Famous PUBLIC SQUARES

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

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