Beijing, China's vibrant cosmopolitan and ancient capital has been home to some of the world's many wonders. You may have already heard of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but there are still more places to see and things to do when you're in town. What's more promising is that Beijing hotels are located within considerable walking and driving distances, making them more accessible to locals and tourists alike.
In the olden times, the emperor and his court stayed inside the Forbidden City. It was there where the emperors, called 'Sons of Heaven,' made their duties. Owing to the great task that they handled, they were thus subjected to many pressures. This prompted the emperors to build the Summer Palace as a respite from everyday problems of palace life.
Accurately called the 'Gardens of Nurtured Harmony,' the site is generally dominated by the Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. It covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three-fourths of which are water. You can find a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures in the Palace itself. Transportation to this place is never a problem since Beijing hotels will take care of these for you.
An important part of the complex is the Kunming Lake which was created by extending a present body of water to imitate the West Lake in Hangzhou. To build Longevity Hill, the excavated soil from the lake was used.
When the capital was moved near the Beijing area, emperor Wnyn Ling built a Gold Mountain Palace on the site of the hill. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed from Gold Mountain to Jug Hill (Weng Shan). The Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty finally christened the hill with its present name.
Standing about 60 meters high, the hill holds several sequentially-positioned buildings. The front side is abundantly decorated with buildings and halls while the back is maintained in its natural beauty.
In the hill's northern side, you can find buildings of religious and cultural significance. These are the Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, and the Sea of Wisdom Temple, among others.
In 1998, The Summer Palace was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since it is "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design," it not only serves as a tourist destination at present but also as a recreational park.
This must-visit site can easily be accessed since Beijing hotels will assist you in planning your itinerary. While staying in one of the hotels in Beijing, allow us to comfort you with the perks just like that of the Summer Palace. Indeed, in Beijing, you will experience a level of comfort that is more than what you have expected!
Author E. Larson is a long-time resident of Beijing, China. He works closely with the Fuhao Hotel Beijing and other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Fuhao Hotel Beijing here.
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January 07 2010 | hotels | No Comments »
Applauded as one of the most representative symbols of Chinese culture, Chinese knots have commanded the love and fascination of Chinese art lovers for centuries. Simple as they are in their physical makeup - most designs are created out of only one thick thread, they are highly praised and admired for their creative, complex craftsmanship. Used extensively by ancient Chinese to decorate everything from household items to clothes, it gradually became a popular gift. In Beijing, there are many local shops that offer beautiful, unique Chinese knots.
Used mainly as an auspicious decorative object, Chinese knots are most commonly seen on the door of a house, the wall of a room, on clothing, and as decorations on gifts. They come in both large and small sizes, depending on the use, and there are a variety of classic designs that have developed over the years. Though sometimes thought of as an accessory that merely accompanies larger items, some knots never fail to stand out with their conspicuous beauty. Red is the most popular color used, because this color symbolizes fortune and happiness in Chinese culture.
Knots with different designs began to appear in Chinese homes in prehistoric times. But it is believed that they didn't become a popular decorative art until the Tang and Song dynasties. This art form reached its peak in the Qing dynasty and was accepted by most people.
This art was almost lost in the early 20th century as China entered an era of modernization. Then, many people viewed such knots as out of date and having little practical application. In the late 1970s an artist named Lydia Chen revived this art in Taiwan, after which Chinese knots started to flourish again and became more and more popular.
Consisting of only a single thread, a Chinese knot can be very simple or extremely complex. While a simple design can be easily made by using a model, a complex knot demands excellent skills and takes a long time to finish. Most knots look identical from the front and the back.
Here is a list of the 10 main types of Chinese knots made by modern artists:
1. Double Coin Knot
2. Chinese Button Knot
3. Oxalis Knot
4. Round Brocade Knot
5. Cross Knot
6. Good Luck Knot
7. Sauvastika Knot
8. Pan Chang Knot
9. Caisson Ceiling Knot
10. Ping Knot
Chinese knots used during festivals usually depict classic images. These include "Auspicious Dragon And Phoenix," "Fish Jumping Over The Dragon Gate," "Fu Xi Shuang Quan" (fortune and longevity), "Double Shou" (longevity), "Double Xi" (happiness), "Extra Good Luck," and "Everything Goes Well."
In China, a large variety of social concepts can be represented by Chinese knots - marriage, friendship, family unity, brotherhood, and the formation of special or secret community, because "knot" is pronounced like "connection" in Chinese.
Visitors in Beijing have a great opportunity to buy beautiful, unique Chinese knots at the local shops. Sometimes it's best to find a tour guide in Beijing to help you go shopping.
A. Lao writes about Chinese culture and history. He now works with a Beijing tour guide who brings visitors to great Chinese shops. From time to time, he personally tailors Beijing tours.
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September 07 2009 | Travel | No Comments »