China: Studies – Welcomed by Beijing
Published: 9.5.2015
Even though we tried, we didn’t manage to get nice weather. Smog, that impervious pot lid, held tiring heat above Beijing. But we were determined to prevail.
Typical sights are, for instance, the Temple of Heaven or the Summer Palace were veiled in smog so thick one could cut through it. And to make matters more complicated Beijing decided to complicate some things for us.
The main attraction we chose to visit was Tiananmen Square (T'ien-an-men Kuang-ch'ang天安门广场) a Forbidden City (Gugong故宫). Unfortunately, soldiers patrolled on the square and the Forbbiden City was closed. This created such a mess in the center that the situation resembled a mass outrage. The Chinese tried to get through underpasses somewhere as fast as they could and foreigners stood in their way. Policemen somehow explained foreign visitors that the sight is closed. At least from the distance, we saw the famous the Gate of Heavenly Peace with a large Mao Ze Dong poster on it. It has been hanging there since Mao’s death in 1976. With it hang to gigantic sentences saying: “Long live the People’s Republic of China for ten thousand years!” (Zhonghua renmin gongheguo wansui 中华人民共和国万岁) ; and the other one saying: " Long live the great unity of the peoples of the world!" (Shijie renmin da tuanjie wansui世界人民大团结万岁).
To straighten out our disappointment me, T. and P. decided to go to Jingshan Hill (Ťing-šan 景山) on the northern side of he Forbidden City. It was created in the time of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368–1644). Dirt was piled on the place when navigation channels were being dug out in the Forbidden City. In the same time, conditions for the right Feng Shui 风水 were fulfilled as the palace was accordingly built at southern foot of some hill.
Upon tiresome climb, we enjoyed magnificent vista over the whole Forbidden City and its surrounding. There was smog, so what? Gilded roof were still impressive. Perhaps the view was even better as normally courtyards would have been crowded.
Going downhill from Jingshan Hill was much more pleasant. We were really hungry so we went into the nearest restaurant. Cold Chinese beer was our treat with tons of great food – eggplant, beans, meat, soup… We hardly got out of there. We accompanied the girls through narrow streets back to their hostel, and made plans for the following day. We had tickets for a night train to Xian 西安 that is famous for (but not only) Terracotta Army of the first Chinese emperor.
Text/photo: Hana Bašová
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