ARCHITECTURE 1. Imperial palaces Imperial palaces were originally built to serve the extravagant lifestyles of the emperors, as well as to provide a centralized location for demonstrating imperial political control. The imperial palaces were built on a grand scale, sparing no expense to display the majesty and dignity of the imperial power of the time. These glorious structures clearly demonstrate the creative essence and traditions of the Chinese people. The Forbidden City The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing. The largest ancient palatial architectural structure in the world is now home to the Palace Museum. Built between 1406 and 1420, the imperial palace is a complex composed of 980 preserved ancient wood and stone buildings. Now, the Palace Museum houses and displays artwork, treasures, and collectibles from the Ming and Qing dynasties. 2. Defensive Walls Many ancient Chinese cities were surrounded by a set of walls. Outside the cities, there were sometimes barrier walls at the kingdom/empire borders. Most of them originally served as defensive fortifications. The Great Wall The Great Wall is the world's longest ancient architectural structure. It has a winding path over rugged mountains around Beijing and the Mongol border, from a beach in East China to a West China desert corridor between tall mountain ranges. The original Great Wall had a basic compacted earth and wood construction. However, by the Ming Dynasty, the characteristic stonework crenellations and various watchtowers were fully developed. 3. Pagodas Pagodas are actually native to India. These octagonal towers were introduced to China along with the introduction and integration of Buddhism. The design of the traditional Indian pagoda changed as the structure was integrated into Chinese culture. FESTIVAL MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It's one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. What Happens ? The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. Although the Moon Festival is a place where families congregate, it is also considered a romantic occasion. The festival legend, after all, is about a couple; lovers spent romantic nights at the event tasting delicious moon cake and drinking wine while watching the full moon. SPRING FESTIVAL The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together What happens ? Chinese New Year Clothes Every member of the family starts the New Year off right with new clothes. From head to toe, all clothes and accessories worn on New Year’s Day should be brand-new. Some families still wear traditional Chinese clothing, but many families now wear regular, Western-style clothing like dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts on Chinese New Year’s Day. Worship Ancestors The first stop of the day is the temple to worship ancestors and welcome the New Year. Families bring offerings of food and burn sticks of incense and stacks of paper money. Give Red Envelopes Family and friends used red envelopes filled with money. Married couples give red envelopes to unmarried adults and kids. Children especially look forward to receiving red envelopes, which are given in lieu of gifts. Launch Fireworks Starting at midnight New Year’s Eve and continuing throughout the day, fireworks of all shapes and sizes are lit and launched. The more fireworks and noise there are, the more luck there will be in the New Year. Avoid Taboos: avoid breaking dishes, getting rid of the trash, scolding children, crying, saying inauspicious words, washing hair. 1.Peking Duck (Běijīng kǎoyā) Beijing roast Duck is the epitome of Beijing cuisine. It is made with high-quality meat-duck which is roasted in an oven. The dish is mostly esteemed for the thin, crispy skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly skin and little meat. Characteristics:It is cooked using wood from fruit trees and the inner flame will bring special fragrance to the dish. How to eat: A carved roast duck is enjoyed with accompaniments. There are usually three ways to eat. 1） Mashed garlic and soy sauce, or turnip strips with roast duck will provide the spicy version of the dish. 2） Some people choose to eat the crispy duck skin with fine white sugar. Recommendations: Address: No. 44, Dongjiaominxiang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing (South of National Museum) Beijing Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant: Address: 5F, Jinbao Place, No. 88, Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 2. Copper Hotpot (Tóng guō shuàn ròu) This old Beijing hotpot is also known as “boiled mutton”. There is actually a default and proper sequence for cooking materials in the traditional clear boiling broth with cabbages and tofu (different from the renowned spicy broth in Sichuan Province, China). 1. Tripes; 2. Mutton; 3. Vegetables; 4. Noodles made of various grains. The hotpot is very simple to handle and it tastes good. Characteristics: A ham shank from a wether (castrated sheep), where the lean and fat is separable, is selected. The mutton is well cooked in the pot in just 10 seconds. How to eat: Broth for cooking (garlic, ginger, red dates and shiitake mushrooms, and no seasoning) and sesame paste (favored paste in Beijing) for applying to the cooked food. Recommendations: Jubaoyuan, Niujie Branch Address: No. 5-2, Niu Street, Xicheng District, Beijing Dong Lai Shun, Tian’anmen Branch: No. 44, Dongjiamin Lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing (300 m south of National Museum) As one of the classic art forms of imperial China, Beijing Opera is a staple of cultural tradition in the modern era. Reflecting the opulence and dramatic storytelling from as far back as the mid Qing Dynasty (late 18th century), the actors and actresses keep the history of China alive with their vivid costumes and lilting voices. What Is Beijing Opera? Beijing Opera is a synthesis of stylized action, singing, dialogue, mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing to represent a story or depict different characters and their feelings. The characters may be loyal or treacherous, beautiful or ugly, good or bad. Their images are always vividly manifested in bright costumes that show the styles of ancient China. The Music of Beijing Opera The melodies have harmonious rhythms and are described as graceful and pleasing to the ears. The melody may be classified into two groups: "Xipi" and "erhong." The Costumes in Beijing Opera Often the most recognizable feature of Beijing Opera, the costumes are graceful, elegant, and brilliant in color and design. They are mostly made using hand sewing and embroidery. As the traditional Chinese patterns are adopted, the costumes are of a high aesthetic value. Facial Make-up in Beijing Opera Make-up and sometimes masks are very important to the aesthetic of Beijing Opera. The colors are rich and depict different characters using symbolism of color. Black will often represent intelligent characters, while white indicate wickedness. . The History of Beijing Opera Beijing Opera has a history of nearly 200 years. In the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1790) , four big opera troupes from Anhui Province entered the capital and combined with Kunqu opera, Yiyang opera, Hanju opera and Luantan to create what we now know as Beijing Opera.
