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http://www.regenttour.com/chinaplanner/pek/index.htm
| Beijing — Capital of China |
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| Altitude:& 52m/170ft. Area: 16,807 sq km/6487 sq.miles Population: 13,000,000 approx.Beijing lies in the north-west of the North China plain, not far from the Western slopes of the mountains of Yanshan, and about 150km/93 miles from the Bohai Sea. A dense network of roads, railways and airways connects Beijing with China’s other major cities.Beijing, an autonomous city with the status of a province, is not only the political centre of the country, it also plays an outstanding part in the nation’s cultural, economic, scientific and academic life. Many trading and industrial firms are situated here. The most important educational and cultural institution include: nine colleges for the various sciences, the Academica Sinica, several universities (including the university of Peking founded in 1898; the University of Qinghua founded in 1911, and the People’s University founded in 1950), technological universities, numerous colleges and institutes (in particular the Central Institute for Nationalities and the Institute for Foreign Languages), and research establishments, as well as museums and libraries (including the Beijing University library with its ten million volumes and 22,000 periodicals), also the planetarium and the zoological and botanical gardens.The historic city center which dates from the Ming dynasty (14th-17th c.) has largely preserved its original appearance. Traces of the medieval city which was divided into two parts can still be seen. It joined the four points of the compass and consisted of the north city formerly known as the Tartar city which was laid out on a regular rectangular pattern. This section was defended by a 20km/12 mile long wall with nine gates (two in the east, three in the south, and two in the west and north sides). The south city was surrounded by a 14km/9 mile city wall with seven gates.The two city walls were completely destroyed, but two of the old gates are preserved – the “Qian Men” behind Mao’s Mausoleum and the “Desheng Men” in the north of the forbidden city. After 1949 a permanent change in the appearance of the city took place. Owing to a redevelopment program the majority of the city walls and numerous old houses were demolished. Wide streets, various public buildings such as museums, sport centers, airports, etc. emerged in their place and the underground, which runs under the line of the former city wall, was built. Since the late 1970s an endless succession of unimaginative, monotonous skyscrapers have been built as well as tenement blocks to house the ever growing population, hotels, administrative buildings, etc. From the mid eighties the government has tried to carry out the redevelopment of the old city more cautiously; this plan also includes restoring cultural and historic relics. It is intended that usage of space will be reduced and that the ecological problems will be solved. From the point of view of the tourist, Beijing is China’s most interesting city. Among the city’s historical and cultural monuments are the Imperial Palace, the Beihai park, the Coal Hill Park and Heavenly Temple. On the city’s outskirts there are many other sights, including the Summer Palace, the Fragrant Mountain, the Great Wall, and the Ming Tombs. |
http://www.regenttour.com/chinaplanner/sia/
| Xian — Capital of Shaanxi Province | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Altitude: 1352 feet Area: 332 square miles Population: 4,500,00
Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, is situated in the central part of the country, between the Weihe River in the north and the Qinling Mountains in the south. The city lies on a major rail route which runs from Lianyungang on the Yellow Sea via Urumqi in the autonomous region of Xinjiang and on to Kazakhstan. There are direct rail links with Beijing and Shanghai as well as flights to most large Chinese cities, including Hong Kong. Xi’an is one of northwest China’s chief textile centers, where cotton grown in the artificially irrigated paddy fields in the neighboring countryside is treated and processed. Other major industries are chemicals pharmaceutical manufacturing and civil engineering. (There are several major universities as well as art and trade schools.) Xian probably possesses more items of archaeological interest than any other town or city in China–the most important, of course, being the world-famous Terra-Cotta Warriors. Xian is an ancient site, and there are layers of cities of different names beneath and around it. The land is fertile, renewed yearly by the silt from the Yellow River. Both nomadic and farming people enjoyed the relatively flat landscape, ready water, and ease of travel. Long ago, traders’ camps were erected outside the city walls–a mixture of colorful tents, utensils, bags, and bundles. The traders’ wares were cottons and exotic spices from India, metals and ceramics, scrolls of paintings, and seeds–most of it to be bartered for cascades of silk in all colors and textures to take on the return journey west. Today’s city is smaller than Beijing, the present capital of China, and moves at a slower pace. Trees lend color and softness to most streets. It retains an almost mystical charm. |
http://www.regenttour.com/chinaplanner/tyn/tyn-glance.htm
| Taiyuan — Capital of Shanxi Province | |||
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| Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province, lies in the north basin of Middle Jin (Jin is another name for Shanxi Province) and crosses the River Fen. The city area administers three districts, one subdivided city and five counties. The history of the city can be traced back to over 2,400 years ago. It was established in 497 BC, the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (the slavery Period in China) and was named Jinyang, the northern bank of the Jin River. In Chinese, the northern bank of waters is called yang. In 982, Song Taizong, Zhao Kuangyi, the second emperor of the Song Dynasty burned and flooded Jinyuan City. After that, he ordered one of the officials, Pan Mei to build Taiyuan City in Tangming Town, north of Jinyuan City. Thus, came the present Taiyuan City. Taiyuan, in Chinese, means the greatest plain. In fact, it is dominated by rugged hills and hilly areas. Only one-fifth of the whole area is plains. Taiyuan is surrounded by mountains in the east, west and north; only the southern part is alluvial plains. Taiyuan abounds in various minerals, especially coal and iron, so honors the name, “the home of coal and iron.” Taiyuan is of continental climate at temperate zone. It is dry and cold in winter, hot and rainy in summer, dusty and windy in spring, cool and comfortable in autumn. The annual average temperature is 9.5 Degree Celcius.
A long history has left Taiyuan with numerous cultural relics, such as Jin Shrine, Double-Pagoda Temple, Qiaojiabu Folk Culture Museum, Xuanzhong Temple and Pingyao Ancient Town. Today, Tiyuan is one of the most important heavy industrial cities in China. |
