Beijing - Traveling through China

Author: Travel China Editorial Department
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: For those who decide to travel to Beijing, it must be because of its scenery, folk customs, or unique cuisine. Before you go, why not take a look at this book? This book focuses on self-guided travel and pays more attention to human geography. Through a combination of text and images, it organizes Beijing's human geography, helping you first establish an emotional understanding of the city, making your trip more enriching and enjoyable! This book is part of the "Travel China" series, which is a series of self-guided travel books primarily aimed at providing readers with comprehensive information. This includes relevant human geography knowledge to understand before departure, as well as essential travel tips on clothing, food, accommodation, and transportation that should be mastered before setting off. Additionally, it features numerous recommendations and special reminders from "locals." The ultimate goal of travel is not just to "arrive," but to broaden one's horizons and understand the world and all things that exist alongside us in it. Therefore, "Travel China" includes an additional "Interpretation" section, which explains the local geography, history, and culture, providing readers with a foundation before their trip. Without reading some Tang and Song Dynasty poetry, it would be difficult to appreciate the beauty of Jiangnan's landscapes; without some knowledge of ethnology, one might easily fall into a fascination with the ethnic minorities in the western regions; and without an in-depth understanding of Chinese history, how could one appreciate the myriad ancient architectural wonders? Of course, the editorial of "Travel China" remains to provide readers with the most effective travel guide possible, using an objective attitude and thorough information.
Beijing is a city full of charm. It has a history of more than 3,000 years as a city and was once the capital of five dynasties in Chinese history. Between 800 and 1800 AD, it was the most perfectly designed, largest, and most populous and prosperous capital in the world. Even today, after enduring countless disasters and witnessing the vicissitudes of life, the magnificent Forbidden City remains the largest and best-preserved palace complex in the world. Along its 8-kilometer-long central axis, ancient altars for worshipping heaven and earth are evenly and beautifully distributed. In the suburbs of the city, not only are the largest imperial gardens in China scattered, but also one of the Seven Wonders of the World—the ancient Great Wall.
Beijing's city plan, with its strict organization and perfect layout, has been praised by travelers and architects. As early as 800 years ago, when the city of what is now Beijing was first built, Marco Polo marveled at it, saying, "Its design is exquisite and beautiful, truly beyond words to describe."