The surroundings of modern Beijing began to be settled in the 1st millennium BC. e. Ji, Nanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu - all these are the names of cities erected by the Chinese, Mongol and Manchu ruling dynasties on the territory of today's metropolis and subsequently safely destroyed by them to the ground.

At the end of the XIV century, in the era of the Ming Empire, a new settlement grew up on the ashes of the former Dadu - Beijing, which the Yongle Emperor liked so much that he transferred the capital of the country to it, after depriving Nanjing of this honorary title - a rather large port at that time on the Yangtze River. By the way, the word "Beijing" itself is not considered truly Chinese. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire call their administrative center Beijing, which means “Northern Capital”.

In 1928, after the unification of China, the status of the country's main city was again assigned to Nanjing, and Beijing was renamed Beiping ("Northern Calm"). But already in 1937, the Japanese, who had subjugated the Celestial Empire, returned to the metropolis its original name, however, only for the period of occupation. In 1945, the Chinese capital became Beiping for the second time and bore this name for another 4 years, until the coming to power of the "Great Pilot" - Mao Zedong.

Geography, water resources, climate

Beijing is located in the northern part of the Great Plain of China. From the northwest and west, the capital is protected by the Jundushan and Xishan mountain ranges. As for water resources, two relatively large rivers flow through the main city of the country - Yongdihe and Chaobaihe, but only Chaiobahe supplies the capital with water, since the famous Miyun reservoir was built on it. Another water artery connecting the metropolis with other cities and provinces of China is the Grand Canal.

The climate in Beijing is moderately monsoonal: in summer, due to the action of East Asian winds blowing from the ocean, the city is hot and rainy. The average July temperature in this part of the country is +25...+26 ºС. In winter, things are exactly the opposite: with the advent of the Siberian anticyclones in Beijing, dry, windy and very cold weather sets in. By the way, despite the traditional frosts, snow is in great deficit here, which is why the cold is felt much sharper. The average January temperature in the metropolis ranges from -7 to -4 ºС.

The best time to visit Beijing is traditionally considered the period from September to October, when the city is still quite dry, sunny and warm, but there is no longer that sweltering heat that is typical for the summer months. You can also enjoy wandering the streets in April, which is surprisingly warm in the Chinese capital.

Ecological situation

For the status of the country's largest transport hub and one of its economic centers, Beijing had to pay with clean air. Daily emissions from industrial facilities, exhaust gases, coal-fired heating on the outskirts of the metropolis - these are some of the main reasons for the dense veil of smog that periodically covers the city. It is easy to guess that in this situation, masks and respirators that protect the respiratory organs from harmful fumes are the most popular goods in the Chinese capital.

With drinking water, too, not everything is perfect: it is categorically not recommended to use the liquid that flows from the tap in every Beijing apartment. By the way, the residents of the capital themselves, as well as residents of other cities of the country, drink mostly warm water, which they constantly carry with them in thermoses and containers like My Bottle. On this occasion, the Chinese even have their own philosophical doctrine, according to which only a heated liquid helps to achieve longevity and inner harmony.

Districts of Beijing

The first thing that strikes a tourist in Beijing is the amazing symmetry of the city layout. If you look at the map of the metropolis, then the modern capital of the Celestial Empire will appear as a cluster of giant concentric circles, “cut” by arrows of boulevards and avenues. The main axis of Beijing, along which its main historical and cultural symbols lined up in a strict order, stretches from east to west and is called Chang'anjie (literally "Street of Eternal Peace"). The size of the prospectus is a separate issue; in some places, Chang'anjie can stretch up to 100 m wide, but the length of the most beautiful street in China is at least 40 km.

Administratively, Beijing is divided into 14 districts and two counties. For sightseers, travel guides usually recommend the Dongcheng (Dōngchéng Qū) area. Firstly, there is a large market for rental housing, both elite and economy class. And secondly, it is in Dongcheng that there are such national symbols of the Chinese capital as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the National Museum and even several ancient temples. Shopaholics and fans of Asian street food will not get bored here either: you can taste silkworms fried in oil and buy creations of Chinese designers on the main shopping street of the city - Wangfujing, which today is almost completely pedestrian.

The second most popular area for tourists is Xicheng (Xīchéng Qū), which occupied part of the old city and, accordingly, grabbed a decent amount of ancient sights, in particular, all kinds of temples and museums. In addition, the famous Beijing Zoo, the Beihai Imperial Garden, the National Grand Theatre, Shichahai Park and Zhongnanhai Lake are located on its territory.

The business center of the capital is the Chaoyang District (Cháoyáng Qū). Living here is expensive, but prestigious, since this part of Beijing is focused mainly on businessmen and representatives of the tourist elite. It is here that the center of the city's nightlife is located - the Sanlitun quarter with its fashionable restaurants, bars and nightclubs, where you can not only leave all your savings in the evening, but also get into debt. Chaoyang is better known to Russian tourists on Yabaolu Street, which specializes in wholesale and small-scale wholesale trade with Russia. You can understand that you are on Yabaola by the Russian-language (in the Chinese representation) signs at shopping centers and street thieves who skillfully fish out a wallet from your bag. Most of the representatives of the Russian diaspora live in this part of the city. Chaoyang is not rich in historical sights, but a couple of ancient shrines in it, nevertheless, will be found - the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of Dongyue.

If you have free time, you should also look into the Haidian district (Hǎidiàn Qū), which has the status of a student campus due to the prestigious educational institutions concentrated on its territory. Of the interesting places in the area, one can highlight the summer imperial palace, Xiangshan Park, the architectural heritage of the Ming Dynasty - Dajue Temple, the botanical garden and the Zhongguancun Technology Center, which the Western media dubbed "Chinese Silicon Valley".

Sights of Beijing

Modern Beijing is not only typical buildings and futuristic business center designs, but also all kinds of ancient sanctuaries. Temple of Earth, Temple of Heaven, Temple of the Sun, Temple of Yonghe, Temple of Confucius, Temple of the Big Bell - in the list of the capital's attractions are almost two and a half dozen places of worship that have survived both the destructive power of military conflicts and the blind ruthlessness of the Cultural Revolution.

It is in Beijing that the largest palace complex in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located. Gugun or the Forbidden City covers an area of ​​72 hectares, on which about 800 different buildings fit. Built at the beginning of the 15th century, the palace ensemble for several centuries played the role of the main residence of the Chinese emperors, the entrance to which for a mere mortal was punishable by a cruel execution.

Not far from the Forbidden City is the second largest attraction in Beijing - Tiananmen Square, which got its name in honor of the main gate that guarded the entrance to the Imperial City. As in the case of Gugong, the invariable craving of the Chinese for everything large-scale also affected here: the main square of the country, according to experts, is capable of accommodating a million spectators. It is better to come to admire its architectural monuments in the morning, when the ceremony of raising the state flag takes place on the square - an event that strikes with its strict solemnity. The National Museum of China, which is located nearby, is also included in the mandatory program of visits, where unique historical artifacts are stored, the age of which is estimated at several millennia. There is another cult place on Tiananmen that every Chinese patriot must visit - this is the mausoleum of Mao.

On Chang'anjie Boulevard, in the immediate vicinity of Tiananmen Square, you can see the building of the Opera House, often called the "Egg" by the Beijingers. The futuristic ellipsoid structure rests in the center of an artificial pond and looks more like an alien spaceship than the classic concert venue it is.

To walk around the summer residence of the Chinese emperors of the Qin Dynasty, go to the outskirts of Beijing. Surrounded by a well-groomed park, the palace complex on the shores of Kunming Lake is interesting for its elegant buildings, including intricate bridges, exquisite marble pavilions, and the 700-meter Changlang Gallery.

A pleasant impression is also made by Beijing parks, where everything is “according to Feng Shui”. To the northeast of the Forbidden City is the Beihai Imperial Garden, founded in the 10th century, on the territory of which several ancient shrines were sheltered. Be sure to set aside time for a walk in Shichahai Park (Xicheng District), which includes three lakes. On summer days, you can rent a boat here to ride on the water surface, and in winter, amateur skaters strip the lake ice.

And in Beijing, you should definitely visit the stunning zoo, one of the seven largest zoos in the world. It is here that the symbols of China, charming in their clumsiness, live - giant pandas, and with them snub-nosed monkeys, South China tigers and another 600 species of amazing living creatures. Tourists who prefer more active entertainment to quiet contemplation can recommend the local Happy Valley Park, where there are about 100 types of carousels alone, not to mention other crazy rides. An excellent opportunity to travel around the world without leaving Beijing is to visit the Peace Park, which has collected on its sites copies of the most recognizable architectural monuments of the planet, reduced in a ratio of 1 to 10. If you want Asian exoticism in maximum concentration, welcome to the Beijing Opera (Jingxi) , which will completely change your ideas about this art form.

The legendary Beijing hutongs with their cozy stone courtyards are gradually giving way to modern buildings. However, if you really want to wander through the medieval streets and look at the life of an ordinary Chinese without cuts, you will find several authentic places in Beijing. The most “glossy” hutongs are located in the area of ​​Yonghegun Monastery and Shichahai Park. In fact, all tourists who come to the capital of China roam around these areas with their countless shops and newly restored houses. With a strong desire, you can also come across the very slum quarters where the urban poor live, but such an excursion is unlikely to leave a pleasant impression.

Of the must-see out-of-town attractions in Beijing, one can name the most beautiful segment of the Great Wall of China - Badaling, passing through the territory of Yanqing County. The structure looks like new, thanks to a large-scale restoration carried out back in the time of the "Great Pilot".

All sights of Beijing

Hotels and hostels

Hotels in the capital of China are found literally at every turn. The same Booking.com offers more than 2,000 accommodation options in Beijing, including both luxury hotels and cheap hostels. A double room in the "five" like Celebrity International Grand Hotel and Beijing Prime Hotel Wangfujing will pull on 451-734 yuan. Classics of the genre for a traveler with an average budget are three-star hotels, where prices for a quite decent room range from 293 to 417 yuan. The interiors of the capital's "treshki" are often made in the traditional Chinese style, so if you are looking for authentic housing, take a closer look at these options.

The cheapest and most comfortable hostels are grouped in the Dongcheng and Xuanyu areas - Happy dragon, 365 Inn, Spring Time Hostel and others. If necessary, you can arrange a relatively quiet overnight stay in such establishments for 100 yuan (the cost of a bed in a common room).

