Beijing - A Rapidly Changing City 北京
One of the amazing features of Beijing is its connections to history thousands of years old. Capital of China since the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Beijing as a settlement actually dates back to the 10th century.
Situated on a giant, dusty plain, without a river outlet to the sea, Beijing may seem at first sight to be a strange place to build a capital, but supplied by the Grand Canal and protected by the Great Wall, the city prospered and its present layout was shaped during the Ming period, with the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven built in the 15th century under the supervision of the Emperor Yongle (1360-1424).
Now the capital of the world's most populous nation, the city has been leveled and rebuilt on numerous occasions. In recent times, too, Beijing has changed enormously, particularly since the 1950's.
The change of pace increased with the coming of Deng Xiao Ping as leader in the 1980's, but with the approach of the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing underwent phenomenal change.
For those prepared to look below the surface, visitors can discover and enjoy the enormous contrasts between old and new, traditional and modern, still present in Beijing.
The National Bird
Increasing the speed of progress has been the work of the 'national bird'. No, not the dandinghe (in Chinese), Japanese crane, but the building crane. China's 'national bird, the crane, can be sighted almost anywhere in Beijing. The 'national birds' can be seen as solitary birds, or flocks, stooped over the hundreds of building sites around Beijing.
Cranes are working day and night throughout the city, extending Beijing's skyline even higher, providing new homes for the swelling population, hotels for Beijing's visitors, office buildings for Beijing's workers, or headquarters for China's rich and powerful corporations.
Beijing: City of Contrasts
Beijing is playing an integral part in the massive transformation of China's social and economic systems.
Technology, open markets, innovative ideas, foreign investment and a vigorous economy are propelling China to the forefront of the world's financial markets.
The world is becoming increasingly dependent on China. This makes Beijing a dynamic and exciting city to visit.
Beijing is a city of enormous contrasts. From the courtyard homes and hutongs to the modern apartment buildings of today, the local hole-in-the-wall shops with essential day to day supplies to the luxury, chic boutiques with their 'out-of-reach' prices, Beijing offers it all for the visitor to see and enjoy.
Enjoy Beijing
The Beijing visitor can come and enjoy the city on a prepaid package tour, or come with no fixed plan and travel independently to become totally immersed in the culture and fully experience the cultural riches built up over centuries that Beijing has to offer.
Whatever your travel style, Beijing can cater for the needs of any visitor! Hotels, food, shopping, flights and tourist information are all offered to suit your travel needs here in Beijing.
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