Beijing Culture

Beijing, capital of People's Republic of China, is the hub of the national political and cultural life. It is an old city full of vigor. It is also where different cultures meet and melt into one.

It is a well-known tourist destination in the world, taking an important position in the history of human civilization.

Beijing is a unique and charming city with its own features. Wherever you go, either walking in hundred years old imperial palaces and gardens, or strolling on the ancient roads and lanes made of gray wall and black tiles, or ever standing among modern high-rises and skyscrapers, you will find yourself keeping asking how a deep cultural tradition and strong modern breath could harmoniously co-exist in such an old and youthful city.

It is where the charm of Beijing lies.

The history of Beijing can be dated back to 500,000years ago when Peking man just appeared. Peking man hand language and was able to walk, and was one of the earliest human being who knew how to make use of the fire.

As a city, Beijing has 3,000 years' history, of which more than 800 years serving as a capital. The city became a political, economic and cultural center in china for the first time in history in 1272 when Kublai, the second emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, chose Beijing as capital. A beautiful city with regularly crisscrossed streets and dotted with rivers, lakes, palaces and gardens was gradually born in the following two decades. It was then called Dadu(Grand Capital) in the Yuan Dynasty(1368-1644),and was described by Marco Polo as the most prosperous and glorious city in the world at that time. It has remained as an important city and capital in China since then.

Beijing is a beautiful city. During the process of its growth from a small town under a seigneur 3,000 years ago to a capital city for a large country with a population of 11 billon, a great and deep culture has been nurtured, and has later become the most important part of the mainstream culture in China. In Beijing culture you may feel the blend of different nationalities, the influence of feudal dynasties and harmonious notes in the cultural conflicts between the East and the West. It is a unique culture featuring thousand years old history, strong local characteristics and fresh breath of the new century. Because of this, the city boasts an everlasting charm.

The continuous construction of the feudal dynasties in several hundred years has left the city numerous places of historical interest and cultural treasures. Beijing is the city which has the most sights listed on the World Heritage List in China. There are many world renown attractions, the Great Wall, a wonder of man-made structure; the Palace Museum, the largest royal build group exist today; the Summer Palace and Beihai Park, the poetic royal gardens; the Temple of Heaven, the largest sacrificial architectural group in t he world; The Ming Tombs, the large-size royal burial ground; Ape Man Cave in Zhoukoudian, where Peking man once lived and; Yunju Temple at Fangshan, where thousand –year-old stone carvings of Buddhist sutra can be found .Of course, Beijing has more to show , the Fragrant Hills, Tanzhe Monastery, to name only a few. The crisscrossed streets and lanes that form the basic framework of the ancient city, its left-behind imperial mien and multi-dimensional cultures have put together to make it a city with magic attraction.

Beijing is also a modern city. As a national capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing’s city scale is expanding and at the same time its population and economic strength are also keeping increased. Since the 80’s in the 20th century, Beijing has opened its arms to welcome different talents and investment from home and abroad. Beijing is the city that has attracted most of the foreign investments to the country. It now has built a well-developed information network, gathered many talents and has become the most modern city in China. The 2008 Olympic Games is sure to promote the urban and cultural construction of the city and accelerate its process toward an international metropolis.

No one will pass Beijing without exclaiming its uniqueness and greatness. Beijing residents also feel honored to live in a city rich and deep cultural connotations.

Beijing Travel Guide