Food in Beijing

In Beijing (Mandarin) cuisine, rice is much less respected than in other parts of the PRC, but noodles, lamb and dark soy paste are loved here. The queen and at the same time the gastronomic symbol of the local table is Peking duck. By the way, eating a bird baked on a live fire also has its own subtleties. It is better to consume fragrant meat with a crispy crust immediately after cooking, as a cooled duck automatically ceases to be considered a delicacy.

A traditional snack that can be ordered in most eateries in Beijing is a sweet pancake stuffed with mulberries (fuling jiabing). Many people like the so-called hot pot - a variation on the fondue theme, where noodles, meat, vegetables, tofu and seafood are mixed in a bowl of boiling broth. Those with a sweet tooth will be rescued by the local confectionery brand Daoxiangkan, whose muffins and cookies are considered the best in the city.

For grilled scorpions, fried spiders and other non-trivial delicacies, go to the hawkers of Wangfujing Street. Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, the Beijingers themselves treat such food with a fair amount of contempt. Arthropod skewers, which have become a hallmark of local markets, are more of a gastronomic show designed for tourists. But caramelized fruits and meat on skewers are really very tasty here.

The invariable favorite among Chinese drinks is tea, although recently Beijing's youth are increasingly leaning on coffee, which McDonald's and Starbucks consistently supply to residents of the metropolis. Well, for tourists who are interested in the famous tea ceremony and who want to participate in the tasting of new varieties of fragrant drink, there are special tea houses.

For your information: despite some Europeanization of the Chinese capital, gastronomic traditions are honored here in the same way as in the provinces. Beginning at 12 noon, all of Beijing begins to dine, so, according to the rules of local etiquette, it is better not to visit at this time and not to disturb acquaintances with calls. Another subtlety refers to the behavior at the table: a well-fed Beijinger will definitely leave some food on the plate. Empty dishes mean that you have been fed poorly, so expect the obligatory supplement.

shopping

Beijing is home to fake products and a mecca for shopaholics on a budget. Where else, if not in the capital of the Middle Kingdom, can you buy a Louis Vuitton bag at the price of a consumer goods or the latest iPhone model for a fifth of the real cost. The main trading floors of the city are Wangfujing and Liulichan streets, famous for their antique shops (yes, in Beijing you can buy not only cheap replicas, but also a real rarity). Jingdezhen porcelain, jade crafts, ginseng root, embroidery on silk, and real Chinese tea can be mentioned as authentic souvenirs that you are not ashamed to take with you as a reminder of your trip. The latter can be purchased at the Malyandao Special Market.

Excellent memorable souvenirs will be Chinese prints, popular New Year pictures from Yangliuqing County, as well as paintings on religious themes - tanka. If you are into guohua painting, buy a jar of real Chinese ink and a stack of rice paper. But with healing potions and all kinds of herbal potions, which are littered with pharmacies and shops in the metropolis, it is better to be careful.

Even if you're not up for spending big just yet, don't miss the opportunity to hustle around the Chuanwan Pearl Market, where Hollywood stars and world-class celebrities occasionally shop. It makes sense to visit the silk market on Xiushuijie Street, where, if you bargain properly, you can buy a lot of interesting goods, ranging from clothing to electronics. Hundreds of antique shops and cozy shops are waiting for their customers on the main street of Beijing - Chang'anjie. Well, fans of European-style shopping will be helped out by large shopping malls like 3d3 Mall, New Yansha Mall, Oriental Plaza Mall, Ginza Mall.

Population

The number of permanent residents of the metropolis in 2015 began to approach 22 million. Well, since Beijing is the Mother See for the Chinese provinces, as for the Russian periphery, about 10 million illegal immigrants and labor migrants who arrived in the capital from the regions in search of work should be added to this rather big figure.

The average Beijinger in the eyes of the Chinese provincial is an open, self-confident intellectual, not concerned about financial problems and slightly despising the “come in large numbers”. In favor of this stereotype is the fact that in the capital of China they do not particularly care about politeness. Sales, a departing bus, a queue at a street stall - any ordinary situation can become an occasion to demonstrate one's own resourcefulness for a resident of a metropolis. For your information, stepping on your feet and working with your elbows is even fashionable here. At the same time, Beijingers are quite disposed to tourists. True, as before, they no longer take pictures here in an embrace with a "white man", but they try to answer questions politely and with visible participation.

Another interesting phenomenon that can be found, perhaps, only in Beijing, is cheerful pensioners who besiege squares and city parks in the evenings in order to meditate, do gymnastics in the company of the same grandparents or delight (but more often - torment) the ear passers-by with their vocal talents.

The language barrier

You can speak English in Beijing, but there is no guarantee that you will be understood correctly. Representatives of the younger generation and people involved in the tourism sector can more or less communicate in the language of Shakespeare. The indigenous people of the capital themselves speak the Beijing dialect. Well, since there are several million visitors in the metropolis, the provincial reprimand, which, by the way, is very different from the capital, is also not uncommon here.

The easiest way to explain to a Beijinger what you are looking for is to show him the hieroglyph for this or that attraction. So they will understand you for sure and, most likely, show the correct route. Well, or, if the option with hieroglyphs seems too complicated, you can transcribe the desired word using the pinyin system (the phonetic designation of the hieroglyph in Romance), which Chinese people are taught in elementary school. True, the same principle works here as in the case of English: older Chinese do not always remember the basics of this subject.

Urban transport

The cheapest and most popular form of public transport in Beijing is, of course, the subway. For the 2008 Olympics, the metropolitan metro was thoroughly updated, so now it has 9 lines connecting all areas of the metropolis. As for the cost of the trip, it can be called symbolic - only 2 yuan. But traveling by subway from the airport to the city center will cost a more tangible amount (about 25 yuan).

With land transport, things are worse: despite the fact that there are about 600 bus and trolleybus routes in the capital, they still cannot cope with the gigantic flow of passengers. So get ready for the fact that it will be problematic to get on a Beijing bus during rush hour. Another difficulty of local transport is the names of stops, which are written and announced mainly in Chinese.

Prices for trips in the capital of the Middle Kingdom are very humane. For example, a journey on buses No. 1-122 will cost 1 yuan. The ticket for night flights No. 201-212 costs the same amount. The payment system in commuter buses is a little more complicated: 1 yuan for the first 12 kilometers and 0.5 yuan for every subsequent 5 kilometers (No. 300-899).

How to save money: for Ikatun smart card holders, bus routes No. 1-499 are significantly cheaper (about 0.4 yuan per trip). In addition, card payments are allowed in any form of public transport, including the metro and some types of taxis. You can buy "Ikatun" in city supermarkets, metro, post offices.

Taxis in Beijing are relatively inexpensive: as a rule, payment is made by the meter at the rate of 10 yuan for the first 3 kilometers, and then 2-3 yuan for each subsequent kilometer. At the same time, the cost of night trips increases by 1/3. By the way, the divorce of a naive tourist for money in the metropolis is still practiced, so getting into a taxi, where the driver himself plays the role of a counter, is highly undesirable.

Thrill-seekers who are thirsty for road adventures can rent a car: most of the local rental offices are located right at the Beijing airport. The rental price directly depends on the car model: an economy option will cost 265 yuan, an SUV - about 495 yuan, and for a premium car you will have to pay at least 1425 yuan.

As for the driving itself, this is a test for the experienced and strong-willed, because only the lazy do not violate the rules of the road in Beijing. Another unspoken law that local motorists revere sacredly: in any incomprehensible situation, press on the horn. It is for this reason that on the streets of the capital there is an unimaginable din that can bring an unprepared driver to a nervous breakdown. If you want to keep your nervous system healthy, but are not ready to sacrifice convenience in favor of public transport, use the services of a hired driver. The pleasure will cost a little more than just renting a car (about 660 yuan), but it will provide an opportunity to choose a driver who speaks your language, or, in extreme cases, English.

Fans of a healthy lifestyle may prefer a bicycle: there are several dozen rental points in Beijing. An hour's drive will cost 5 yuan, but a daily rental is more profitable - about 20 yuan. And of course, do not forget about the traditional Asian exotic - cycle rickshaws. For only 180 yuan, a tireless Chinese cyclist will gladly take you through the iconic places of Beijing and the hutong, professionally maneuvering in an endless stream of street transport. The average duration of such a trip is 2.5 hours.

Connection

Cellular services in China are provided by the two largest operators - China Unicom and China Mobile. The main difference between the companies is that the first one has an advantage in the form of high-quality 3G Internet, while the second one attracts with a wider network coverage area, which is especially important if you are going to travel outside the metropolis.

You can buy a local SIM card at the airport or at the offices of mobile operators. The cost of connection is 100-300 yuan. The first option will cost more, but it provides a chance to get the most complete information on tariffs and services, since almost all airport employees speak English.

As for the Internet, an hour of online surfing in the city's numerous Internet cafes will cost from 10 to 30 yuan. But keep in mind that the great Communist Party does not sleep here either, so social networks in China are officially banned. However, if you carefully ask the administrator of the institution, then there is a chance that they will tell you how to bypass the blocking. Free Wi-Fi in Beijing can be found in restaurants, malls and chain cafes like Starbucks and McDonald's. True, in order to receive SMS with a password in such establishments, a SIM card from a local mobile operator is usually required.

Safety

Order in Beijing is carefully monitored, so you can walk along the city streets without risk to life and health at almost any time of the day. The only thing that so far has not been eradicated in any way is petty theft, so, in order to avoid unpleasant conflicts, it is better to leave valuables in the hotel safe. If you still get into a story in which you cannot do without the participation of law enforcement officers, dial 101 - the number of the local police.

Note: metropolitan thieves hunt not only for jewelry, but also for identity cards, so it’s better not to carry a passport with you in Beijing - a simple photocopy of the document is enough.

If you urgently need medical assistance, call the number - 102 to call an ambulance or go to the first hospital you come across, where in emergency cases they accept without an appointment and other paper formalities. And one more thing: you will have to pay for the treatment in cash.

Phone numbers you may find useful

• 10 is the telephone code for Beijing;
• 115 - international reference (in English);
• (+86 10) 6532 1381, 6532 2051 - phone numbers of the Russian embassy in Beijing.

