BEIJING

The atmosphere of emotions  is felt at every possible  situation.  In this mighty City . One does not  needs  to be  Nobel Prize laureate , to appreciate the concept that these words , “ These  who are able to ask right question , not these who provide the answers , should be awarded the Nobel Prize.    This concept of the idea represents the context of Beijing’s massive urban complex and the questions coming with it to one mind . . What is this  city,  the capital of China?? .

Called by the inhabitants of this country Zhongguo – ‘The Middle Kingdom “, in the context of the creation of new directions of development of the global economy and the impact on the formation of new ideas for solving human problems, such as food  ,whether , transport or social affairs ,  intrigues visitors to  Beijing .

Beijing also known as Peking , the 14 million urban agglomeration, which dates back thousands of years, and the year 1045 BC, was a breakthrough in principle. Beijing in the Middle Ages, even  then fascinated travelers. The famous Marco Polo in 1275 visited Beijing, where he  learned about the richness of culture of  “Cathay “. As the legend says we owe him  “ pasta “ , which today , .being often  essence of the wholesome  meal  can be found on the tables of many world nations .
Architecturally Beijing is a blend of various styles .  So-called “concrete “ plate “ concept from the 50’s and 60’s, squeeze  , “Hutong’s” – the old districts with low, single-storey houses with clay tiles, where the tea aroma mist  accompanies  visitors to enjoy the mood and by the atmosphere of historical era of the Qing Dynasty.   However, around a central Beijing, on the outskirts one sees  extend to rings and “satellites” of  modern, robust construction of glass and steel, inhabited by a new, social class, the wealthy members of society in China.    Here the world-renowned architects give vent to his imagination. They create a residential and commercial centers of the futuristic vision. For example, in one of them  there is installed  the largest movie screen. It is suspended over a square with its gigantic size of 250 meters to 30 meters.  Here  one can  watch, with  dizziness film programs and television broadcasts .

Of course, Beijing is a fascinating historical buildings and monuments. Most vital of these is “Forbidden City” – “Forbidden City”. Here  under the shiny glazed  shingles, for hundreds of years from 1420 to 1911, often in an atmosphere of intrigue, brutal fighting  history of China was shaped . Here in this  imperial place  Emperors ruled China.
Temple of “Heaven” and Lama Temple is also historically important places of the city. During the prayers and visits to them, residents of Beijing, are encountering  emotional richness of spirituality  and the positive shape of their ethical and moral personality. Buddhism, Zen philosophy , Confucius ideas played and still play an important role in the minds of the citizens of Beijing and throughout China.
Temple of Heaven and Earth,   was created during the reign of Emperor Yongle, who in the same period between 1406 and 1420, erected a “Forbidden City”.
“Lama Temple (Yonghegong), also called” Palace of Peace and Harmony ‘of the  Lamaism “Yellow Hat”  sect ..

After exploring and discovering the abundance  of fascinating attractions of Beijing’s buildings and structures , the Beijing  beautiful parks provide wonderful relaxation.  Here in greenery  inhabitants of this very busy city , full of life, noise, traffic , they find a place to relax and unwind. Tourist  find here chance  to experience charming contact with the Chinese. You can watch them walking with a happy smiles  while greeting  the newcomers, observe the their concentration in  full-time Tai Chi exercises ,   see the  in elegant dance to the sounds of European rhythms  and the variety of games in which youth integrates with the elderly community of the city. Here in the parks one sees  young couples in love,  grandparents playing with their grandchildren , humanity at peace . As the example Bahai Park, with its 800-year history of Jin Dynasty, Yuan, Ming and Qing, with a beautiful lake  is where  atmosphere of rest, joy and spontaneity  is  express unpretentiously by  residents of Beijing..   Ritan Park well worth a visit too . It’s a great complex where emperors used to worship at one time all aspects of nature and directed their prayers towards Universe .Here in the vast, centrally located elevated platform, the marble altar of prayer to the Sun is positioned .

Well it would be not a real visit to Beijing, without tasting Chinese culinary delights.   One of them is “Peking duck.” Of course, only in Beijing, you can get it in the traditional style. Well, duck served in restaurants are especially Beijing’s ducks  are fattened by  mysterious karma,  plus  special  ,based  on corn-soya blend , feed . . Duck slaughter after plucked  feathers, is covered with an appropriate varnish from molasses. Then, after drying, and baking in the heat of the fruit trees is given full series of cyclical feast ceremonies. Thus, the initial course is meat, of course, no dice, then the crispy skin is served with plum sauce  on   “ crepe”   and  followed by soup cooked on  rest of the duck. At the end of the meal you can drink, to better digestion ,  snake wine  or  Mijiu – rice wine. Snake wine  as experts argue, strengthens the whole organism and inserted appetite for further specialties of Chinese cuisine.
In Beijing you can  find many other culinary delicacies. Spice  Sechuan  cuisine ,  great dishes of dumplings, or any type of meat, and stews with the “fruits of the sea.”  , all other rarities of foods   await  tourists  in Beijing .

Beijing is, of course, stepping ground to  many other wonderful attractions like a great wall of Chinese in Badaling , but it is a separate adventure and an opportunity for the next visit .  To reach  Beijing one can  use services of  AIR CHINA member of Star Alliance .  One needs to visit Beijing to appreciate the greatness of this nation  people, its history and input of China towards development of humanity .

Beijing May 2008
WMIG