WONDERFUL VIEW OF BEIJING
Shichahai Lake
Shichahai is a majestic lake situated in downtown Beijing. For centuries it has provided local residents with a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the day. More recently, the lake has benefited from improvements to its environment which has worked to enhance its natural charms. Today, it is a true oasis amidst the sea of activity taking place in the surrounding metropolis and provides a tranquil escape to stressed workers seeking a sense of space and well-being.
Liulichang
Liulichang is known throughout China and the world for its ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, rubbings, ink stones and ink. The street, which is only 750 meters long, is located south of Hepingmen (Peace) Gate within walking distance of the Hepingmen Quanjude Peking Duck Restaurant.
In Ming and Qing times, Liulichang was a favorite haunt for scholars, painters and calligraphers that gathered there to write, compile and purchase books, as well as to paint and compose poetry. By the Kangxi period (1661-1722), Liulichang had become a flourishing cultural center and was described as having "homes and buildings lined up like fish scales." During the Qianlong period (1736-1796), the street was even more prosperous. There one could find "rooms filed to the roof beams with all kinds of books," "a street filled with treasures and trinkets," and the "quintessence of all the markets in the capital concentrated in one street." When Emperor Qianlong decided to revise the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature, he ordered scholars from the project, and Liulichang became a center for research in textual criticism. For visiting scholars, a book-buying trip to Liulichang‘ s over 30 bookstores was one of the pleasure of a stay in Beijing.
The Liulichang of Qianlong period was described in the notes of Li Wenzao: "To the south of the kiln is bridge which separates the tile works in to two sections. To the east of the bridge, the street is narrow and for the most part, the shops there sell spectacles, metal flues for household use, and daily necessities. To the west of the bridge, the road is wider, and besides the regular bookshops, there are shops selling antiques and other curios, shops specializing in calligraphy books, scroll mounters, professional scribes, engravers of name seals and wooden blocks for painting, as well as shops where stone tablets are inscribed. Here also are shops offering the articles needed by a scholar participating in the imperial examinations-brushed, paper, ink bottles, paperweights " This was Liulichang up till the end of the Qing Dynasty. In his book Postscript to the Bookshops of Liulicahng, the bibliographer Miao Quansun (1844-1919) listed bookshops, the names of which had remained unchanged from the Qianlong period up through the early 20th century. Those established more recently were also recorded, of which one, Hanwenzhai, was still in business during the 1950s.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Superior-Level Normal School, the Five-Cities (in the Ming, Beijing was divided into five city districts) School and the headquarters of the Telephone Company were built on the site of the glazed tile works. In 1927, when Hepingmen (Peace) Gate was opened up in the city wall, the bridge was demolished and Nanxinhua Road was built, dividing Liulichang into eastern and western sections. The east became known as a center for antiques and curious, while the west was famous for its books. Shanghai Commercial Press, China Publishing House and Youzheng Press, which published books of Chinese calligraphy, all established branches here.
In 1950, the People‘s Government passed laws to prohibit the export of valuable antiques and books. The Palace Museum and the Museum of Chinese History bought up all important historical artifacts, paintings, calligraphy and other works of art that had been scattered among Liulichang‘s shops. Books of Song and Yuan dynasty woodblock prints, Ming and Qing classics, old hand - annotated texts and the Beijing Library, Beijing University and Beijing Normal University bought publication.DazhalanDuring the Ming and Qing, a curfew was frequently imposed at night. Barriers (zhalan) erected at both ends of streets and alleys were closed as soon as the curfew came into effect, making passage impossible. According to the Imperially commissioned Record of the Major Events of the Great Qing Dynasty, there were more than 1,090 barriers erected in the Inner City area as well as 196 inside the Imperial (Manchu) City. Dazhalan was one of these 1,200-old structures, and although the barrier itself is gone, its name has remained.
Dazhalan, literally the “ Great Fence,” was from early times the site of a busy market. In the years of Emperor Yongle (reigned 1403-1424), it was crowed with shops, and as trading in the city became concentrated around the Zhengyangmen area, Dazhalan developed into a popular market. In 1900, when the Eight-Power Allied Forces attacked Beijing, Dazhalan was reduced to a heap of rubble, although it was quickly rebuilt as it stands today.
Dazhalan Street, only 270 meters long and nine meters wide, has 37 shops and service establishments. Many of the specialty shops still exist, for example, the Tongrentang Traditional Medicine Shop, which has manufactured pills, powders and ointment since 1669; the old Juyuan Hat Shop, now called the Dongsheng Hat Shop, opened in 1811 and specialized in producing official’s hats and satin boots for the nobility; and the famous Ruifuxiang Satin, Silk and Fur Shop, which opened in 1893. There are also the Neiliansheng Shoemaker’s and the Nanyufeng Tobacco Shop, both more than 100 years old. The Xinrong General Store has a history of 80 years.
