walk all over China

Chapter 2 Beijing·Searching for the Past and Finding the Present

Chapter 2 Beijing·Searching for the Past and Finding the Present

Forbidden City
When Beijing's sunshine tilts wantonly in every corner, the mottled spots seem to have forgotten the dignified past. It was so profound, but now it can't stand the cycle of time.Walking gently, stroking lightly, pieces of imprints of the ancient capital are gradually blurred in the field of vision, and what I thought I had forgotten suddenly became vivid in my mind.Suddenly found that here, the memory gap will be filled little by little, and the history that walks in time still symbolizes eternity.

The Forbidden City has drifted away with history, but every time you stop in front of that ancient palace, you will still be in awe, perhaps because, if you put aside the time it carries, we can’t talk about it today.

The king is in the world, a kind of supreme power.People respect it, envy it, love it, admire it.However, when the mottled history is magnified, perhaps at an unknown moment, a dead leaf in the details suddenly shakes off, and an inexplicable emotion rushes to my heart.In addition to a touch of sadness, there is nostalgia for the past.In the past, the "old place" went away, leaving a city built with red walls in people's memory.

The Forbidden City, also known as the Forbidden City, is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It can be called an unparalleled architectural masterpiece in the world today. It is honored as "the first of the five great palaces in the world".

Many people come to the Forbidden City to appreciate the splendor of ancient Chinese architecture and the luxury of emperors.The Forbidden City was first built in 1406 and completed in 1420.This is the most magnificent palace complex in the world, 961 meters long from north to south, 753 meters wide from east to west, with a construction area of ​​15.5 square meters, more than 90 large and small courtyards and 980 houses.High-quality wood, glazed tile roofs, blue and white stone seats and various resplendent and colorful paintings complement each other, fully showing the wealth and splendor of the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City is very large. At the beginning of the tour, its size is often beyond people's imagination.The Meridian Gate, Donghua Gate, Xihua Gate, and Shenwu Gate guard the four directions of the Forbidden City. Opposite the Shenwu Gate is a park made of earth and stone - Jingshan Park, which is full of pines and cypresses, which symbolizes evergreen.

With Qianqing Gate as the boundary, inside the Forbidden City, the architectural styles of the two parts of the "Outer Dynasty" and "Inner Court" have become quite different.The outer court centered on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which was the place where the emperor held court meetings, also known as the "former dynasty"; residence.Later generations traveled thousands of miles to this red city to pay their respects, look around, walk, touch, and feel deeply.Afterwards, different imprints are left in different memories.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is commonly known as the "Golden Luan Hall". In this hall, which is 28 meters high, 63 meters from east to west, 35 meters from north to south, and runs through 72 1-meter-long pillars, you can vaguely see the scene of the grand ceremony held at that time.Exquisitely shaped cranes, furnaces, tripods, and finely carved screens set off against the entire hall, making it look solemn and gorgeous.The Hall of Supreme Harmony, through that threshold, is a bright future ahead of you.Throughout the ages, too many people have embarked on official careers - this road to success and fame.In the round after round of progress, the vague lighthouse in the distance is the throne on the Hall of Supreme Harmony.As a result, one after another young and promising inspirational youth traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to take the exam, in order to suddenly see the light after "climbing the tall building alone and looking at the end of the world".

Someone once said: "The beauty of the Forbidden City lies in its bricks, its pillars, and its concubines." I hope that the king's heart is like mine, and he will definitely live up to his love.If the harem does not have such numerous and beautiful beauties, its color will be slightly inferior.True love is not limited to romance, the highest state is beyond the cycle of life and death.The "Zhenfei Well" next to the back corridor of Yihexuan in Ningshou Palace is engraved with Zhenfei's peerless love for Emperor Guangxu. Because of the deep love, it has become immortal in the dark, and it can last from ancient times to the present, and can last for thousands of years. .