How to get there

The most convenient mode of transport for traveling to the capital of the Middle Kingdom is an airplane. Direct flights from Moscow to Beijing are carried out by two airlines at once: Aeroflot and Air China. The duration of the flight, as a rule, is 7 hours 15 minutes. In addition, there are transfer options (with connections in Vienna, Zurich, Guangzhou, Dubai, Warsaw) offered by Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, Air China, Emirates, Finnair. The duration of the transplant can vary from 45 minutes to 23 hours.

Flights to Beijing from St. Petersburg are operated by Aeroflot, Emirates, China Eastern, SAS, Finnair, while direct flights can only be found with Ural Airlines. You can get to the center of the Chinese capital from the Capital Airport by subway (the branch is connected directly to one of the terminals), taxi or bus.

Another way to get to Beijing from Moscow is the Vostok train, departing from the Yaroslavsky railway station. This option is suitable for fans of long trips, since you will have to spend about 6 days on the road. In addition, trains from Korea and Vietnam run to the capital of China.

History of the city of Beijing is over 500,000 years old. In 1929, during excavations in the town of Joudaokou, anthropologists found that on the territory of modern Beijing there were once settlements of the ancestors of a person unknown at that time to science and later nicknamed "Peking Man". The first settlements in this area of ​​modern people date back to the third millennium BC. At that time, people mainly ate the fruits of agriculture and hunting.

During the Zhou Dynasty in place modern Beijing a military fortress was built to protect the northeastern borders of the empire and trade with neighboring peoples. Despite the construction of military fortifications of the Great Wall, the city could not hold out for long against the northern invaders. During the Song Dynasty, the Khitan Mongol tribe took control of the northern territories of China and founded the Liao Dynasty, with the administrative center of Yanjing, in what is today Beijing. In 1125, the Liao were captured by the Manchu tribe of the Jurchens, who in turn founded the capital Zhongdu, on the same site with high palaces and a population of over 1 million (equal to the population of Ancient Rome at the peak of its power in the 1st century AD). Unfortunately, Zhongdu was burned to the ground in 1215. Khan Kublai, the grandson of a powerful conqueror, having defeated the Jing dynasty in the north and the remnants of the Song dynasty in the south, founded the Yuan dynasty with Dadu as its capital on the site of the destroyed Zhongdu. The Mongols brutally treated the conquered population, as a result of which, at the first sign of a weakening of the central government, numerous uprisings broke out.

In 1368, Zhong Yuanzhang, a poor peasant by birth, founded the Ming Dynasty after the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty's turbulent period. Dadu was renamed Beiping, and the capital was founded in the city of Nanjing, which means "southern capital". After the death of Zhong Yuanzhang in 1398, a struggle for power unfolded between his 36 sons led to the victory of the fourth son, resolute and ambitious, who became known to history as the Yongle Emperor. He moved the Ming capital back to Beijing in 1421 and gave the city its original name, which means "Northern Capital". He also rebuilt the city, giving it a "chessboard" layout, in which the city exists to this day. A grand building program began in Beijing in 1406. In the course of its implementation, such architectural masterpieces as the Forbidden City (palace complex), the Bell Tower, the Temple of Heaven, etc. were created. The Imperial Palace, located in the center of the city, was surrounded by a network of narrow streets consisting of traditional courtyards-wells. It is worth noting that the main part of the ancient architectural heritage of Beijing that has survived to this day is precisely the buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Yongle Emperor chose a site with great views to build the imperial cemetery, now known as the Ming Dynasty Tomb. According to the architectural project, the city was expanded, a moat was laid around the palace complex. The central part of Beijing was surrounded by a massive city wall to protect against northern tribes. For the same purpose, it was decided to reconstruct and strengthen the Beijing part of the Great Wall. As history has shown, all the fortifying measures taken by Yongle were in vain. In the last years of the Ming rule, numerous peasant uprisings arose in the country. The largest of them was led by Li Zicheng. Despite the fact that he managed to overthrow the ruling dynasty, the attempt to unite the country was not successful. At the same time, the Manchu troops invaded the northeastern part of China. In a decisive battle with the troops of Li Zicheng in 1644, the Manchus won and founded a new Qing dynasty. After that, their detachments gradually suppressed the pockets of resistance of the remaining parts of the Minsk army.

During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the famous Beijing gardens and park complexes were built today. One of them is the famous Old Summer Palace, which was destroyed in 1860 by French and British troops during the Second Opium War. The defeat of China in the Opium Wars and the signing of unequal treaties imposed by the Western powers gave impetus to the overthrow of the Qin dynasty, the rise to power of Sun Yat-sen and the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. During the existence of the Republic, the capital was again moved to Nanjing, and the name Beiping was again assigned to Beijing, which remained until 1949.

After the end of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which assigned to Japan some Chinese territories (for example, the city of Qingdao) as former German possessions. This was the cause of the student uprising on May 4, 1919, who opposed the weakening of China in the hands of the northern militarists and the western imperialists. Thus was born the May 4th Movement, one of whose members was Mao Zedong, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In 1937, having defeated the Chinese troops defending Beijing, Japanese troops occupied the city, which was the beginning of a large-scale Japanese intervention in China. Since 1937, full-scale military operations have been unfolding throughout China, which marked the beginning of the war. In the face of an external enemy, the communists and nationalists united again in order to act as a united front. After the defeat of Japan in World War II, a civil war broke out in China. In 1949, the Nationalists were defeated and fled to about. Taiwan. This meant a complete victory for the CCP. On October 1, 1949, at Tiananmen Square, Mao Zedong solemnly proclaimed founding of the People's Republic of China. Beijing once again became the capital of China. In 1964, the city wall was demolished, along the perimeter of which the Second Ring Road runs today. Tiananmen Square was greatly expanded, and two modern buildings were erected on its two sides: the House of the People's Representatives (Parliament Building) and the Museum of History and Revolution. In 1950, along with numerous new residential complexes, factories, the Beijing subway was put into operation. The economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1978 laid the foundation for the country's modern economic recovery. In the 1990s, roads were widened, new highways were laid, new residential areas were built, and numerous high-rise towers were erected in Beijing's business centers.

It means "Northern Capital" in Chinese. It is a political, economic, historical and cultural center, one of the four ancient capitals of this great country.

Beijing lost its capital status several times over the centuries, but in 1949 the Chinese Communist Party returned its capital functions to it. This was not recognized by the government of Taiwan for a long time, but then reconciled.

Geography

This city is located in the north of the Great Chinese Plain, further north from the capital mountains rise, protecting this territory from cold winds, and earlier from the nomadic tribes of Mongolia. The Great Wall of China stretched along the ridges of the mountains.

Beijing originally had a ring structure, end roads continue to diverge from its center. Today there are six of them, and they continue to be built, i.e. continues to expand.

In the center of the capital is the famous Tiananmen Square with the gate of the same name. To the north of them is the Forbidden City, which for many centuries was the main residence of the emperors of China, and today is the best attraction of the capital.

Climate

Beijing has a mild monsoon climate, so it is hot and humid in summer, the average temperature is about +40 C. In winter, the weather is formed under the influence of anticyclones arriving here from Siberia, the average air temperature is about -5 C.

Most of the precipitation falls here in the summer, and winters are often completely snowless. In the off-season, almost every year suffers from sandstorms that can paralyze the life of this gigantic city.

Story

The first settlements in this area appeared in the 1st millennium BC. and the first significant city of Ji was the capital of the Yan kingdom, which existed in this territory in the 5th-3rd centuries BC.

Later, the lands of modern Beijing were part of the Qin, Han and Tang empires. At first, the city was the southern capital of the Liao empire, which was burned to the ground by the Mongol nomadic tribes led by Genghis Khan.

In the XIII century, the city was rebuilt again, named Khanbalik, and it became the capital of the Mongol Khanate. Until today, the remains of the walls of a medieval Mongolian fortress have been preserved in Beijing.

After 100 years, the khanate fell, and Khanbalik was again destroyed. In the 15th century, during the Ming Empire, the city was rebuilt. At this time, Beijing received its modern name, and the best architectural and historical sights were built here.

In the 17th century, the Manchus invaded China and founded the Ming Empire here, making Beijing its capital. In the 19th century, the city was burned and plundered by the troops of France, Great Britain and Russia.

In 1911, the Qing Empire fell in a bourgeois revolution. In China, the first republic appeared, which four years later again turned into an empire, but a very weak one. It was subjugated by the Japanese in the 30s of the last century.

In 1949, it was captured by the Communists under the leadership of the Great Mao, and the creation of the People's Republic of China with its capital in Beijing was proclaimed on Tiananmen Square. Thus began the modern history of China.

Attractions

Of course, people come here not to soak up the beach under the gentle sun. Beijing is the world's largest metropolis with a powerful industry and a complex environment. People come here to see the great architectural monuments.

The city suffered great damage from frequent wars for its possession, the invasion of French and British troops, as well as the Cultural Revolution of Mao. However, many historical and architectural sights have been preserved and are on the UNESCO list.

forbidden city

This is the largest palace complex in the world, built in the early 15th century during the Ming Dynasty. Today it is simply called Gugun or Former Palace and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For many centuries, emperors lived here with their families and retinue. Under pain of death, no one else had access to the palace. Today, tourists from all over the world visit it every year and enjoy the unique Chinese architecture and art.

summer palace

In this residence, the emperor of China with his family and servants spent his time in the summer, it is also on the UNESCO list. Around the Summer Palace a magnificent garden was laid out, a huge pond was dug according to Chinese tradition, a high hill was erected, etc.

The Summer Palace was destroyed in the middle of the 19th century by the armies of France and Great Britain, who captured Beijing. Later, Empress Cis restored it, according to legend, spending the money that was allocated for the construction of the Chinese Navy.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

These gates were erected at the beginning of the 15th century, they are located near the famous Tiananmen Square. Exactly the same gate was in Nanjing before the transfer of the capital from this city to Beijing.

The gate was destroyed twice as a result of a lightning strike in the middle of the 15th century and during the uprising of Chinese peasants in the middle of the 17th century. Later they were restored and reconstructed several times.

Tiananmen Square

This is the largest square in the world, symbolizing the center of the city and the whole country. It is named after the gate of the same name located nearby. This square is home to Mao's Mausoleum, the Chinese Parliament, the Grand Opera House, etc.