These old shops enjoy a high reputation among local residents. Their continued prosperity can be traced not only to their worked to develop specialties sold at fair prices. Tongrentang, for example, having supplied medicinal herbs to the imperial court, was later appointed to make up prescriptions for the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908). Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the shop to produce all the medicines used by the imperial court. During the Qing Dynasty, the Neiliansheng Shoemaker’ s kept careful records of boot sizes and preferred styles of all the military and civil officials who shopped there. If an official wished to have a pair of boots made, he merely sent a note to the shop and a pair of perfectly fitting footwear would be made to order. After the fall of the Qing, this market disappeared, but the shop quickly adapted by making cotton shoes out of the layered cloth soles previously used for the court boots.
Another reason for Dazhalan’ s popularity was the great number of public amusements concentrated here. There were five large theaters, the Qingleyuan (Celebrating Happiness Playhouse), Sanqingyuan (Three Celebrations Playhouse), Guangdelou (Extensive Virtue Playhouse), Guangheyuan (Extensive Harmony Playhouse) and the Tongleyuan (Common Happiness Playhouse). When Qing rules made a law prohibiting “uproarious noises in the Inner City areas close to the palace,” gentry and rich merchants passed through Qianmen (Front Gate or Zhengyangmen) Gate in the evenings to see plays and operas.
After 1949, state-run enterprises were established here, Two department stores, a women’ s clothing shop and children’s shop enabled Dazhalan to supply an even wider range of consumer goods. Nowadays Dazhalan bustles with crowds from morning to night.
Underground city
The underground city was built in 1969 and completed in 1979, used as an air-raid sheltre, about roughly 30 kilometres long,300,000 people could live inside in case of emergency.It was said to be connnected with several important places in Beijing, such as, the railway station, the Forbidden City, No.1 and No.2 subways etc. It is quite deep,average height is 8 metres , the deepest section could be over 10 metres. The huge construction is quite amzaing. It had schools, cinemas, libraries and hospitals. The cinema could hold 300 people at one time. But nowadays only signs of them could be seen on the wall. People can only visit part of the whole underground city, most of it had blocked up already.
Temple of the Origin of the DharmaThis temple was founded in 654 AD in memory of troops killed while battling Koreans. The Chinese Buddhist Theoretical Institute currently occupies the site---- young monks can be seen zipping to class. In the past , monks would hold vegetarian banquets in the courtyards for local luminaries.Niujie Mosque
A centre for Beijing’s Muslim community. Niujie Mosque was constructed in 996 AD. The son of the Arab imam who founded the mosque is buried in the courtyard garden along with tow sheikhs from Central Asia who came to China along the Silk Road by the Qing dynasty, the neighboring markets were well known for halal (meat from animals slaughtered according to Islamic law) beef and mutton. Except for its Arabic script, the mosque largely resembles a noble’s palace. The Tower for observing the Moon and the main prayer hall are off limits to non-believers, and women are restricted to certain areas. Visitors must dress conservatively. Prayers are scheduled every Friday at 1 pm.
Guanghua Temple
Constructed during the yuan dynasty, this temple and monastery is only open to the public on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, when devout capitalists come to burn incense and pray for profits. China’s last eunuch, Sun Yaoting, was the temple’s caretaker for 20 years until he died in 1996. Though he had the poor timing to be emasculated in 1911, he served the last emperor, Puyi, inside the Forbidden City even after the fall of the Qing dynasty.
Dongyue Temple
This complex receives few visitors despite being in the heart of the CBD. Hundreds of amazing life-size plaster figures make up the 76 Chiefs of Departments and 18 layers of Hell at this Temple of the God of Taishan Mountain . Offerings can be given to deities responsible for anything from the Department of Resurrection to the Department of Fish and Animals. Note the overwhelming number of prayer tags left at the Department of Morality for Officials. The temple is Taoist, but the ‘departments’ are influenced by traditional folk beliefs. There is the Beijing Folk Art Museum in the back of the temple. The wedding certificates and children’s toys from the Republic can be found there.
Ancient Music Centre
The ancient Music Centre is located in Zhihua Temple which was once the family home of a powerful enuch responsible for imperial rites and ceremonies. Musical performances are regularly performed here every day. Using period instruments, the musicians play pieces used in Ming
dynasty rituals and compositions designated to help monks memorize Buddhist scriptures. Do visit the west hall of the main courtyard: it features Beijing’s only Ming dynasty octagonal wooden pedestals. The wood carvings are intricate and exquisitely fluid. Admire the beautiful latticework on the ceiling and the serene Buddha sitting underneath. The faded colors lend a subtlety that’s missing from other temple adornments.
