In China, the ancient civilization and modern economy find common ground
China. Beijing. What associations does this city evoke? Poster Mao Zedong, pagodas, dragons, cheap markets and... a sense of mystery. It would seem that half the things in our lives bear the stamp made in China, but this does not break the fairy-tale and sacramental aura of China. It remains a land of childhood dreams, mysterious monks, and ancient legends.
Furthermore, Beijing was the capital of the XXIX Summer Olympic Games, which undoubtedly left its mark on the city. The famous Bird's Nest stadium became no less famous than our Olympic sports complex during the Moscow Olympics.
Beijing is one of the oldest cities on the planet. An amazing civilization, different from everything we are used to in the European world, created a beautiful capital. The modern, rapidly developing economy of the country gave it dynamic new features. Beijing is eclectic. Ancient temples and modern skyscrapers, the imperial palace and sports facilities comparable in size to our Olympic sports complex. Whatever the preferences of capricious tourists – ancient history, modern architecture, art objects, shopping tours – Beijing will find something to offer them.
A review of the city's attractions should start with the Winter Imperial Palace, which is called the Forbidden Purple City of Gugong. The palace grounds, surrounded by a moat, are vast and seem endless, like Borges' library. The unique complex includes over 9,000 rooms, audience halls, and palace pavilions. Lovely wooden buildings with pagodas seem to have come from pictures. Now the palace grounds house a museum, exhibition pavilions of jewelry, and art objects from several dynasties – painting, ceramics, bronze.
Nearby are the National Beijing Library and the All-China Exhibition of Handicraft Products. It is impossible to miss the 15th-century Temple of Heaven, where prayers were offered and gifts were presented to Heaven by the emperors of the Ming and Qin dynasties. The Lamaist temples Yonghegong and Yiheyuan (the Summer Imperial Residence) are beautiful and majestic. The latter's walking area includes Kunminghu and Houhu lakes, Wanshoushan and Houshan mountains, and Xiangshan Park. The Huangqiongyu Temple is famous for its unique Echo Wall and Triple Echo Stone, with finely crafted acoustic effects.
You can appreciate the grandeur of the space on the largest square in the world – Tiananmen, and the scale of ancient builders at the Great Wall of China, 80 km from the city.