Formerly known as Peking, the intriguing capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, has also been one of the four ancient capitals of the country. Located in northern China, Beijing has been a major political and cultural centre and has significant importance in the history of China. From Zhongdu, Dadu, Beijing, Beiping and Yanjing, the city was known by different names during the successive rule of various dynasties in China.
The first traces of mankind go back to the Paleolithic age when the homo erectus were found here. Remains of human settlement have been found in the Dragon Bone Hill caves close to Zhoukoudian, a village in the Fangshan District, known for its discovery of the Peking Man. By the First Millennium BC, several cities had developed around Beijing and soon Beijing became the capital for several dynasties that made the city their political stronghold.
Beijing is renowned for its elaborate palaces and temples that go back as early as the 12th century. The oldest monument standing in place to this day is the Tianning Temple built in 1120 by the Liao Dynasty. The new Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty ordered the construction of the Forbidden City, which took fifteen years to build from 1406 to 1420. The Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen were built in 1420 under the Ming Dynasty. Tiananmen Square was built in 1651 and extended in 1958.
Tiananmen and Tiananmen Square lie in the centre of the city with the Forbidden City to its south and Zhongnanhai, home to the prominent leaders of the People’s Republic of China, to its west. Beijing has a great combination of architecture from three genres. First there is the traditional imperial architecture, then a phase of dull and simple architecture of the 1950’s to 1970’s and finally the later modern architecture with high-rise buildings and an advanced infrastructure.
Places of interest include the scenic imperial gardens around the Forbidden City of which the Beihai Park is the most magnificent with its traditional Chinese style garden art. The other gardens of beauty include the Zhongnanhai, Shichahai, Zhongshan and Jingshan parks. The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City is also a major attraction. Across the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square where one can explore the National Museum of China, Great Hall of the People and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Beijing is home to numerous temples and places of worship. One of the oldest is the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other temples include the Dongyue Temple, Big Bell Temple, White Cloud Temple and Tanzhe Temple to name a few. The 1605 Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, the over thousand years old Niujie Mosque, Pagoda of Tianning Temple from the Liao Dynasty and the 1576 Pagoda of Cishou Temple from the Ming Dynasty are other notable places of worship.
The Beijing Botanical Garden and the Beijing Zoo both have rare exhibits and are worth paying a visit. Those interested in exploring museums will find a plethora of them. Sightseeing on the outskirts of the city include the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and parts of the Great Wall of China, which is also a World Heritage Site.
The city is well connected with the largest railway network in China, besides which there are the roads and expressways that give access to various cities via the China National Highways. The Beijing Capital International Airport lies 20 km from the city centre and serves as a major hub for both domestic and largely international flights. Public transport includes the subway, trolley buses and the rapid bus transit. One can even hire taxis.
Photo by Monika2605 provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Marcopolis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Marcopolis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Marcopolis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Marcopolis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com