What stories could this silent structure tell if it could speak? Beijing stands on flat land. The city is 39% flat land and 61% mountainous area. We are standing before the \u9ec4\u82b1\u5cea\u6865 bridge. It is a physical connection and a metaphorical bridge between eras.
Beijing Standard Time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. That is 13 hours ahead of New York time.
Imagine the whispers of the wind. It rushes past the stones of the \u9ec4\u82b1\u5cea\u6865. Beijing is the capital of China. It is the nation’s political center. It is also its cultural scientific and educational heart. Beijing is a key transportation hub. It has served as a capital for more than 800 years. The \u9ec4\u82b1\u5cea\u6865 may have witnessed imperial processions. It may have seen bustling merchant caravans.
Picture countless feet traversing this very crossing. These people would have shaped Beijing’s vibrant history. Beijing has a population of 22 million. Half of the people live on the outskirts.
Consider the ingenuity required to erect this bridge. The \u9ec4\u82b1\u5cea\u6865 needed materials sound engineering and human endeavor. Imagine too the dedication of the artisans.
China’s GDP growth has averaged nearly 10 percent a year. This is the fastest sustained expansion by a major economy in history. It has remained the largest contributor to world growth since 2008.
Reflect on China’s transformation. Beijing is home to the headquarters of 52 Fortune 500 companies in 2016. It outnumbers any other city in the world for the third year. Beijing is a dynamic city. Old and new intermingle there.
Remember Beijing’s position. It stands at the northern tip of the North China Plain. Beijing lies at approximately the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. and Madrid in Spain.
The \u9ec4\u82b1\u5cea\u6865 stands as a testament. It shows the enduring spirit of Beijing. It is a city where history continues to unfold.