It was here that Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the PRC. There used to be a monument to Confucius, which for unknown reasons was dismantled several years ago. Tiananmen Square is a real symbol of the modern and its heart.

Sky Temple

This temple is also located in the center of the capital. It has a functioning monastery. The temple is included in the UNESCO list and is one of the symbols of the city. It was built in the first half of the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty.

For several hundred years, Chinese emperors came to the Temple of Heaven on the day of the winter solstice, brought rich gifts to heaven, asked for a good harvest, turned to the gods with a prayer for the prosperity of China, because. considered to be their relatives.

miaoing temple

This is a famous Buddhist temple with a monastery attached to it, it is also called the White Pagoda. Miaoing was built in the 13th century during the reign of the Mongol Yuan dynasty in Beijing. Many of the local buildings were built later, during the Ming Dynasty.

The temple in the 70s of the last century was significantly destroyed as a result of an earthquake, but later restored and completely reconstructed. During the restoration, archaeologists discovered ancient treasures hidden over the centuries inside and near the temple.

Badaling

This is a segment of the Great Wall of China, located north of Beijing, which is most often visited by foreign tourists and residents of China. It can be reached by bus or by rail.

Badaling was built during the Ming Dynasty in the XIV-XVIII centuries and carefully restored in the middle of the last century at the direction of Mao Zedong. Millions of tourists come here every year.

Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

This mausoleum is another symbol of modern Beijing. It was built after the death of a Chinese communist leader in the 1970s. Since then, Mao has been buried here in a crystal coffin, covered with a red flag.

On the top floor of the mausoleum is a museum dedicated to Mao and his followers. Here you can see various exhibits, documents, photographs, letters, paintings that tell about the communist era in China, which continues today.

Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wofo Temple)

This Buddhist temple complex is located near the Beijing hill. It was built in accordance with all religious traditions and is dedicated to the death of the Buddha. Here you can see sculptures of Buddha in different periods of his life and enlightenment.

In the main hall of the Temple there is a statue of the Reclining Buddha, it is made of copper in the first half of the 14th century and has a length of more than 5 meters. The Buddha is surrounded by clay statues of his 12 disciples, many allusions to Christianity.

Niujie Mosque

This is the oldest mosque in Beijing, founded in the 10th century and adopted a modern look in the 18th century. It stands on Cow Street in an area that has been inhabited by local Muslims for the second millennium.

During the 20th century, the Niujie Mosque was restored and renovated three times. It preserves all the Islamic traditions of the construction of religious buildings and structures. Today it is a symbol of the Mongolian period in the history of Beijing.

Parks and gardens

Beijing is famous for its ancient, imperial and modern gardens and parks. The Chinese have been famous for the art of landscape construction for many centuries. Therefore, be sure to take a walk in the parks of Beihai, Yuanmingyuan, Shichahai, Xiangshan, etc.

We recommend visiting the city botanical garden and the zoo with your children. They were founded in the middle of the last century and are located on the western outskirts of Beijing. Here you will feel yourself in the wild in an urban metropolis.

Popular establishments

Beijing has a very interesting nightlife, tourists are offered many nightclubs for entertainment, most of which are located in areas called Workers' Stadium and Wudaokou.

The nightclubs Sanlitun, Houhai, Yuandadu are open all night long. This is a favorite place for young people from all over the world. Here, even Beijingers rest exclusively in European style.

Transport

Beijing is the most important transportation hub in all of China. In addition to six ring roads, there are many modern highways, railway lines and the largest air harbor.

Railway trains, incl. high-speed, go from Beijing to all major cities in China and abroad: to Russia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, etc. Today, the Chinese railway is one of the most developed in the world.

A network of highways, including nine high-speed roads, linked Beijing to all parts of the country. It is also developed inside the capital itself, although the problem of traffic jams in Beijing has not yet been solved.

It is best to fly from Russia to Beijing by air. Beijing's main airport is called the "Capital" or "Shoudou" and it handles some of the local and international flights. It is a 40-minute taxi ride from downtown Beijing.

There is also other public transport in the capital. The fare will please you with its democratic nature, the tickets are cheap. The taxi system is widely developed, there are also illegal taxi drivers who “bomb” no worse than in Russia.

Visas

In total, Chinese legislation provides for 16 types of visas for foreigners, each of which has its own validity period and is provided for certain purposes of visiting this country.

But in practice, Russians get by with a tourist visa, a business visa, and a multi-visa. They have long shown ease of use, so they are popular when Russians draw up entry documents to China.

A tourist visa is intended for recreation, shopping and treatment in this country. A single entry visa is valid for 30 days and is valid for three months. With a double entry visa, you can visit China twice for 30 days within three months.

A tourist visa can be obtained by contacting the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, a visa center or a travel agency. Later, it can be extended or reissued on the spot, while in Beijing, if you accidentally missed the deadlines established by law.

Business visa is designed for longer periods - 30, 60 and 90 days. To receive it, you need an invitation from a Chinese business partner. A multi-visa is a subtype of a business visa.

The beauty of all these visas is that they do not require your personal presence during their application. You can entrust all the chores to your representative or apply for a visa via the Internet by receiving it to your email inbox.

Who is this resort for: pros and cons

Any traveler with a variety of income levels can come to Beijing and have a great rest. There is a place for the middle class, students and retirees. There is something to entertain yourself and very wealthy people.

The downside of this resort is the poor environmental situation in Beijing due to the many factories and plants. There are no beaches and clean open water. But the sightseeing and entertainment tourism is well represented.

Submit an application

Beijing

Beijing is a majestic metropolis with the status of the capital of the People's Republic of China. Modern Beijing is an interesting city in every sense with a long, eventful history. For 3000 years it has become the political, educational and cultural center of the republic. The “Northern Capital” of China surprises with its architectural diversity; ancient cozy streets pass here next to the glass skyscrapers. Almost all the dynasties of the Chinese Empire made Beijing the capital of their possessions. The layout of the city is made in the form of a square according to the precepts of ancient teachings to reflect the cosmic order. An imaginary line passes through the center of the city and divides it exactly in half into two sides, western and eastern. In particular, this line crosses the Imperial Palace. City buildings are built in a clear north-south or east-west orientation.

In 2008 Beijing hosted a world-famous sports event – ​​the Summer Olympic Games. In terms of beauty and size, Beijing is not inferior to Hong Kong and Shanghai, but unlike the capital, they have the status of China's financial centers.

Origin of the city's name
Beijing, if the name is translated from Chinese, means "Northern Capital". In East Asia, there is a tradition that cities are named as accurately as possible so that the name reflects reality. Many other cities in China are named according to the same principle, for example, Nanjing is the "Southern Capital".

The capital city name “Beijing”, which is understandable and recognizable for us, is pronounced differently in common Chinese, in particular, Beijing. In the 20th century, in English and many other languages, the city was called in its Chinese version and recorded as "Beijing". In Russian, Portuguese, Dutch and some other languages, the Chinese capital is called Beijing, that is, an outdated version. Even Peking University is called that in the English version.

The name Beijing, so familiar to Russian citizens, was invented by French missionaries more than 400 years ago.

Over the years of its existence, the capital has had many names. For example, in the XIV century, and then from 1928 to 1940. she was known as Beiping, meaning "Northern Calm". The renaming took place in connection with the loss of Beijing's capital status and its transfer to Nanjing.

In 1949, the Communist Party came to power, which returned the name of Beijing (Beijing), returning the functions of the center of the empire to the city.

Another name for Beijing is 燕京 (Yanjing), that is, the "Capital of Yan", it occurred in ancient times during the reign of the Zhou Dynasty. Their empire was called the kingdom of Yan. Now this name is used for the name of the local beer (Yanjing Beer), as well as in the name of Yanjing University, which is part of Peking University.

The Mongolian Yuan dynasty during its reign called the city Khanbalik. In his notes, the wanderer Marco Polo mentioned the city as Cambuluc.

Territorial location
The city is located in a lowland in the north of the North China Plain. Most of the territory of Beijing is mountainous. The highest mountain is Dunlin, its height is 2303 meters.

The main water sources of the city are the two rivers Yongdinghe and Baihe. The Great Canal of China ends in Beijing, flowing through the Great Plain of China. The capital's largest reservoir is Miyun, which occupies a key place in Beijing's water supply system.

The city is located on a fault of tectonic plates, therefore it is often subjected to the destructive effects of earthquakes. The elements showed themselves especially strongly in 1976, when the city of Tangshan, which is located near Beijing, was destroyed.

Climatic features
Summer and spring in Beijing is the time of monsoon winds that blow here from different parts of the country. They have a significant impact on the weather conditions of the capital. Therefore, in spring, the streets are shrouded in clouds of yellow caustic dust flying from the Gobi Desert. Summers are rainy due to southeasterly winds that blow from the ocean. Over the summer, 600 mm of precipitation falls, despite the fact that the total figure for the year is 610 mm. But showers do not prevent the summer from being hot (average +25°C). It is cold in Beijing in winter (-10°C), there is practically no snow. Autumn is the most fertile time of the year for Beijing, the weather is usually clear and a little cool, but in general it is very pleasant and favorable for walking.

Ethnic composition and population
Beijing is one of the three most populated cities after Shanghai and Chongqing. Almost 20 million people live in the city.

The majority of Beijingers (95%) are ethnic Chinese (Han). The remaining 5% are Manchus, Hui and Mongols. Also, a small number of Tibetans live in the capital; a Tibetan secondary school of the 2nd grade is open here for their children. There are always a lot of foreign citizens in Beijing. Most of them came here as representatives of foreign companies or students. In recent years, citizens from South Korea have been massively resettled in the city, and now they have formed here the largest foreign diaspora in the country. They settle mainly in the areas of Udaokou and Wanjing.

Types of transport
All modern modes of transport are well developed in Beijing. Capital airport "Capital" is located near Shunyi, 20 km from the city. It serves most of the domestic and international flights. In fact, these are the main air gates of the PRC, through which Air China (the main airline of the country) operates its flights.
Four major railways pass through Beijing.

As the main transport, city residents use buses, less often trolleybuses. Most of the urban transport consists of outdated models, but the schedule intervals on the routes are short and the ticket prices are affordable. For trips outside the city, suburban buses are used.
The subway in Beijing was opened in 1971, since then it has been developing rapidly. Now there are 15 main lines and 6 additional lines in the subway, but their number is constantly growing and will soon reach 28. Line No. 1 goes from the Shijingshan suburb to Beijing Station, which is located in the old "Chinese City", so the length of the line is 16 km . Line No. 2 (built in the 80s) will create a ring around the "Tatar City".

