Beijing–I come !

We landed at the Beijing International Airport and made it through customs. After getting our bags, we went outside for a taxi to the hotel. Then, we checked into the Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing. It was now about 4:00 PM Saturday. Our hotel was 10 minutes from Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City.  We thought we might as well go check out the local sights. Unfortunately Forbidden City was already closed.

We walked through Zhongshan Park next to the Forbidden City.  Zhongshan Park is located to the west of Tian’anmen Rostrum in the heart of the Inner City. It is the site of the former Altar of Land and Grain.

Entering through the main southern entrance, one comes to a large vestibular pavilion with long corridors running off to the east and west. In front of the pavilion is a white marble memorial archway erected by the Qing government to commemorate the German Minister Baron von Kettler, who was killed during the Yihetuan Movement (“Boxer Rebellion”) in 1900. This archway originally stood outside the western entrance to the Xizongbu Alley, but after Germany’s defeat in World War I, it was removed to the Zhongshan Park and inscribed with the words “Triumph of Righteousness”(Gongli Zhansheng).  After 1949 it was rein scribed in Guo Moruo’s handwriting with “Defeat the Peace”(Baowei Heping).

Chinese cuisine is said originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in many other parts of the world — from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa. In recent years, connoisseurs of Chinese cuisine have also sprouted in Eastern Europe and South Asia.

Regional cultural differences vary greatly amongst the different regions of China, giving rise to the different styles of food. There are eight main regional cuisines:Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. Among them, Cantonese, Sichuan, Shandong, and Huaiyang cuisine (a major style and even viewed as the representation of the entire Jiangsu cuisine) are often considered as the standouts of Chinese cuisine and due to their influence are proclaimed as the Four Great Traditions . Occasionally, Beijing cuisine and Shanghai cuisine are also cited along with the aforementioned eight regional styles as the Ten Great Traditions . There are also featured Buddhist and Muslim sub-cuisines within the greater Chinese cuisine, with an emphasis on vegetarian and halal-based diets respectively.

In conclusion, Beijing, to me,is really special!   More Beijing tours