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Beijing
Being stationed in Consulate General Chengdu, Southwestern part of
China gave us an opportunity to travel around China. Beijing, the
capital city of China is one of them. We travel to Beijing so many times
considering the Embassy is located in Beijing.
Beijing lies in the north China plain, not far from the
Western slopes of the mountains of Yanshan and about 93 miles from the Bohai
Sea. A dense network of roads, railways and airways connects Beijing with
China's other major cities.
The historic city center which dates from the Ming dynasty
(14th - 17th c.) has largely preserved its original appearance. Traces of
the medieval city which was divided into two parts can still be seen. It
joined the four points of the compass and consisted of the north city formerly
known as the Tartar city which was laid out on a regular rectangular pattern.
This section was defended by a 20 km/ 12 mile long wall with nine gates (two in
the east, three in the south and two in the west and north sides). The
south city was surrounded by a 9 mile city wall with seven gates.
The two city walls were completely destroyed, but two of
the old gates are preserved - the 'qian men' behind Mao's Mauoleum and the 'desheng
men' in the north of the forbidden city.
After 1949 a permanent change in the appearance of the
city took place. Owing to a redevelopment program the majority of the city
walls and numerous old houses were demolished. Wide streets, various
public buildings such as underground, which runs under the line of the former
city wall, was built. Since the late 1970s an endless succession of
unimaginative, monotonous skyscrapers have been built as well as tenement blocks
to house the ever growing population, hotels, administrative building, etc.
From the mid 80s the government has tried to carry out the
redevelopment of the old city more cautiously; this plan also includes restoring
cultural and historic relics. It is intended that usage of space will be
reduced and that the ecological problems will be solved.
Beijing is China's most interesting city. Among the
city's historical and cultural monuments are the Imperial Palace, the Beihai
park, the Coal Hill Park and Heavenly temple. On the city's outskirts
Fragrant Mountain, the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.
Latest Trip
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At the very beginning of
this month Cheech went up to China to visit her old pal Josephine. One
week flew so fast made this trip feels like a day visit. But the two
buddies made it to
the Great Wall, Cheech also visit the infamous
Silk Street Market which by the way
turned to be a fancy building instead of the flea market Cheech remembered.
Cheech visited Temple of Heaven
again which is under construction to meet perfection modern China and
preparation for the Olympic in 2008. Cheech visited Hutong
for the
first time and visited so many fun places like picture on the bottom.
The restaurant located on the first floor in China World Hotel has a
chocolate fountain and many great deserts rhymes with "ocholate".
Great restaurant, great food, outstanding deserts. Highly recommended. |
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Chocolate fondue -
- couldn't be better! |
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