“Dragons and phoenixes. What do they have to do with this tower?” I hear you ask. The answer lies in the name itself: \u9f99\u51e4\u9601. It translates to Dragon and Phoenix Pavilion.
Beijing is an ancient city. Its history stretches back 3000 years. That makes it as old as London. It is six times older than New York. Also, it is ten times older than Sydney.
Beijing has had many names. Before 1403 it was called Jicheng. It was also named Yanjing and Nanjing. Other names include Zhongdu, Dadu, and Beiping. Beijing means Northern Capital. It was the city’s 16th name.
The city served as the capital for six Chinese governments. China has been ruled from Beijing for over 700 years. That explains the many historical sites here.
Look around. Beijing is a cultural hub. Its architecture is unique. The cuisine is special. Beijing has deep cultural roots. A culture tour must include imperial architecture. The Forbidden City is a prime example. Don’t forget the hutong lanes. They feature traditional courtyard houses. Sample Beijing cuisine like roast duck.
Beijing is China’s second-largest city. Its municipality has over 22 million people. That is almost as many as Australia. The area spans 16800 square kilometers.
Beijing is a major gateway to China. Beijing Capital International Airport is the world’s second busiest. Many travelers enter and exit China here.
Want to visit? May and October are ideal. Beijing’s temperatures can be extreme. The highest was 42 degrees Celsius. The lowest was -27 degrees Celsius. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable weather.
Beijing has hosted both Summer and Winter Olympics. The Olympic Park is a major attraction. It was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics. See the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. They are modern engineering marvels.
The Forbidden City is a must-see. It is China’s most glorious palace. It sits in Beijing’s heart. The Forbidden City is well-preserved. It is also one of China’s largest heritage sites. It ranks among the world’s top five palaces. The Forbidden City is China’s most popular tourist site.
The Forbidden City covers 720000 square meters. That’s three times the Louvre Palace. About one million laborers built it. It has over 90 palace quarters and 980 buildings. There are more than 8728 rooms.
Interestingly, some Forbidden City buildings have European and Arabic styles. Yude Hall features an Arabic style. Lingzhao Xuan has a European style.
Notice the majestic Outer Court. It has no trees. Some say this was to avoid overshadowing the emperor’s power. Others believe it was for defensive purposes. No place for assassins to hide.
The Forbidden City housed 24 emperors. Construction began in 1406. It finished in 1420. Fourteen Ming emperors ruled here. Then, the Manchus took over in 1644. Ten Qing emperors followed. The last emperor abdicated in 1912.
Craftsmen designed the Forbidden City to prevent birds from landing. The roofs’ slopes are high. The roof spines are wide. The glazed tiles are slippery.
Yellow and red dominate the Forbidden City’s colors. Yellow symbolizes the emperor. Red represents fire and a solid foundation.
Today, only 60% of the Forbidden City is open to the public. The rest remains restricted. Cats guard the Forbidden City. They catch mice and patrol the grounds.
Fire protection is vital. The Forbidden City has hydrants and extinguishers. A special fire brigade checks equipment daily.
Remember \u9f99\u51e4\u9601. Think of dragons and phoenixes. Think of emperors and hidden secrets as you explore this observation tower. It is a part of Beijing’s rich history and culture.