"The sky is not old, the love is endless, the heart is like double silk nets, and there are thousands of knots in it." The imaginary imperial garden may be colorful, full of singing and dancing.But after stepping into the imperial garden, I found that the courtyard is full of jagged pines and cypresses and fragrant peonies everywhere.Perhaps, it once represented a kind of pure sustenance, and the emperor's brows also revealed the longing for evergreen.Pine trees, the vigorous and evergreen pine trees in the Forbidden City.Longing for eternal life, longing for immortality, longing for longevity, the mood at that time can be deeply understood in the frequent nods of later generations.The phrase "Flowing water and falling flowers, spring is gone, heaven and earth" seems to express the true meaning of life inadvertently. With such a magnificent momentum in front of you, so shocking, the hopes that the emperors once had, have actually been realized in the admiration of later generations. accomplish.Their nobility, their supremacy, their evergreenness, and their wisdom for thousands of years.

Walking out of Shenwu Gate and climbing Jingshan Mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the grandeur of the Forbidden City.For a long time, Jingshan is not only famous for its earthly atmosphere that nourishes people's hearts, but also for its colorful flowers in three seasons and evergreen pines and cypresses in four seasons.The Qiwang tower built during the Qianlong period and the five-square Buddhist pavilion built on the mountain are still visited by people.The beautiful and fragrant peonies are in full bloom in Jingshan Mountain, and the garden is bathed in a noble and graceful elegance in an instant.A man-made royal garden lived out its life in a low-key way in this huge capital city.Every time I pay tribute to the ancient pagoda tree that Emperor Chongzhen passed away, and every time I look at the inscriptions full of records, I can't help but sigh. "Loyal ministers must rely on Mingjun", this is the eternal truth.That is an ancient motto interpreted by the emperor with his life's destiny, and it is worth learning from in every possible way for us today.

Walking out of Jingshan Mountain, you can see the tender green grass drilled out of the cracks in the stone bricks beside the moat, which is struggling to grow with a tenacious posture.Feeling suddenly relieved.This lucky plant was born to grow on the edge of the Forbidden City, which is full of imperial spirit. It is light green, but it is full of the color of life.As the sun sets, the swaying waist of Xiaocao, together with the mottled red walls and dark yellow colored glaze in the Forbidden City, form a unique natural scenery.

The Kunning Palace in the Forbidden City is at the end of the "inner courtyard" of the Forbidden City. It was the queen's bedroom before Emperor Yongzheng of the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty.Among them, Dongnang Pavilion is the bridal chamber of the emperor's wedding. Kangxi, Tongzhi and Guangxu all held their weddings here.

Summer palace

The ancient capital city, mottled red walls, and rugged mountain gardens.As time goes by, this is destined to be a simple and leisurely city full of vicissitudes, but on the way forward, it becomes more and more radiant.The roses on both sides of the road are in full bloom, and the peony in the garden stretches gracefully. The royal gardens show endless charm in the peaceful and prosperous age.

The Summer Palace, with green mountains and quiet waters, has beautiful scenery.It is located in the northwest suburb of Beijing. Because the terrain of the capital slopes from north to south, it has become a veritable "Feng Shui Treasure Land". Since ancient times, this land has been favored by thousands of emperors and generals. In 1764, at the time of the last feudal prosperity in China - the Kangxi-Qian Dynasty, the Summer Palace was built.Originally named Qingyi Garden, it was originally only a place for the emperors and concubines to escape the summer heat. After Emperor Yongzheng succeeded to the throne, he began to live in the gardens in the western suburbs for a long time, together with government affairs, reading, and entertainment. In this way, it gradually became a place for politics and entertainment. double center. The original meaning of "Yihe" comes from "Yihe". In 1860, the Summer Palace was burned down by the British and French allied forces during the Second Opium War. In 1886, the Qing government embezzled military funds to rebuild it and renamed it the Summer Palace as a place for Empress Dowager Cixi to recuperate in her later years.Apart from the Forbidden City, it was the most important political and diplomatic activity center for the rulers of the late Qing Dynasty, and it is also an important witness of modern Chinese history.

The Summer Palace covers an area of ​​about 290 hectares. It is a large-scale natural landscape garden, and it is also the most complete preserved so far. Royal Palace Royal Garden.

"Although it is made by man, it is created by nature." In the art of gardening, the Summer Palace is worthy of its reputation as the "Royal Garden Museum". abundant.Pavilions, promenades, halls, temples and small bridges and many artificial landscapes complement the surrounding natural mountains and sparkling lakes, occupying a prominent position in the history of Chinese and foreign garden art, which is naturally expected by people.