Highways entangle the whole of Beijing with their routes, connecting it with all of China. The capital has ten expressways and 11 state highways that continue outside the city. There are also five auto rings, but in shape they look like squares and rectangles, because such a structure is typical for the "Northern Capital". Streets run in all directions. Every year in Beijing, the problem of traffic jams is increasing.

Most Beijingers use bicycles to travel short distances.

The history of development
People began to settle in the territory of modern Beijing no later than 1027 BC. During this period, the country was ruled by the Zhou dynasty. Then the city of Ji appeared, which became the capital of the state of Yan of the feudal type. During the coup d'état, the Qin dynasty came to power, as a result of which Yan ceased to exist. But the favorable territorial location made it possible for the city to take an important political place during the Ji dynasty. The main trade routes passed through the city, through which merchants carried goods to Mongolia, Korea and Manchuria. There was also a fortress here, protecting the interior of the state from attacks from enemies from the north. From this city, China of that time planned to expand its borders.

In 907, the Tang Dynasty ended, and despotic conquerors from Manchuria came to power, ruling for more than three centuries. During this time, two dynasties of Liao and Jin managed to change, and the city remained the capital of the province.

In 1271, Khan Kublai Khan of Mongolia overthrew the Jin dynasty, after which he moved the capital to the city of Yuan, renaming it Dadu. As a result, Beijing of that time began to be visited by travelers from all over the world (in particular, Marco Polo and other famous Europeans).

In 1367, Chinese troops captured Dadu. The Ming dynasty came to power, renamed Dadu Beiping (translated as "Tranquil North") and moved the capital to Nanjing. The son of the emperor, whose name was Yan, was appointed as the governor of the city. At the beginning of the 15th century, this young man staged a coup d'état and sat on the throne of the empire, after which he returned capital status to Beiping and renamed it Beijing (this is the name of Beijing we now know). This name is translated from Chinese as "Capital of the North".

Since then, Beijing has not been deprived of his honorary title. The exception was the period from 1928 to 1949, when the decision of the Kuomintang government made Nanjing the capital, motivating that the order of the 1st emperor of the Ming dynasty must be carried out. As a result, Beijing was briefly renamed Beiping.

Already in the 20th century, Beijing became the center of state conflicts, the cornerstone of which was the different views of the empire and foreign states regarding forms of government and Western political views. Mass confrontations began, during which the British and French troops invaded the city. The summer imperial palace was almost completely destroyed.

In 1900, foreign armies occupied Beijing, taking advantage of the Yihetuan uprising. In 1919, the May 4th anti-imperialist movement began in Beijing, and political movements were intensified aimed at ridding the country of the constant interference of foreign dominations. Also, adherents of communism began their activities, seizing power through a revolution after 30 years.

In 1937, Japanese troops captured the capital, staying there until 1945, after which they were forced to surrender to the Kuomintang.

Then in 1949, the Kuomintang army surrendered to the onslaught of the communists, during a six-week siege. As a result, on October 1, 1949, stands were installed at the Beijing Tiananmen Gate, from which the creation of the People's Republic of China was announced.

The Communist Party provided the capital with a stable future. But, it did not become completely cloudless. Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, undesirable problems have appeared. In the 1980s, a crisis began due to a lack of housing, an overload of transport and a lack of shops. Valuable agricultural land was given over to building and industrial development. The city's water supply worked at maximum loads, and the degree of air pollution increased so much that it began to threaten the life and health of Beijing residents.

Therefore, the Chinese government has introduced restrictive measures that prevent the further growth of the capital.

Travel Tips
There are certain restrictions for visitors in Beijing. If you do not comply with them, you risk being punished by local authorities.

In temples, monasteries and museums it is strictly forbidden to take photos and videos. We recommend that you refrain from photographing government institutions. The Criminal Code of the People's Republic of China provides for liability for those who take photographs of passers-by without their permission or warning. This rule must be respected even in public places. Special signs are posted where photography is allowed.

It is prohibited to stay on the territory of the station without having a ticket with you. This is closely monitored by the police. To visit the border areas with Laos and Myanmar, you need to obtain an additional visa. Getting into Tibet is much more difficult due to the complicated visa regime.

The easiest way to visit Tibet is in a group, which will have a route that is pre-compiled and approved with the authorities. It will not be superfluous to have a business card of your hotel with you, and brief information about yourself, written in Chinese.

Tipping is not officially allowed, but behind the scenes this custom is accepted in Beijing (5-10% of the cost of the service). If the price does not suit you, then do not hesitate to bargain, they love it here. But cunning sellers can deceive you. Control your bag of money, especially on narrow streets, they are often hunted by pickpockets.

Beijing

Beijing

capital of China. The first mention of the settlement on the spot modern Beijing belong to the II millennium BC. e. Subsequently, the city grew and during its existence repeatedly became the capital of various state formations that emerged FROM. China, and with a change in its watered, affiliation and adm. positions changed and its names. First it is a small trading village Ji (Chinese chi "village, place", as well as "market, fair") , then the capital of the state of Yan Yanjing (Chinese jing "capital") , Youzhou - "right city" (when oriented to YU. right - "west") . In X in., upon invasion from FROM. Khitan, it gets the name Nanjing - "South Capital", but in XII in. Already Zhongdu - "middle capital", in the XIII-XIV centuries. Capital of the Yuan Dadu Empire "main capital". After the liberation from the power of the Mongols in 1368 G. gets the name of Peiping - "pacified north". In 1421 G. the capital of the empire was transferred to it from Nanjing, and since that time the city has received its current name Beijing - "northern capital". However, in 1927-1949 gg., when Nanjing was the capital of Chiang Kai-shek, the medieval name of Beiping was returned to the city; since 1949 G. it is again called Beijing. AT Russian the use of the Beijing form from the accepted in European countries of spelling Peking, based on Southern Chinese. pronunciation of this name. Cm. also Nanjing.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Beijing

(Beijing), Beijing , capital China, political, economic, financial, scientific and cult. the center of the country; The 2nd largest (after Shanghai) city in the country. OK. 5.8 million inhabitants (2000), with subordinate territories approx. 13.8 million people One of the oldest cities in China, known since the II millennium BC. e. Under various names, it was repeatedly the capital of the ancient and Middle Ages. Chinese states. From 1368 it was called beiping ("pacified north"). Named in 1403 Beijing ("northern capital"; hence the Russian name Beijing), and in 1421 became the capital of the Chinese Ming Empire. In 1644 he was occupied by the Manchus. In 1618 the Russian traveler I. Petlin visited P., in 1716 the Russian spiritual mission was created. In 1937–45 occupied by Japanese troops.
In the southwest h. structures of the 12th century have been preserved. By 1553, the suburbs formed the Outer City, which in the past was also surrounded by brick walls. Int. the city (on the site of the Mongolian city of Dadu) included a walled and moated complex of the Imperial City with palaces, temples, pagodas, parks, hills and lakes (including the Taimiao temple - "Temple of the Remembrance of the Ancestors", 1420), the Shejitan altar ( "Altar of deities, earth and cereals", XV century), a park on the city of Meishan ("Coal Mountain", or Jingshan - "Mountain of a Beautiful View"), Beihai Park on the shore and Lake. Beihai ("Northern Sea") with the Baita Lama Pagoda ("White Pagoda"), Baitasy Temple ("Temple of the White Pagoda", now Yongansi, "Temple of Eternal Peace"), Ulunting Pavilions ("Pavilions of 5 Dragons", 1651). South the wall of the Imperial City ended with the Chengtianmen Gate (1420; in their place in 1651 a new Tiananmen Gate - "Gate of Heavenly Peace") and a square were built. In the south part of the Outer City - the Tiantan ensemble ("Temple of Heaven", 1420-1530); Qingyandian ("Temple of Prayer for a Rich Harvest", 1420); Huangqunyu ("Hall of the firmament", 1530); altar Huanqiu ("Altar of Heaven", 1530). At the end of the XVII-XIX centuries. Numerous temples arose on the territory of the Imperial City (Shangyindian - "Temple of the source of kindness"; Wanfolou - "Temple of ten thousand Buddhas"), pavilions, galleries. In the XVIII century. Yonghegun lama monastery was built. On the north-west. On the outskirts of China, there is the summer imperial residence and the Yiheyuan park on the city of Wanshoushan (16th–19th centuries). After 1949, the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the History of China (1959), the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao and the Monument to the People's Heroes, the National Palace were built on Tiananmen Square (the largest in the world). cultures, center. telegraph (1958). Main trades. the streets in the center of China are Wangfujingdajie, Xidanbeidajie, and Qianmendajie. Government agencies are concentrated in the west, while government agencies are concentrated in the northwest. - the most important universities and scientific institutes, in the north - new residential areas, to the east. and south. the outskirts are dominated by prom. pr-tiya.
Peking University (1898); Tsinghua University (technical), People's University of China, Center. in-t of nationalities, ped., medical, rural-hoz. in-you; center. conservatory; institute of iron and steel, aeronautics and astronautics, oil, exploration, forestry, mechanization of villages. x-va, foreign languages. Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China, Academy of Medicine. sciences, academy of village-hoz. sciences; observatory and planetarium; Botanical Garden; nat. Beijing Library (13.1 million volumes), Center. Library of the Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China. Museum in the former Imperial Palace (Gugong). Chinese artist. gallery, military museum of the Chinese people's revolution, museum of nature, museum of the writer Lu Xun, geol. museum. Capital theaters, Tianqiao. Zoo (approx. 5 thousand animals of more than 500 species, including giant pandas).
Ferrous metallurgy, machinery (including transport), oil refining, equipment and radio electronics, chem. (including petrochemicals), text. prom. Traditional handicrafts are widely known (carving on wood, ivory, jade; carpet weaving). A metallurgist has been working in Shijingshan (on the Yongdinghe River, 20 km west of China) since 1920. plant. Large transport. the node of the People's Republic of China, from which railroads depart in all directions. d. and highway. Beijing Station is the largest in the country. Beijing-Shoudou Airport ("Capital"). Outport P. on the bank of the hall. Bohai Wan of the Yellow Sea (180 km from P.) - Tianjin. The Beijing Canal (25 km; 1956–57) connects P. with the river. Yongdinghe (source of water supply). Metropolitan (1969; 2 lines 40 km). The bicycle is very popular.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Beijing

