The city of Beijing is tremendous in size.
If you want to make an investigation of it, you will be at a loss to decide where to make the first probe.
Almost all people who have visited Beijing have the common impression that it is very big. All those who have come to Beijing from the provinces, regions or the metropolises on business or errands will tell you this experience or conclusion of theirs. Each of them would tell you, if you should venture to touch upon this topic, how hard each of them had to run about in this gigantic labyrinth in order to arrive at the place he/she was seeking. If you are an outlander, unfamiliar with this city and with only a map to serve as your guide, your work efficiency will be very high if you can succeed in having two errands done in one day. Nevertheless, you are sure to feel pain in your back and waist after running about for a whole day. Your mind will be befuddled, and your thighs and calves will bloat if you are a person not used to physical exercises. The blame for all this should be laid on the fact that the city of Beijing is really too big.
As a matter of fact, Beijing is immense not merely in a physical sense. As the capital of New China, Beijing is an all-round city functionally, serving as the center for the performance of political, economic, military, diplomatic, scientific and technological, cultural and educational, athletic and informational functions. Here are located the biggest party, political and military organizations, the biggest financial and commercial enterprises, the biggest scientific research units, the biggest colleges and universities, the biggest information networks, the biggest stadiums, publishing houses, newspaper offices, broadcasting stations and television stations and the biggest international airfield. The embassies of all foreign countries of the world are assembled here. The elite of every country of the world may be encountered here. Items of important news are received or issued at this place.
What is more, Beijing is not only the capital of New China. It was the secondary capital of what is called the Liao Dynasty and the central capital of what is calling the Jin Dynasty in the history of China. It was the capital of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is not difficult to imagine how tragic the historical events were that occurred here. The Liao Dynasty was established by an alien people, who occupied a large part of China’s territory on the north side of the Yangtze River and were constantly at war with the Chinese people. The Liao Dynasty lasted more than two hundred years (907—1125). There are many stories about the heroic struggle that the Chinese waged against the Liaos. But it was a new invading power, the Jin people, that completely destroyed the Liaos. The Jins originated in what is now the northeastern part of China. After defeating the Liaos they invaded China and occupied the entire territory on the north side of the Yangtze River. The emperor of China (of the then Soong Dynasty) fled to the south of the Yangtze River. The Jins killed the Liaos and treated the Chinese on the north side of Yangtze as slaves and servants. The Jin Dynasty existed for one hundred and twenty years. Then the Mongols came. They literally annihilated the Jins and later took possession of the entire territory of China. They founded the Yuan Dynasty and located their “Big Capital” at Beijing. The Ming and Qing Dynasties that followed Yuan also designated Beijing as their capital city. It is really inconceivable that the filthy and abominable sediments of a history of one thousand years of slaughter and oppression could have been swept off in a few years after the inauguration of the People’s Republic of China. Now let’s ruminate over the past events and contemplate in a spirit of scientific research the relics that meet our observant gaze.
You might do well to begin your investigation from the seemingly trivial things: an alley, a hutong, a shabby old house, or even an old tree. Almost everything here has some story which deserves chewing slowly and meditating over carefully. Those time-worn, dilapidated one-storied houses may have been the residences of famous personages of yore; those desolate, disorderly courtyards may have been the resorts of princes, dukes and ministers. You may go on with your study in this way until you come to the world-famous Imperial Palace, Coal Hill, Temple of Heaven, Lamasery of Harmony and Peace, Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan (the old Summer Palace).
related articles:
History of Beijing and some stories of Chinese dynasty
Beijing culture and History Forbidden city
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