Here is the translation of the content: "Beijing: Past and Present"

Author: Hong Zhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: This is Beijing: Skyscrapers and siheyuan (traditional quadrangle houses) coexist, highways and hutongs (alleys) intertwine, bars and tea houses neighbor each other, cinemas and opera houses buzz together. Beijing seems to have two sides: one is classical, and the other is modern—they collectively form its night and day, dreams and reality, tradition and modernity. This is an ancient capital with thousands of years of history; although many ancient buildings have collapsed or disappeared, an intangible thing has always existed. It may be difficult to describe this thing, this quality that can be called the character of Beijing. But it definitely exists—that is its soul, its heart, its calmness and solemnity, its accumulation and renewal.
This book showcases Beijing, a city with three thousand years of urban history—its memory and its reality. The Imperial City roots, siheyuan, grand mansion gates, hutongs, gate towers, tea houses appear in readers' sight in their timeless images. The Drum and Bell Towers, the Old Summer Palace, Longfu Temple, Foyou Temple, Baiyun Temple, Taoranting, Temple of Heaven, and Temple of Earth still linger in the echoes of bygone eras.
This is a book that emphasizes the contrast between old and new Beijing. The author comments on the human geography features of both the old and new Beijing in the form of essays, blending historical and contemporary sentiments naturally. With references and effortless expression, the author fully explores Beijing's cultural depth and current potential, maintaining both a calm, objective perspective and a deep emotional connection. Coupled with appropriate illustrations, the interplay of the old and new makes the work both touching and thought-provoking.