My dear Mimi & Jhum,
Beijing is a 600-year-old city with a number of wonderful sites of Chinese history and art protected through the turmoil due to dynasties and the throes of revolution. We were in time constrained to select some heritage sites in and around Beijing, which we could cover in first four days.
Temple of heaven’ built around 1400 AD during Ming rule with rows of cypress trees (4000 nos.) neatly lining up the garden, Halls of prayer to Gods of Harvest etc. (as per the majority’s religion, Daoism, there are Gods and Goddesses for rain, long life, etc.,). Imperial vault of Heaven surrounded with ‘echo’ wall, Heavenly central store, etc.
‘Be Hai’ – an 800-year-old huge park with a large man made lake within, crowned by a white pagoda. Marco Polo was entertained here by Kublai Khan.
Summer Palace: rebuilt between 1749 and –’64 by emperor Quinlong; comprising of beautifully sculpted/painted/decorated, gates, pavilions, bronze dragon and phoenix, etc. There is a huge lake within and a 36 meter beautiful white and black marble boat at one end thereof still serving as the jetty for ferry and cruise on ‘dragon’ boat, speed boat, etc. The most impressive is the 2550 ft. Corridor along the lake with some 10000 colorfully painted panels on the ceiling and beams depicting Chinese history, myth, etc.
‘Forbidden city’: since 1420 till 1924 the residence and court of five dynasties including ‘Ming’ and ‘Manchu’ (after the Yuan dynasty which include Chengis Khan and his grand son Kublai Khan), comprising of a number of palaces and pavilions built one after another leaving a lot a space in between as courtyards, and surrounded by buildings for various activity. At the entrance “Gate of Heaven” a portrait of Chairman Mao has been put up (why, I do not know?).
Across the road from there is the largest park on earth, Tiananmen Square (99 acres), built in the last century and enlarged by Mao Zedong to be primary public meeting place here. On the side of this square is ‘ Mao’ Mausoleum’, which include his statue on “throne”, a chamber where Mao lies in state, etc.
To be continued…
BABA
Beijing is a 600-year-old city with a number of wonderful sites of Chinese history and art protected through the turmoil due to dynasties and the throes of revolution. We were in time constrained to select some heritage sites in and around Beijing, which we could cover in first four days.
Temple of heaven’ built around 1400 AD during Ming rule with rows of cypress trees (4000 nos.) neatly lining up the garden, Halls of prayer to Gods of Harvest etc. (as per the majority’s religion, Daoism, there are Gods and Goddesses for rain, long life, etc.,). Imperial vault of Heaven surrounded with ‘echo’ wall, Heavenly central store, etc.
‘Be Hai’ – an 800-year-old huge park with a large man made lake within, crowned by a white pagoda. Marco Polo was entertained here by Kublai Khan.
Summer Palace: rebuilt between 1749 and –’64 by emperor Quinlong; comprising of beautifully sculpted/painted/decorated, gates, pavilions, bronze dragon and phoenix, etc. There is a huge lake within and a 36 meter beautiful white and black marble boat at one end thereof still serving as the jetty for ferry and cruise on ‘dragon’ boat, speed boat, etc. The most impressive is the 2550 ft. Corridor along the lake with some 10000 colorfully painted panels on the ceiling and beams depicting Chinese history, myth, etc.
‘Forbidden city’: since 1420 till 1924 the residence and court of five dynasties including ‘Ming’ and ‘Manchu’ (after the Yuan dynasty which include Chengis Khan and his grand son Kublai Khan), comprising of a number of palaces and pavilions built one after another leaving a lot a space in between as courtyards, and surrounded by buildings for various activity. At the entrance “Gate of Heaven” a portrait of Chairman Mao has been put up (why, I do not know?).
Across the road from there is the largest park on earth, Tiananmen Square (99 acres), built in the last century and enlarged by Mao Zedong to be primary public meeting place here. On the side of this square is ‘ Mao’ Mausoleum’, which include his statue on “throne”, a chamber where Mao lies in state, etc.
To be continued…
BABA
