A public square (also commonly referred to as a town square, plaza, or piazza) is an open public space which is commonly found in the heart … More
Tag: Beijing
The Best of CHINA: The North
North China (aka Huabei in Chinese) is a geographical region which lies north of the Qinling–Huaihe Line (in reference to the Qin Mountains and the … More
Memories of Beijing
Beijing (北 京, alternatively Romanized as Peking), the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is also the world’s most populous national capital city, with over 21 … More
Forbidden City, Part 6: Hall of Mental Cultivation
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, situated in the inner courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, was first built during the Ming Dynasty in 1537 and … More
Forbidden City, Part 5: Other Major Gates
Meridian Gate (Wumen) – the southern and largest gate of Beijing’s Forbidden City, which unlike its other gates, has two protruding arms … More
Hard Rock, Part 1: Cafés
The original Hard Rock Café was co-founded in 1971 by two Americans in London’s West End. Since then, it has grown to … More
Ming Tombs (Beijing)
The Ming Tombs are a collection of 13 mausoleums built by the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in China. In 1409, … More
Beihai Park
First built in the 11th century, Beihai Park is a former imperial garden located in the northwestern part of the Imperial … More
Forbidden City, Part 3: The Palace of Tranquil Longevity
The Palace of Tranquil Longevity, also known as the Qianlong Garden or Qianlong Palace, is located in the northeast corner … More
Beijing (Engraved Lacquerware)
Lacquer engraving is a traditional technology widely applied on the lacquerware of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The method is … More
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is a Chinese state building on the western edge of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, used by the … More
Beijing Zoo
In terms of age, the Beijing Zoo is one of the oldest in China, founded in 1906 during the late Qing dynasty. Today, … More
Beijing Hutongs
In Beijing, the joining of traditional courtyard residences form alleyways known as hutongs, but the word is also used to … More
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace, in Beijing, was originally a Qing Dynasty imperial garden. Today however, it remains a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens … More
Forbidden City, Part 2: Yuhuayuan Imperial Garden
The Imperial Garden of Yuhuayuan is located within Beijing’s Forbidden City, just outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility. Constructed in 1417 during … More
Old Summer Palace
Formerly known as the Imperial Gardens, the Old Summer Palace was a complex of palaces and gardens in Beijing, China located 5 … More
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is a city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the “Gate of Heavenly Peace” (below) located to its north, separating … More
Forbidden City, Part 1: Hall of Supreme Harmony
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest hall within the Imperial Palace (also known as the Forbidden City) in … More