the capital of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of China, about 160 km northwest of the port of Tianjin. Prior to the formation of the People's Republic in 1949, Beijing was surrounded by a city wall and was about 8 km across. It occupied the outskirts of an agricultural area of ​​780 sq. km in Hebei province. Shortly after 1949, the city was given the status of an independent administrative unit, directly subordinate to the Central People's Government, and its territory was expanded to 17,793 square meters. km. Today, Beijing is one of the main industrial cities in China, the cultural center and the heart of one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the world.
Geographic location and climate. Beijing proper is located within the lowlands at the northern tip of the North China Plain. About 3/5 of the territory of the city, together with the suburbs, lies in a mountainous area, framing the old city from the west, north and east. Several rivers flow through the plains around Beijing, including the Baihe and Yongdinghe, which constitute the main source of the city's water supply. Beijing is located within a seismically dangerous zone, and in 1976 the city of Tangshan, located 160 km east of Beijing, was destroyed by an earthquake that caused significant damage to the capital itself. Weather conditions in Beijing are affected by spring and summer monsoon winds blowing from the northwest and southeast. In early spring, northwest winds from the Gobi desert shroud the city in clouds of yellow dust. In summer, southeast winds from the ocean cause heavy showers, which is why about 3/4 of the annual precipitation (610 mm) falls on the summer season. In general, summers in Beijing are hot and humid, while winters are cold and dry. However, from mid-September to November, the weather is clear, cool and very pleasant.
Population. Peking grew enormously after 1949, when it had a little over 2 million inhabitants, 4/5 of whom lived in the city itself. By 1988, the population of Greater Beijing was estimated at 10,670,000 people, including nearly 6,710,000 people living in the city itself. The most important reason for this growth was rapid industrialization.
Planning and architecture. Since its founding in the Yuan Dynasty, Beijing has been the capital of China for the most part. To this day, the appearance of the city clearly shows the features associated with its leading role in the empire. The territory of old Beijing is distinctly divided into two parts: the square "Inner" or "Tatar city" in the north and the oblong "Outer" or "Chinese city" adjoining it from the south.
The “Tatar city”, whose name reflects its creation during the reign of the Mongol conquerors in the 13th century, was built along the main axis - a straight line crossing it from north to south, and surrounded by 12-meter walls, which were dismantled only in 1950- e years. Within the walls of the "Tatar city" with a length of about 24 km, two palace ensembles were enclosed, created mainly in the 15th century. during the Ming Dynasty and also surrounded by walls.
In the very center was the Purple, or Forbidden City, framed by a moat. Behind its walls, 3.6 km long, was the Imperial Palace, built from 1406 to 1420 and currently a museum. The palace complex consists of more than 9,000 rooms, its total area is about 100 hectares. The architectural ensemble includes huge gates, audience halls and living quarters. The yellow tiled roofs of the buildings rise above the red adobe walls of the city. In the center of the "Forbidden City" are the "Pavilion of Supreme Harmony", where the imperial throne was located, the "Pavilion of Complete Harmony", where political decisions were developed, and the "Pavilion of Preserving Harmony", where diplomats and academic advisers were received. The pavilions are placed on terraced pedestals; long flights of white marble stairs lead to their entrances. Each of the pavilions was arranged in such a way that the emperor always sat with his face turned exactly to the south and with the North Star behind him. The same orientation of buildings in the direction from north to south was maintained in the entire "Tatar city", built symmetrically about a single meridional axis.
In general, the buildings of the "Forbidden City" are subject to a single plan. As a rule, they are one-story, with light wooden walls, and their massive roofs with gracefully raised cornices are supported by complex systems of beams and brackets resting on strong wooden columns. Structures of this type have an important advantage: they are practically not damaged during earthquakes. However, they are exceptionally vulnerable to fire, and many of the surviving buildings have required major repairs or rebuilding more than once in their long history. This work is carefully continued by the current government of China.
The "Forbidden City" was surrounded by a second square of red walls with a total length of 9.7 km, inside which was located the so-called. "Imperial city", which included imperial parks, temples and minor palaces. Its southern wall has survived to this day, as well as sections of the western wall adjacent to two artificial lakes: Zhonghai (Central Sea) and Nanhai (South Sea). They were surrounded by minor palaces, which currently serve as the reception and residences of the Chinese leadership. To the north is the third man-made lake, Beihai (North Sea), which is surrounded by a public park. The famous Tibetan-style White Pagoda, built in the 17th century, rises on the island in the middle of this lake. Nearby are the National Beijing Library and the National Handicraft Exhibition.
Three more parks are located inside the Imperial City. One of them, Meishan Park, or Jingshan, is located exactly north of the Forbidden City on the "Coal Mountain" - an artificial hill formed during the excavation of the three artificial lakes of the "Imperial City". From this hill, which is the highest point of Beijing, a wide panorama of the entire capital opens up. Two more parks occupy the part of the "Imperial City", located to the south of the walls of the "Forbidden City", i.e. the territory where the imperial temples were located. To the east of the Tiananmen Gate, on the site of the family Temple of Remembrance of the Emperor's Ancestors, there is the People's Park of Culture with the Palace of Culture of the Workers, and to the west of the Tiananmen Gate, inside the walls that used to enclose the imperial "Altar of the Gods of the Earth and Cereals", Zhongshanyuan Park, or Sun Park is currently located Yatsen, leader of the revolution of 1911-1912, which destroyed the imperial power.
South of the two named parks is the surviving southern wall of the "Imperial City", in the center of which is the famous Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) in the center. It was from here that in 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the formation of the People's Republic of China, and it is here, on the huge Tiananmen Square, expanded in 1950, that the political life of the republic is concentrated. On Tiananmen Square there is the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall - the mausoleum where the body of the Chinese leader is kept, open to the public. On its northern border runs Chang'anjie (Eternal Peace Avenue), Beijing's main boulevard. Along it are many of the city's more modern sights. On the western side of the square, a monumental building was erected - the House of the National People's Congress, where congresses of this supreme authority and other important state events are held. Opposite this building is an impressive building complex that houses the China History Museum and the Chinese Revolution Museum. Grandiose demonstrations and fireworks are organized on the square itself on national holidays.
The public buildings on Tiananmen Square are probably the most important buildings in this third, outer part of the "Tatar City". Initially, the residences of the nobility, palace courtiers and imperial officials were located in this area. It later became known as the "ambassadorial quarter" because there were many foreign missions here. The area is criss-crossed by many main streets running east-west and north-south, as well as a network of hutongs, side streets containing shops, restaurants, markets, and residential areas enclosed by tall gray walls with large red gates.
Until the 1950s, the southern wall of the “Tatar City” ran directly south of Tiananmen Square, and although the walls and massive gates were later dismantled, the line along which they passed can be traced along the preserved canals - the former fortress ditches filled with water. Behind these walls begins the "Outer", or "Chinese City", which had the shape of a rectangle with dimensions of 3.2 km from north to south and 8 km from west to east. Initially, it was a territory occupied by commercial and entertainment establishments. Their owners concentrated here to serve the rich who lived inside the walls of the "Tatar City". In the middle of the 16th century and this area was, in turn, surrounded by a protective wall 6 m high, and the network of its streets was ordered in accordance with the specialization of the enterprises located in one or another of them: for example, selling paper, writing instruments, ceramic tiles, jade jewelry , cloisonne enamel, etc. This specialization has partly survived to this day. The "Outer City" also housed larger shopping areas, as well as religious temples. Most of the latter, both in the "Tatar" and "Chinese" city, were later turned into schools and other state institutions, however, despite the fact that the "Outer City" was largely included in the mainstream of modern political life, it remains in many ways the most diverse and colorful part of Beijing.
On the southern outskirts of the old "Chinese City" there are two large parks. Tiantan (Temple of Heaven Park) in the southeast contains an ensemble of buildings where important state sacrifices were once performed. One of the temple structures - the "Altar of Heaven" - is a three-level terrace of white marble. Three tiers symbolize three elements: heavenly, earthly and human. The second building, the Huangqugyu (Hall of the Heavens), is 20 m high and has an octagonal shape in plan. This building is surrounded by an elaborately constructed "wall of echo". The third building, Qingyandian Hall (Hall of Harvest Prayer) is a 27 m high round building with a three-tiered roof. The dark blue glazed roof tiles, the elaborate woodwork and the marvelously decorated interior make it one of Beijing's most tourist attractions. This whole pavilion, with its decoration, rich in traditional symbols, is one of the main architectural monuments of China.
The second largest park in the Outer City, Taozhanting (meaning "Slightly Drunk Gazebo" in Chinese), is located to the west. Between the two named parks is the ancient imperial “Temple of Agriculture” (or “Temple of the God of Agriculture”), where the emperor himself, in peasant clothes, led the ritual dedicated to spring plowing and offered prayers for a generous harvest.
Other attractions in the Outer City include the Beijing Stadium and Sports Complex located in the southeast of the city, and the huge Beijing Railway Station located directly against the wall of the Imperial City on the northeastern outskirts of the Outer City. Its construction was completed in 1959. Numerous seven- and ten-story apartment buildings were also erected in the "Outer City", in addition to four- and five-story buildings built before 1949. However, in general, the skyline of Beijing still remains relatively one-two-story buildings were determined by the imperial law, which prohibited the construction of buildings higher than the temples of the Forbidden City.
Beijing also lacks a central business district. Instead, large and small shopping centers are scattered throughout the city, which allows city residents to shop mostly in the same areas where they live. Probably Beijing's busiest shopping thoroughfare is Wangfujing, which runs along the eastern side of the "Imperial City" north of Chang'anjie. This street is home to the 17-storey Beijing Hotel, the tallest building in the old city, as well as the Beijing Department Store and Dongfeng Market, the largest indoor shopping mall that combines a variety of small shops and restaurants.