Big Bell Temple
No hyperbole here: this temple is home to the biggest bell in China. The bronze giant is 6 metres tall, weighs 46.5 tons and is adorned with 230,000 characters of Buddhist scripture. It is rung for prosperity on New Year’s Eve and during the Spring Festival. The temple also features a complete set of Ming style chimes and, in the museum in the rear, well preserved Song and Yuan dynasty bells.
For RMB 100, musicians will give command performance. Don’t feel limited to classical Ming compositions, which the attendant described as a little depressing, they will perform anything from Beethoven’s Fur Ellise to Happy Birthday. CDs are available to enjoy the good vibrations at home.Tanzhe Temple
A local saying goes that “the history of Tanzhe Temple is earlier than that of Beijing City.” Renowned for its age, this temple dates back 1,600 years when it was called Jiafusi, or the Temple of Auspicious Fortune. During the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed Longquan, or Dragon Spring, because of the pool behind the temple. It later assumed its present title, which means Pool and Wild Mulberry.
The temple is built on a hillside and consists of various pavilions, prayer halls, courtyards and a group of pagodas dating from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.Fragrant Hills Park and Azure Clouds Temple
Everyone recommends going to the Fragrant Hills to see the leaves turn red in autumn, but no one mentions that the city’s entire population will be there with you. At off-peak times, this park carved from imperial hunting grounds is a civilized jumble of smoke trees, small pagodas and scenic pools culminating in a view of Beijing from Incense Burner Peak. A chairlift is available for those not up to the hour-long hike to the top. Trails lead from the peak further into the western hills.
Azure Cloud Temple near the park’s north entrance is worth exploring. It was built, using embezzled funds, by two powerful eunuchs who wanted a stunning tomb. In lieu of their mausoleum, which was never completed, you will find the Hall of Arhats featuring 508 life-size figures of holy men and the marble Diamond Throne Pagoda surrounded by stupas. The grounds also serve as a memorial to the founder of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen. He lay in state here from 1925 to 1929 before his remains were moved to Nanjing. His crystal coffin, a gift from the Soviet government, was left behind.Botanical Garden and Wofosi Temple
With a state-of-art greenhouse and the largest plant collection in China, the Beijing Bantanical Garden has a whole day’s worth of flora. There are over 2,000 varieties of orchids, centenarian bonsai and peach and pear blossoms that provide a visual feast in Spring. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located in the Western Hills at the southern foot of Jubao (also called Shou’an) Mountain, about 20 kilometers from Beijing proper. The rear of the temple is set against the mountain cliffs; at its front are open fields.
The temple was first built during the Zhenguan period (627-249) of the Tang Dynasty, when it was also known as the Temple of Peaceful Longevity (Shou’ansi). In later periods it fell into ruin and was rebuilt and renamed several times. One of the last major renovations was completed in 1724.As early as the Tang Dynasty, the temple contained a sandalwood sculpture of the reclining Buddha. In 1330-1331 during the Yuan Dynasty, a large-scale bronze image of the Buddha attaining Nirvana was cast, and from that time on, the temple was popularly called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. According to the history of the Yuan Dynasty, the casting of this Buddha required 250,000 kilograms of bronze and 7,000 laborers. At the main entrance of the temple stands a glazed tile ornamental archway, and inside there are a bell tower and a drum tower flanking a semi-circular pool.
The temple compound is built on an enormous scale. Covered galleries and auxiliary halls to create a completely enclosed series of courtyards link four large halls aligned along the central axis.
The first structure, the shanmen, serves as the main gate. The second large building is the Hall of the Heavenly Kings and the third is the Hall of the Buddhas of the three Worlds. In traditional temples, this would be the largest hall in the compound, but because the fourth hall contains the image of the Reclining Buddha, the situation here is reversed. The famous bronze Buddha is more than five meters long. It lies in a sleeping position, with one arm extended and the other propping up its head, and is surrounded by 12 smaller Buddhas. According to legend, this scene represents the Buddha on his deathbed giving instructions to his 12 disciples, who are seated under a pair of sal (poluo) trees, which bloom in late spring or early summer. At very rear of the temple is a sutra repository built against a cliff. On the western side are rockeries, pavilions and mountain vegetation; all contribute to the beauty of the garden-like setting.Ordination Terrace Temple
The temple is located at Saddle Hill in the western Hills, 35 kilometres west of Beijing. It was built in 622 in the Tang Dynasty, and was known as the Wisdom Accumulation Temple. In the Liao Dynasty, a monk named Fajun had an altar built here for the ordination of novices into the Buddhist priesthood. It is commonly known as Ordination Terrace Temple or the “the place of selecting Buddhas.” Most of the present buildings were constructed in the Qing Dynasty.
The temple is famous for its ancient pagodas and pine trees: the Reclining-Dragon Pine, the Unrestrained Pine, the Nine-Dragon Pine, the Embracing- Pagoda Pine and the Sensitive Pine. It is said that it you sway one of the branches of the Sensitive Pine, the wholetree will shake.
