Tiananmen Square has provided the backdrop for scenes of public uprising, revolt, official mourning and dissent. The launch of China's Cultural Revolution and the mourning of the death of Zhou Enlai both took place at Tiananmen Square. More recently, Tiananmen Square was used as a forum for the advocates of Falun Gong (Art of the Wheel of the Law), a spiritual exercise system frowned upon by the Chinese Government.
The 1989 Tiananmen Square MassacreTiananmen Square is best known around the world as the scene of the 1989 student uprising that resulted in the deaths of thousands of ordinary Chinese citizens. The death of social reformer and political moderate Hu Yaobang in 1989 and his public mourning in Tiananmen Square is considered by many social historians to have provided the catalyst for the Tiananmen Square riot and subsequent massacre.
Led by students Wang Dan, Chai Ling and Wu'er Kaixi, university students and urban workers from all over the country united to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the government. Protests and strikes began at many colleges throughout the country, but many students traveled to Beijing to join the protests at Tiananmen Square, where marches and hunger strikes were staged. The government tried to peacefully resolve the situation, but due to the large number of people with varying agendas, it was unclear to the government who the leaders were and what their demands were. After more than a month of demonstrations, the government declared martial law but the demonstrations continued with popular support. A few more weeks passed before the government forcibly removed the demonstrators. On June 4, 1989, the demonstration was finally crushed by the PLA (People's Liberation Army). Immediate repercussions were experienced throughout China with the ousting of then Premier Zhao Ziyang for his sympathy with the student movement for democracy. China was outwardly condemned by world leaders, as well as by the Chinese people themselves, and most vociferously by the citizens of Hong Kong. US-China relations, in particular, suffered in the wake of the 1989 PLA crackdown in Tiananmen Square, resulting at the time in trading sanctions, the withdrawal of military technology and the suspension of international diplomatic contact. |
|