Capital region. After 1949, and especially after the old city walls were demolished, Beijing expanded widely in all directions at such a rate that it is now often difficult to tell where Beijing proper ends and the suburbs begin. Moving away from the center of the city, the traveler sees new residential buildings, factories and administrative buildings rising everywhere among densely planted fields. The farther from the center, the greater the role of gardens and farms in the landscape, but here too there are medium and large industrial enterprises. Beijing's original expansion plans called for a concentration of new industrial facilities in the southeast of the city to minimize the threat of air pollution given the prevailing wind direction, but there are numerous exceptions, chief among them being the large Shijingshan Iron and Steel Works, located 19 kilometers west of Beijing. cities. Elsewhere to the west are numerous military camps as well as military factories, and to the southwest is one of China's main nuclear research centers. The southern and eastern suburbs are home to a number of large industrial complexes, including oil refineries, chemical and petrochemical industries, engineering and automotive plants, and textile factories. In the northern sector, mainly cultural and scientific institutions are concentrated, as well as several parks, sports complexes, a zoo and the Druzhba hotel with a tourist center.
Three attractions outside the old city deserve special attention. The first of these is the old "Summer Palace" (Yiheyuan), located 11 km northwest of the city, one of the most popular recreation areas for Beijing residents. The park served as the site of imperial gardens and palaces from at least 1153. The modern complex consists mainly of restored buildings, the construction of which began at the end of the 19th century. The park includes Lake Kunminghu and Mount Wanshoushan (Mountain of Longevity) to the north of it. Temples and graceful pagodas rise on the mountain. A long gallery runs along the shore of the lake, connecting the buildings of the palace complex at the foot of the Wanshoushan Mountain with each other. Beautiful bridges are thrown across the lake: the Camel's Back Bridge and the Shikongqiao Bridge with seventeen spans. In the distance, behind the bridges, the famous "Jade Pagoda" is visible.
The Ming Tombs, located along an alley 32 km northwest of Beijing, the burial place of 13 emperors, is another attraction in the suburbs of the capital. A smoothly curving road (“The Way of High Virtue”), framed by monumental stone sculptures, leads to them. In front of the oval burial mounds, inside which the tombs themselves are located, ocher-red pavilions rise under the traditional yellow tiled roofs with corners turned up.
The third outstanding attraction near Beijing is the Great Wall of China itself. The only man-made object on Earth large enough to be seen from the moon, this gigantic fortification lies 48 kilometers from Beijing. The Great Wall of China, 4000 km long, stretches in a winding ribbon from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert.
Education and cultural life. Beijing has 49 institutions of higher learning, including some of China's most prestigious universities. Among them is Peking University, which was founded in 1898 and has been the center of Chinese scientific and political activity since the May 4th movement of 1919. American subsidies.
Tsinghua University, Beijing's second preeminent scientific school, was opened in 1911 and quickly became China's leading university in the sciences and humanities. Among other well-known educational institutions, opened for the most part after 1949, one can name the Chinese People's University, which enjoys special prestige in the economic sciences, and a number of specialized technical institutes.
The largest library in China, the Beijing Library boasts an outstanding collection of classical works, inherited from the imperial collections built up over nearly 1,200 years. Other important libraries in Beijing are based at the Academy of Sciences, the Chinese History Museum and the main universities of the capital.
Beijing is also rich in museums. Particularly interesting are the Palace Museum (Gugong), located in the Forbidden City, and the Chinese History Museum on Tiananmen Square. Both of these museums have outstanding collections of antiquities. Other well-known museums include the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the People's Revolutionary Military Museum of China, the Central Museum of Natural History, the Geological Museum, and the Museum of Chinese Art. Interesting exhibitions of works of art and material culture are also open in many city parks and temples, and the Museum of Minsk Graves displays a unique collection of objects from the Minsk period discovered during recent archaeological excavations.
There are more than 25 theaters in Beijing, where Western-style dramas, operas, modern Chinese musicals, concerts, acrobatic and dance performances are staged. Cinema is also very popular in the city, as are competitions in various sports such as basketball, table tennis, gymnastics, athletics and swimming. In addition to practicing many of these sports, the people of Beijing place an unusually high emphasis on maintaining normal physical fitness, and every morning the streets and parks of the city fill with groups of people practicing wushu and traditional Chinese gymnastics.
Public transport. Beijing is one of the main transport hubs in China. The new Beijing Airport, located about 16 km northeast of the city, is connected by flights to major cities in China and to foreign countries. Four major railways also lead to Beijing.
Inside the city, passengers are transported by buses and trolleybuses. Although the city's transport fleet is somewhat outdated, the routes follow short timetables and ticket prices remain very low. There are also suburban bus routes. In addition, the first line of the modern Beijing Subway connects the Beijing Station, located in the old "Chinese City", with the suburb of Shijingshan, located approximately 16 km to the west of it. The second metro line, encircling the ancient “Tatar city”, was put into operation in the 1980s.
China's personal vehicle fleet is still small, but Beijing has a good, albeit relatively expensive, taxi service. However, the main mode of transport for most of the city's residents is the bicycle, and although goods are now mostly transported by trucks, tricycles, as well as ox-carts, are still widely used for the transport of both passengers and small loads.
Control. The Beijing Central Administrative Region consists of 9 urban areas and 9 suburban districts, which are under the Beijing People's Congress. District leaders carry out the day-to-day administration of their territories in accordance with the general budget and policies set by the municipality. Districts are divided into sub-districts, street committees organized locally, and organizations of individual educational institutions, enterprises and residential areas subordinate to them. Districts are divided into communes, brigades and work groups.
Economy. Although Beijing is not yet as industrialized as Shanghai or Shenyang, it has nevertheless become a major center for the production of textiles and synthetic fibers, petrochemicals, light and heavy machinery, equipment, cars and trucks, agricultural machinery, printing and radio electronics, including computers and televisions. At the same time, this city remains the main center for the development of artistic folk crafts in China. It is famous for its traditional cloisonne enamels, lacquer, jade and ivory carvings, and paper art. Agricultural production also plays an important economic role in the Beijing suburbs, where farmers grow large quantities of grains and a variety of vegetables for local consumption.
Story. In historical times, there was a large settlement in what is now Beijing from at least 1027 BC, when the city of Ji, the capital of the feudal state of Yan, was founded here during the Zhou Dynasty. The state of Yan fell during the unification of China under the rule of the emperors of the Qin dynasty in the 3rd century. BC, but its capital Ji retained its importance, mainly due to its location on the extreme ledge of the North China Plain. Being on an important trade route to Mongolia, Manchuria and Korea, the city served both as a fortress to protect the interior of the country from invasions from the north, and as a stronghold for expanding China's influence in these countries.
In 608 AD Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty ordered the construction of a canal from the Yellow River to Beijing to supply his troops involved in a military campaign against Korea. This canal was later connected to other canals further south to form the Grand Canal, part of which near Beijing is still in use today. After the fall of the Tang Dynasty in 907 AD. Beijing came under the rule of foreign conquerors from Manchuria and for more than 300 years (during the reign of the Liao and Jin dynasties) served as the capital of the province. Then, in 1271, the Mongol Khan Kublai, who conquered the state of Jin, declared the city the capital of the Yuan empire he founded. Dadu, as the new capital was called, quickly became one of the most open, cosmopolitan cities in the world. Marco Polo and other Europeans visited it already in the 13th century. However, in 1367 Dadu fell, conquered by Chinese troops under the command of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who moved his capital to Nanjing and renamed Dadu Beiping (Pacified North).
During this period, Beiping was ruled by one of the sons of the emperor, the ruler Yan, but at the beginning of the 15th century. he usurped the imperial throne, and in 1420 the capital returned to Beiping, which was accordingly renamed Beijing (in the Russian traditional transcription Beijing), which means "Northern Capital". Since that time, Beijing has always remained the capital of China, except for a brief period from 1928 to 1949, when the Kuomintang government restored the decision of the first emperor of the Ming dynasty, choosing Nanjing as its capital and again renaming Beijing to Beiping.
In recent times, Beijing has been both the center of China's conflicts with foreign states, and the focus of revolutionary transformations associated with China's perception of Western ideas and forms of government. In 1860, British and French troops captured the city, destroying a significant part of the imperial "Summer Palace". In 1900 the city was again occupied by foreign troops during the so-called. Ihetuan, or Boxer, uprising. In 1919, Peking became the center of activity for political and other forces, including both the May 4th movement, aimed at renewing China and liberating it from foreign domination, and the communist revolutionary movement, which came to power about 30 years later. In 1937, the city was again captured by foreign troops, this time by the Japanese, who held it until 1945, when they surrendered to the Kuomintang. On January 23, 1949, the Kuomintang troops, in turn, surrendered the city to the communists after its symbolic siege, which lasted 6 weeks, and on October 1, 1949, the formation of the People's Republic of China was proclaimed from the platform of the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing.
Communist rule brought relative stability to Beijing, but the city soon faced new challenges as a result of thirty years of rapid industrial and population growth. By 1980, shops, facilities, and transportation were overwhelmed, and the housing crisis worsened. Industrial construction has taken over much of the valuable agricultural land, industrialization has overwhelmed the city's water supply, and air pollution has become a serious public health threat. As a result, a decision was made to limit the further growth of the city.
LITERATURE
Beijing. Beijing, 1959
Kapitsa L.L. ancient city of beijing. M., 1962
Encyclopedia of New China. M., 1989

