Beijing is old. Did you know that Beijing is one of the world’s oldest cities? Today, we’re at a spot that lets you take it all in at \u4e1c\u6e7e\u6c47\u5fb7. It is a viewpoint that lets you look over the city’s layers.
Beijing has been the capital city six times. It served as the capital during the Yan State Capital, the Warring States Period and for the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. It was also the Ming Dynasty capital from 1368 to 1644 and the Qing Dynasty capital from 1644. In 1912, it was the Republic of China capital. This city has seen empires rise and fall.
From this vantage point at \u4e1c\u6e7e\u6c47\u5fb7, imagine Beijing’s layout. Beijing is arranged in rings. The Forbidden City is at the center. The city expands outwards. Each ring is a circular road. People give directions using these rings. You might hear someone say, “It’s out in the fifth ring.”
Beijing’s dialect became standard Mandarin. In 1932, a dictionary standardized pronunciation. This dictionary became the foundation for modern Putonghua. But Beijing still has its own dialect. Speakers add an “er” sound to the end of words. This “er” sound is a central feature of Beijing dialect.
Look around at the modern city. Beijing has the most billionaires in the world. It beats out New York City and Hong Kong. Many successful Chinese companies call Beijing home. Pollution was once a big issue in Beijing. Coal caused much of the pollution. In 2014, Beijing declared a “War on Pollution.” The results have been excellent.
Beijing has many museums. There are 197 museums in Beijing. It is the city with the most museums in China. The first KFC in China was built in Beijing in 1987. It sold thousands of buckets of chicken on its first day.
What makes this view from \u4e1c\u6e7e\u6c47\u5fb7 special? It’s that you see the blending of ancient history and modern life. The central axis of Beijing stretches from the Bell Tower and Drum Tower to Yongdingmen. This axis represents Chinese civilization. It reflects the relationship between humans and nature. The city is seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for this axis.
\u4e1c\u6e7e\u6c47\u5fb7 offers a unique look. It combines history, culture and modern progress. As you stand here, think about the layers of time beneath your feet.