BeiHai Park

Written by china guide June 30th, 2010 No Comments Category: China Destinations

BeiHai Park(Chinese: 北海), in central Beijing close to the Forbidden City, is one of the oldest and most authentically preserved imperial gardens in China. BeiHai Park has a history of over 1,000 years. BeiHai Park has existed throughout the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

BeiHai Park

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Tags: Beijing, BeiHai Park, Park, Jade Island, The Circular City, YongAn Temple

The Lama Temple(YongHeGong)

Written by china guide June 16th, 2010 No Comments Category: China Destinations

The YongHeGong (Lama Temple or YongHe Temple, Chinese: 雍和宫), also known as the 'Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple', is a temple and monastery of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern central part of Beijing, next to the subway station of the same name.

The Lama Temple

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Tags: Beijing, The Lama Templ, YongHeGong, YongHe Temple

Old Summer Palace(YuanMingYuan)

Written by china guide June 7th, 2010 No Comments Category: China Destinations

Introduction to YuanMingYuan

YuanMingYuan (Chinese: 圆明园), also known as the 'Old Summer Palace' and originally called the Imperial Gardens, was an extremely large complex of palaces and gardens 8 km (5 miles) northwest of the old city wall of Beijing (that is, about 8km from XiZhiMen subway station). YuanMingYuan is very close to the Summer Palace; in fact, slightly nearer to central Beijing. There will shortly be a subway station there.

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Tags: Beijing, Old Summer Palace, YuanMingYuan

Forbidden City, part 2

Written by china guide May 24th, 2010 1 Comments Category: China Destinations

The first part described main attractions in Forbidden City. The part 2 will describe the exhibition halls,the nine dragon screen, doorways, pots, sculptures, decorative tiles, roofs, beams, ceilings ,windows, gargoyles, ballustrades, walls and other places of interest.

The Exhibition Halls(Chinese: 展览馆)

Some of the buildings in the forbidden city with more minor original functions have been internally converted to hold permanent, but sometimes changing, exhibitions of artefacts of various types - including clocks, ceramics, paintings and bronzes. But first, a little background.

The Imperial Studios(Chinese: 工艺美术馆)

The emperors of China retained artists and craftsmen to manufacture works of the highest quality both to please their senses and add weight to their claim of legitimacy. Under the Qing dynasty, imperial porcelain makers from JingDeZhen introduced new glazes, shapes and techniques. The imperial studios produced paintings with traditional themes such as portraiture, landscapes, birds and flowers, and religious subjects, as well as detailed representations of political ceremonies, military conquests, and imperial processions.

Unlike earlier dynasties, the Qing court also employed Jesuit artists from Europe, whose introduction of western painting techniques and aesthetics stamped the academy as a whole with a unique visual flavor.

Religious Art(Chinese: 宗教艺术)

The Qing emperors retained their sacred Manchurian traditions, performing shamanistic rituals within the seclusion of the Forbidden City. In addition, they became ardent supporters of tantric Buddhism, imported from Tibet and Mongolia. Tibetan monks, stationed at the Hall of Uprightness, were employed as artists to produce religious objects for the emperor.

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Tags: Beijing, Forbidden City, Palace Museum

Temple of Heaven

Written by china guide May 5th, 2010 6 Comments Category: China Destinations

The Temple of Heaven (TianTan, Chinese: 天坛) was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvests. There are 12 million people visit the magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven every year.

The ancient Chinese believed that Heaven was the supreme ruler of the universe and the fate of mankind, and thus worshiping rites dedicated to Heaven came into being.

Introduction to the Temple of Heaven

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Tags: Beijing, Temple of Heaven, TianTan