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

BEIJING

CHINA
Beijing (Beijing) is the capital and one of the oldest cities in China. With the surrounding areas, the city is separated into an independent administrative unit of central subordination. The area of ​​the capital is 16,800 km2 (for comparison, the area of ​​Moscow is 0.9 thousand km2), the population is 5.8 million people (with suburbs - 10.9 million people). In terms of population, Beijing ranks sixth among the capitals of the world. The average age of Beijingers is 30 years. The favorable climate contributes to the rapid growth of the population. The most difficult are the summer months, when the temperature rises to 40 degrees with 100% humidity. The average summer temperature is 26 degrees. In winter, the thermometer rarely drops below five degrees below zero, and from February it gets noticeably warmer.
Beijing was founded, presumably, in the 15th century BC. For three millennia, the city has changed several names and is now called Beijing (Northern Capital).
The sights of Beijing have long gained worldwide fame, and not in vain. Tourists are unlikely to find anywhere else such a multitude of cultural monuments collected in one place: here is the Imperial Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall, and the tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, and the famous Beijing Opera.
In the center of the city is the largest square in the world - Tiananmen. Here, imperial decrees were once announced from the gates of Heavenly Peace, and in 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed a declaration on the formation of the PRC. A 38-meter monument to the People's Heroes is installed on the square - a square stele with the sayings of Mao and Zhou Enlai, there is also a huge building of the Grand People's Palace, where meetings of the Chinese parliament are held, the grand mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Behind the mausoleum is the Imperial Palace. Entering it, you find yourself in an amazing world of perfect harmony of palace pavilions, the throne and reception halls, the luxury of living quarters, the stone lace of white marble bridges thrown over an artificial canal with the poetic name "Golden River". Statues in front of the buildings, huge, partially gilded bronze vessels in which water collects during rain, the wall of the Nine Dragons, mythical figures on the roofs of the pavilions, the imperial garden with mosaic paths and trees as gates, and countless pavilions and apartments make up the "Forbidden City ", in which in the old days there were more than a thousand buildings.
Beihai Park is located around the lake, north of Coal Hill, where a memorial is erected at the site of the suicide in 1644 of the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the park, you can enjoy Chinese cuisine at the famous Fangshan restaurant, which was opened in 1926 by former court chefs, enjoy ice cream, go boating and admire the blooming lotus. In the southern part of the lake there is Jade Island, on which there is a temple complex with the White Pagoda visible from afar, built in honor of the Dalai Lama, modeled on a Tibetan monastic tomb made of white shell rock.
In the northeast of the Old City is a lamaist temple, which was built in 1694 as the residence of the prince. In 1744 it was turned into a lamaist monastery, where 500 monks settled. In a huge pavilion there were three huge statues of Buddha and 18 statues of tubs. The second pavilion was empty in the old days, so that nothing could distract from meditation. Today it houses a six-meter statue of Tszongkhava, a Tibetan monk who founded the Yellow Bands sect, which since 1640 became the state church of Tibet. At the exit from the pavilion, the image of a mountain carved from sandalwood with figurines of 500 Buddha disciples made of gold, silver, bronze, tin and iron attracts attention.
On the southern outskirts of Beijing is the world-famous temple complex of the Chinese traditional cult of heaven - the Temple of Heaven, built during the Ming Dynasty. In this temple, the Chinese Emperors made sacrifices to the spirits of their ancestors and prayed to Heaven for a harvest. The Temple of Heaven complex consists of the Temple of Prayer for the Harvest, the Temple of the Ancestors, which houses the tablets with the names of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the altar of Heaven - the realm of the symbolism of numbers, primarily 9, the largest simple odd number, the symbol of yang. The complex also includes other buildings, among which is the wall of "Returning Sounds", the acoustic properties of which are such that the voice of one standing against the wall is heard throughout the vast courtyard.
20 km from Beijing there is a huge Summer Palace (area - 290 km2) - a park ensemble with residential buildings, temples and pavilions, spread along the shores of an artificial lake. The first pavilions for the rest of the rulers appeared here as early as the 12th century, and the first temple was built at the beginning of the 16th century. Even the names of the pavilions and secluded corners of the park sound like beautiful music: the Garden of Harmony and Virtue, the Pagoda of Spirits and Buddha, the Garden of Harmonious Joy, the Jade Waves Pavilion. In windy weather, a quiet melodic chime of bells adorning the ridges of the roofs of the pavilions spreads through the park. A 728-meter covered gallery stretches along the shore of the lake, where you can walk even when it rains. At the exit from the gallery at the pier stands the infamous Marble Ship, on which the largest part of the treasury of the navy was once spent.
50 km north of Beijing, in a secluded valley, there are 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty. The complex includes the Big Red Gate, a special pavilion with a stone turtle, on which stands a stele with inscriptions glorifying emperors, an alley of Spirits with life-size sculptures of animals and huge guards, a wooden Dragon and Phoenix gates, and the actual tombs with burial chambers and sarcophagi.
90 km north of Beijing is a restored section of the Great Wall - a favorite place for excursions. At the foot of the wall there are several souvenir shops and many merchants offering a variety of souvenirs right under the open sky.
The capital of China is annually visited by up to one and a half million foreigners who leave more than 700 million US dollars in the country's tourism sector (there are 200 main objects in the city).
Work on the construction and improvement of the city does not stop around the clock: pits on the roads are "tightened" overnight, high-speed highways are laid in a few weeks. For example, during the five summer months of 1992, nine new expressways were built in Beijing. Yet Beijing is a city of cyclists. The bicycle came from Europe, but how Chinese it has become can be judged by a Chinese joke: a Chinese child is born sitting on a bicycle.
There are more than two hundred large enterprises (employing more than a thousand people) in Beijing, including the coal industry, ferrous metallurgy, the automotive industry, the chemical industry, and light industry. In addition, the petrochemistry, military, radio-electronic, printing, food industries, production of building materials are developed; artistic crafts. Like most large industrial cities around the world, Beijing faces the problem of environmental pollution. The dusting of the atmosphere is especially strongly felt - the result of the use of coal for heating dwellings. The amount of dust can be judged at least by the light collar, which turns black in the evening.
Gradually, Beijing is becoming a real pearl of the East: 7,000 historical monuments have been taken under state protection, traditional spectacles have been revived, and hotels and restaurants can satisfy the most fastidious customers.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China (cm. China)- surprises with its scale and growth rate. The population of the city has exceeded 9 million people, the area is 17.8 thousand square meters. km (for comparison, the area of ​​Moscow is 0.9 thousand sq. km). Work on the construction and improvement of the city does not stop around the clock: potholes on the roads are "tightened" overnight, highways are laid in a few weeks. For example, during the five summer months of 1992, nine new expressways were built in Beijing. Yet Beijing is a city of cyclists. The bicycle came from Europe, but how Chinese it has become can be judged by a Chinese joke: a Chinese child is born sitting on a bicycle.
There are more than 200 large (with over a thousand people employed) enterprises in Beijing, including those in the coal industry, ferrous metallurgy, automotive, chemical, and light industries. Like most large industrial cities around the world, Beijing faces the problem of environmental pollution. The dusting of the atmosphere is especially strongly felt - the result of the use of coal for heating dwellings. The amount of dust can be judged at least by the light collar, which turns black in the evening.
The sights of Beijing have long become world famous and not in vain. Tourists are unlikely to find anywhere else such a multitude of cultural monuments collected in one place: here is the Imperial Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall, and the tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, and the famous Beijing Opera. In the center of the city is the largest square in the world - Tiananmen. Here, imperial decrees were once announced from the gates of Heavenly Peace, and in 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed a declaration on the formation of the PRC. A 38-meter monument to the People's Heroes is installed on the square - a square stele with the sayings of Mao and Zhou Enlai, there is also a huge building of the Grand People's Palace, where meetings of the Chinese parliament are held, the grand mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Behind the mausoleum is the Imperial Palace. Entering it, you find yourself in an amazing world of perfect harmony of the palace pavilions, the throne and reception halls, the luxury of living quarters, the stone lace of white marble bridges thrown over an artificial canal with the poetic name "Golden River". Statues in front of buildings, huge, partially gilded bronze vessels in which water collects during rain, the wall of the Nine Dragons, mythical figures on the roofs of pavilions, an imperial garden with mosaic paths and trees as gates, and countless pavilions and apartments make up the "Forbidden City ”, in which in the old days there were more than a thousand buildings.
Beihai Park is located around the lake, north of Coal Hill, where a memorial is erected at the site of the suicide in 1644 of the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the park, you can enjoy Chinese cuisine at the famous Fangshan restaurant, which was opened in 1926 by former court chefs, enjoy ice cream, go boating and admire the blooming lotus. In the southern part of the lake there is Jade Island, on which there is a temple complex with the White Pagoda visible from afar, built in honor of the Dalai Lama by a Tibetan monastic tomb made of white shell rock.
In the northeast of the old city there is a lamaist temple, which was built in 1694 as the residence of the prince. In 1744 it was turned into a lamaist monastery, where 500 monks settled. In a huge pavilion there were three huge statues of Buddha and 18 statues of tubs. The second pavilion was empty in the old days, so that nothing could distract from meditation. Today it houses a six-meter statue of Tszongkhava, a Tibetan monk who founded the Yellow Bands sect, which since 1640 has become the state church of Tibet. At the exit from the pavilion, the image of a mountain carved from sandalwood with figurines of 500 Buddha disciples made of gold, silver, bronze, tin and iron attracts attention.
On the southern outskirts of Beijing is the world-famous temple complex of the Chinese traditional cult of the sky - the Temple of Heaven, built during the Ming Dynasty. In this temple, Chinese emperors made sacrifices to the spirits of their ancestors and prayed to Heaven for a harvest. The Temple of Heaven complex consists of the Temple of Prayer for the Harvest, the Temple of the Ancestors, which houses the tablets with the names of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the altar of Heaven - the realm of the symbolism of numbers, primarily 9, the largest simple odd number, the symbol of yang. The complex also includes other buildings, among which is the wall of "Returning Sounds", the acoustic properties of which are such that the voice of one standing against the wall is heard throughout the vast courtyard.
20 km from Beijing there is a huge Summer Palace (area - 290 km 2) - a park ensemble with residential buildings, temples and pavilions, spread along the shores of an artificial lake. The first pavilions for the rest of the rulers appeared here as early as the 12th century, and the first temple was built at the beginning of the 16th century. Even the names of the pavilions and secluded corners of the park sound like beautiful music: the Garden of Harmony and Virtue, the Pagoda of Spirits and Buddha, the Garden of Harmonious Joy, the Jade Waves Pavilion. In windy weather, a quiet melodic chime of bells adorning the ridges of the roofs of the pavilions spreads through the park. A 728-meter covered gallery stretches along the shore of the lake, where you can walk even when it rains. At the exit from the gallery at the pier stands the infamous Marble Ship, on which a large part of the treasury of the navy was spent.
50 km north of Beijing, in a secluded valley, there are 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty. The complex includes the Big Red Gate, a special pavilion with a stone turtle, on which stands a stele with inscriptions glorifying emperors, an alley of Spirits with life-size sculptures of animals and huge guards, a wooden Dragon and Phoenix gates, and the actual tombs with burial chambers and sarcophagi. 90 km north of Beijing is a restored section of the Great Wall - a favorite place for excursions. At the foot of the wall there are several souvenir shops and many merchants offering a variety of souvenirs right on the street.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .