Ye Zufu on Beijing

Author: Ye Zufu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: With a history of over 3,000 years as a city and more than 850 years as the capital, Beijing has countless stories to tell, endless charm to describe, scenery that never fails to impress, and culture that is always engaging. The Beijing Press has launched a series titled "Beijing Compendium" in major bookstores across the city. Nine cultural giants—Lao She, Jin Shoushen, Zhang Zhongxing, Hou Renzhi, Zhu Jiaji, Liu Yeqiu, Deng Yunxiang, Zhao Luo, and Ye Zufu—either grew up in old Beijing or have long resided there. They are intimately familiar with Beijing's landscapes, customs, traditions, folkways, and flavors, making them true "Beijing experts." Ye Zufu is an authority on Beijing's historical and cultural records during the transition from the old to the new era. He is like a living dictionary when it comes to Beijing's anecdotes, customs, and famous figures. This book is essentially a miscellaneous collection of Beijing's local customs. Today's Beijing has evolved from its historical roots. As we rejoice over the ever-changing new Beijing, we often look back with nostalgia, yearning for the old days of Beijing—the old Beijing, which we should not forget. There, we find our long history, profound traditions, and endless sentiments. As Beijing embraces the world in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, the historical Beijing has become a focal point for both Chinese and international friends.
The "Beijing Compendium" series consists of nine volumes: "Lao She Talks About Beijing," "Jin Shoushen Talks About Beijing," "Zhang Zhongxing Talks About Beijing," "Hou Renzhi Talks About Beijing," "Zhu Jiaji Talks About Beijing," "Liu Yeqiu Talks About Beijing," "Deng Yunxiang Talks About Beijing," "Zhao Luo Talks About Beijing," and "Ye Zufu Talks About Beijing." The nine authors, from Lao She to Ye Zufu, are all distinguished experts in Beijing studies, highly accomplished scholars of history and culture. As "insiders," they narrate Beijing's history and geography, describe its local customs, and record its traditions, all of which hold significant historical and cultural value.