The grand scale is the first major feature of the Summer Palace scenic spot.In the scenic area composed of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the area of ​​water accounts for 3/4. In the park, centered on the Foxiang Pavilion, there are more than 20 scenic spots and more than [-] courtyards.Foxiang Pavilion, Long Corridor, Marble Boat, Suzhou Street, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Harmonious Interest Garden, Grand Theater, etc., are all must-see attractions for future generations when they travel, and they can be called treasures in the world's architectural culture.

Before entering the Summer Palace, you have already been infected by its majestic momentum.Two lions stand proudly on both sides of the gate. The male lion holds a ball in his right paw, which symbolizes unification;Walking into the gate is a pair of pig monkey stones, and at the second gate, the Longevity Stone comes into view.The Qilin appeared behind the Longevity Stone.In the Summer Palace, there is the only pair of sculptures in the world with "the dragon is below and the phoenix is ​​above", which symbolizes the supreme power of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Further inside, the corridor appears.The Summer Palace has the world's longest corridor, which was included in the "Guinness Book of World Records" in 1992.It is located at the southern foot of Wanshou Mountain, with a total length of 728 meters, which is the longest veranda in Chinese gardens. In the verandah of more than 700 meters, there are more than 14000 pictures painted, in which traditional stories, landscapes, flowers, birds, fish and insects are placed.

The corridor passes through the Buddhist Incense Pavilion.The Foxiang Pavilion is the largest project in the Summer Palace, where the royal family burns incense.It is located on the mountainside in front of Longevity Hill. It is built on a 21-meter rectangular platform. It is a building with eight sides, three floors and four eaves.The pavilion is 41 meters high, supported by 8 huge Optimus Primes, with a complex but extremely fine structure.The Foxiang Pavilion has established the main theme of the buildings in the garden with its solemn and powerful style. Because of it, the rippling of Kunming Lake and the majesty of Longevity Mountain are highlighted; because of it, the royal style can add a bit of brilliance.

Among the scenic spots of the Summer Palace, Longevity Hill is always the first to catch people's eyes because of its many and magnificent buildings on the mountain.From the "Yunhui Yuyu" archway at the foot of the mountain, through the Paiyun Gate, the Second Palace Gate, the Paiyun Hall, the Dehui Hall, and the Foxiang Pavilion, to the wisdom sea at the top of the mountain, a rising central axis is formed.On the east side, there are steles of "Zhuanlun Tibet" and "Longevity Mountain Kunming Lake"; on the west side, there are Wufang Pavilion and Baoyun Pavilion; on the back mountain, there are Tibetan Buddhist buildings and colorful glazed pagodas; on the mountain, there are Jingfu Pavilion, Chongcui Pavilion, writing There are many pavilions, terraces and pavilions in Qiuxuan, Huazhongyou, etc., and you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Kunming Lake when you climb above them.

There are many buildings on the mountain, and the sea of ​​wisdom is quite impressive. "Sea of ​​Wisdom" was originally a Buddhist term, and it was originally intended to praise the wisdom of the Buddha as the sea, and the magical power of "swimming in the painting" in the Buddha's Summer Palace is boundless.This building looks like a wooden structure, but in fact there is no wood used, and it is all made of stone bricks.Because there is no beam, it is also called "Wuliang Hall", and because the Buddha of Infinite Life is enshrined in it, it is also called "Infinite Hall".The whole building is decorated with exquisite yellow and green glazed tiles, interspersed with a small amount of purple-blue glazed tiles. Looking from a distance, the colors are bright and magnificent.In particular, the more than a thousand glazed Buddhas embedded in the wall are even more pious.

Whether viewed from a distance or up close, Kunming Lake is the most beautiful scenery in the Summer Palace.The blue waves are mighty and the remaining waves are Miaomiao, peach willows are lined up on the embankment, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge lies quietly in the lake, and the beautiful big boat on the west, if it is not made of stone, will definitely show its heroic spirit when riding the wind and waves.

The stone boat was named Qingyanfang, which means "heqinghaiyan".In the entire Summer Palace, it is the only building with a Western style.Previously used as the release platform of Yuanjing Temple in the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed "Shifang" when Qianlong built Qingyi Garden.

In the ancient Summer Palace, stepping from one scenic spot to another is to step from one world to another.There are so many scenic spots and different scenery, countless.

Whenever visitors step out of the threshold of the Summer Palace, they can't help but look back.The world is impermanent and the wind and rain are changing. Although it has gone through a hundred years of vicissitudes, the Summer Palace still stands in the green mountains and valleys, and it will last forever.

Touch the historical traces of Beijing

Some people say that the process of wandering in Beijing is the process of touching history.Maybe just looking up inadvertently, you will meet the antique pavilions unexpectedly. Here, you can recall the past years and chase the bright future.

Some people say that the process of wandering in Beijing is the process of touching history.Maybe just looking up inadvertently, you will meet the antique pavilions unexpectedly. Here, you can recall the past years and chase the bright future.Many people come here to realize the dream that they have been chasing for many years.

"If you don't reach the Great Wall, you are not a hero."One leaves a gracious and proud inspiration for one of the world's oldest great buildings.Looking around, the stretch of more than 1 miles is not only a real symbol of ancient Chinese culture, but also the pride of the entire Chinese nation.The huge project, the majestic spirit, the ancestors of the Chinese nation are still admired by the whole world. The great building makes the eyes of the whole world focus on one place - the East.

The Temple of Heaven is the most representative work among the many sacrificial buildings in China.It is not only a bright pearl in Chinese architecture, but also a magnificent treasure in the history of world architecture.Solemn, solemn, mysterious, and awe-inspiring, I think of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Every Spring and Autumn Festival, the emperor traveled from the Forbidden City to come here, fasting, bathing, playing music and worshiping, praying for God to bless the world and bless the people of Li people with good weather.It is precisely because of the nourishment of those ancient cultures that there are such outstanding Chinese descendants today.

Follow the footsteps of history and come to Lama Temple.This is the most well-preserved and largest-scale lama temple outside of Tibet. People who have been here are all attracted by its splendid royal garden architecture, mysterious Tibetan Buddhist statues and unique Tibetan Buddhist culture.The most prosperous and glorious period of history is presented here one by one.

The "Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens" in the past, although there are only ruins left in the past and present, silently tells the world about its past and present.In the "Old Summer Palace", what people feel is the lament for the glory in history and the helplessness of humiliation.

Strolling quietly in the North Sea, looking up at the fairy mountain on the sea in the heart of the emperor, you can have a panoramic view of the beauty of the Forbidden City Xiyuan.The blue sky, the gentle wind on the lake surface, sparkling waves from time to time, standing at the place where history and present alternate, my heart is calm and breezy.

As the capital of China, every bustling place in Beijing will eventually become dull, and what is memorable will become history.The present and the future are all like this.However, in the process of chasing and exploring, my heart is still excited, because we have experienced it personally, touched that brick, that tile, and when we face it, our hearts will always be surging.

Beijing National Stadium

A nest that breeds life is like a cradle. While nurturing life, it also entrusts human beings with good hopes for the future.The Beijing National Stadium, the Bird's Nest, was given unlimited expectations by people before 2008. After 2008, it continued the spirit of the Olympic Games and became a historical witness of the development of architecture in China and the world.

Bird's Nest, an approachable name.Like all nurturers, give the most meticulous care to the innocent life.The seemingly simple design has devoted all the efforts of the artist; the seemingly fragmented shape is full of human admiration for vitality.

The National Stadium - the Bird's Nest, is the main stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Its designers come from all over the world. In 2001, with the cooperation of Pritzker Prize winners Herzog and Cameron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang, a cradle of life was born.The simple structure is exposed under the blue sky without any disguise, and it appears infinitely wide in a piece of blue.

Natural nourishment is the most precious power of life.The outer shell of the stadium can even act as an air-cushioned membrane for the filling, making the roof fully waterproof.Even so, sunlight can still penetrate the transparent roof and directly bathe the lawn in the center of the arena for a long time.

In the "Bird's Nest", the humanistic care reflected in the design can be seen everywhere.The bowl-shaped seats enable the audience to have a line of sight within 140 meters from the center of the arena no matter where they are; the special sound-absorbing film material makes the voice clarity index in the arena reach 0.6.Using the principles of fluid mechanics, it is ensured that every audience can enjoy the same natural light and ventilation.In addition, wheelchair seats are specially designed for the disabled to provide them with various personalized services.

Water Cube

However, the significance of "Bird's Nest" to the Chinese people is far beyond the significance of architectural design.I will never forget the August 8th in my memory.On that day, this great building full of allegories really came into people's sight. Here, the enthusiasm of 8 billion people was fully loaded, and miracles and dreams spread their wings and flew to a wider sky.

The Olympic torch illuminates every expectant face, 56 nationalities, more than 100 countries, the world shrinks into a ball in an instant, and is gently wrapped by the "Bird's Nest".A myth, a miracle, slowly rises above the land of China, and the cheers in the bird's nest rise one after another, gradually forming a sea of ​​hope under the gaze of the whole world.

Pride, that kind of pride spread from the bottom of my heart to my whole body.Every time I pass by the Asian Games Village, I always stop in front of the Bird's Nest, watching and reminiscing quietly.

At that instant, the holy fire ignited a new miracle.If the Olympic Games is an opportunity brought to China by the world, then the Chinese undoubtedly wrote an unprecedented miracle in this opportunity.You can see that the ancient oriental pearl has already broken out of its cocoon, took off from the bird's nest, spread its strong wings, and soared upwards.

The National Aquatics Center, also known as the "Water Cube", is the main swimming pool built for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and is located in the Olympic Park.At the same time, it is one of the landmark buildings of the Olympic Games.The construction land is 62950 square meters, and the construction area of ​​the underground part is more than 15000 square meters.The length, width, and height are 177 meters, 177 meters, and 30 meters respectively. Together with the "Bird's Nest", they are arranged on both sides of the northern section of the city's central axis, re-establishing the image of Beijing, a famous historical and cultural city.

Hutongs in Beijing

Beijing's hutongs seem to be the texture of the city's skin, with vivid and clear scenes of life flowing out every moment.

The taste of old Beijing seems to incorporate all kinds of delicate flavors, alleys, courtyard houses, and soybean juice.

Hutongs are a kind of ancient urban alleys unique to Beijing. Most of them were formed in the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. They have evolved and developed for hundreds of years. There are thousands of them. Just east and west.Almost all the buildings in the Hutong are courtyard houses.

"There are three thousand and six famous hutongs in Beijing, and there are as many unnamed hutongs as a horse." Roaming in Beijing's hutongs, you will find that they have a deep meaning.Beijing's hutongs look similar in appearance, but they have different characteristics.Nanluoguxiang is a relatively well-preserved area. Although it has been nearly 700 years old, it still maintains the "fishbone" pattern of the Yuan Dynasty.From the Yuan Dynasty to today, although the former Fireworks and Willow Alley has become a historical relic, these alleys have been living and multiplying under the sun, maintaining the same skin color.Today, this alley has become a model of Hutong culture in the capital city. When you visit it, the personalized shops and the simple architectural style complement each other, making people linger and forget to return.

Tobacco Xiejie
The hutongs in Beijing can be said to be the witnesses of the history of Beijing. In many hutongs, every brick and every tile has an upper Yandai Xiejie. Mainly selling cigarette pouches and smoking sets.It is said that a pipe shop named "Shuangshengtai" once erected a large five-foot-high wooden carved pipe. The pot and mouth of the pipe were painted in copper color, the stem of the pipe was painted black, and the pot was tied with red silk, swinging in the wind. .Yandai Xiejie got its name from this.

A hundred years of history - the paint on the promenade is covered with scars, tenacious grasses grow among the tiles on the top, and the carved beams and painted buildings are also incomplete.However, looking at them, you will not be disappointed because of their obsolescence, but you will feel the deep beauty because of their incompleteness, and you will be shocked by the vicissitudes of history.

Integrating the past into the future is also the tune of Beijing's hutong culture today.In the external appearance, the content of history can still be found - the special skills of street performers, the rickshaws still running, the ancient snack bars on the street, and the old people chatting loudly with a Beijing accent on the roadside.

Walking through the hutongs of Beijing, it seems that time has stood still.In fact, these are not illusions. You can see that history and modernity are constantly shuttling before your eyes.

(End of this chapter)

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