Beijing Travel Review 2012-5-31

For tourists of Beijing tours, the Peking Opera Show is a good choice in the Beijing night and it is also a good way to experience traditional Chinese culture.

The excellent Peking Opera Show will be showed in the famous Liyuan Theater. Liyuan Theater is the first tea house style theater opened by Beijing Qianmen Hotel and Beijing Peking Opera Theater in October 1990. It is praised as the "best night stage" in Beijing for seven years. For more than ten years, the Liyuan Theatre performed a total of more than 3,800 games. There are famous and traditional Peking Opera Show troupes every day. The Three Divergences, Farewell to My Concubine, Picking up Jade Bracelet and Steal Silver and so on are all the main plays here. Millions of people leave footprints in the audience including former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, Estonian President Lennart Meri, Government officials and other world leaders and famous people.
Liyuan Theater is consisted of play hall, exhibition hall and fairs and sales hall three parts. The play hall is consisted of the stage and audience seats. The stage is eight meters high, twelve meters wide and seven meters deep. On the two sides of the stage, there are the couplets wrote by dramatists Weng Ouhong and Liu Bingsen. Surrounding the auditotium, there are eight large scale Beijing opera facial makeup and 14 Beijing opera figures colored drawing screens. There are totally three ticket sections including 800 seats. The Liyuan Theater is similar to the old opera theater custom. Audience can taste various Beijing snacks and tea when you are enjoying the Beijing opera show. You can also know the more than 200 years' development of the Peking Opera there. If you don't know much about Chinese, it doesn't matter. Most of the audiences in the theater are foreigners and the lists of plays are highlights from operas. In the hall, there is electron show screen. The words of the play can be shown on the screen with both Chinese and English. After the Peking Opera Bus Tour, you will deeply know the Chinese famous opera and enjoy this art.
There are the displays in the exhibition hall about the development of the Peking Opera. Tourists also like to buy some opera handiworks and souvenirs. The unique experience of Peking Opera Show will leave a deep impression on your Tour Beijing.

An emerald on the Yangtze

Crisscrossing walkways offer a panoramic view of the Ancient Pine Tree Garden in Mudu, a water town near Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photos provided to China Daily]

Mudu, near Suzhou, has a history of 2,500 years, but its gardens truly make the town an outstanding place to visit. Pan Zhongming takes a look.
Many water towns in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are famed for their picture-perfect landscapes, featuring crisscrossing water lanes, with old arch bridges and houses.

Mudu, near Suzhou, in Jiangsu province, however, is the perfect place to savor the charms of these water towns.
The 2,500-year-old settlement is named after wood (mu) and rivers (du) and is full of culture and historical stories.
One of them goes like this: At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the Wu Kingdom and Yue Kingdom were at war. Wu defeated Yue, after which Yue presented the beautiful Xi Shi to the King of Wu, Fu Chai. To please Xi Shi, Fu Chai decided to build Guanwa Palace on Lingyan Hill. For three years, wood was transported to the small town by the side of the hill.
The two kings of Wu also constructed Gusu Terrace, while Qizi Hill is the military fortress built by the Kingdom of Wu.
More than 200 years ago, the imperial painter during Emperor Qianlong's reign, Xu Yang, painted a long scroll depicting views of prosperous Suzhou. Approximately half the scroll depicts Mudu, a town of migrants at the time. There are groceries run by merchants from Hangzhou, salt from Yangzhou, silk from Suzhou and local specialties from Dongting of Suzhou.

Even today, traces of these stores, elegant gardens and simple stone bridges can still be found in the town.
Much of Mudu is behind closed doors. If you are privileged enough to be invited in you may find a private garden, while the owner hosts a poetry contest with his friends by the side of the pond.
Mudu is the hometown of many celebrities. Between 1015 and 1902, there were 24 successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations and 28 provincial graduates originally came from Mudu. These people were prominent in politics, economics, science and culture.
A couplet hanging in Shangxian Hall, of the Yan's Family Garden, illustrates the tradition of showing esteem to prominent people. The garden was originally called Muyuan Garden, meaning "admiring prominent people".
The one-hectare Yan's Family Garden is the former residence of Yan Jiagan, former "president" of Taiwan. The garden's magnolia tree is said to have been planted by Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Emperor Qianlong when he toured the town and stayed in the compound.

Shangxian Hall is built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) style, out of nanmu wood. The architect Liu Dunzhen dubbed Four-Season Mini-Garden a "classical masterpiece of gardens south of the Yangtze River".
Other gardens in the town are typical Suzhou style, or imperial in construction.
As early as the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the town had more than 30 private gardens. More than 10 remain and have various styles.
Guanwa Palace at Lingyan Hill was the imperial garden built by King Fu Chai, while Lingyanshan Temple on Lingyan Hill and Mingyue Temple at the foot of the hill represent Buddhist culture.
In recent years, Mudu has renovated and opened four gardens - the Yan's Family Garden, Hongyin Shanfang, Ancient Pine Tree Garden and Bangyan's Residential House.
Hongyin Shanfang consists of two Ming-style gardens. Xiaoyin Garden is the former residence of Shen Shou, the "Queen of Embroidery", while Xiuye Garden is now a museum that displays imperial decrees and introductions to the imperial examination system.
Ancient Pine Tree Garden at Shantang Street is known for a 500-year-old pine tree and the well-preserved brick carving at its entrance gate. The garden is the former residence of Cai Shaoyu, a businessman in the late Qing Dynasty.
Bangyan's Residential House is the former residence of political theorist Feng Guifen and has a typical Qing garden. It is famed for its brick carvings, wood sculptures and stone engravings. The garden features a pond, surrounded by pavilions, gazebos, walkways, bridges and rockeries.
It is the gardens of Mudu that truly make this town an emerald among those towns in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Wuling Mountain in Beijing

Located in Miyun county some 150 kilometers east of Beijing, Wuling Mountain is a national-level forest reserve. What distinguishes the reserve from other similar mountain resorts in suburban Beijing is its many creeks, waterfalls and moisture-rich air.
Located in Miyun county some 150 kilometers east of Beijing, Wuling Mountain is a national-level forest reserve

Let's Go Beautiful Hangzhou Tour

Situated at end of the Grand Canal, Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province and it is one of seven ancient national capitals in China. "It is the most beautiful and elegant city in the world" said by Marco Polo in the 13th century when he came to Hangzhou. As mentioned China City Tour, Hangzhou gains the high reputation among domestic and foreign tourists!

Hangzhou's history dates back to the start of the Qin dynasty (221 BC). When Marco Polo passed through the city in 13th century he called this city Kinsai and noted in amazement that Hangzhou had a circumference of 100 miles while its waters were vaulted by 12,000 bridges. Although Hangzhou prospered greatly after it was linked with the Grand Canal in 610AD, it really came into its own after the Song dynasty was overthrown by the invading Jurchen, predecessors of the Manchus. With such a long history, Hangzhou is very rich in historical sightseeing like: Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Qiantang River, beautiful Wuzhen and Grand Canal.
 

However Hangzhou is notable for its West Lake and its fabulously green and hilly environs. Praised by emperors and revered by poets, the lake has intoxicated the Chinese imagination for centuries. Its willow-lined banks, ancient pagodas and mist-covered hills are like stepping into a classical Chinese watercolor. Due to its unique setting by the West Lake, Hangzhou continues to enjoy many benefits of the natural surroundings that have delighted visitors for centuries.
The West Lake is the most famous fresh water lake in Hangzhou. With the very beautiful scenery all the year round, this lake is described as "an idealized fusion between humans and nature" and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. With such a high fame, West Lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in China. West Lake is not only notable for its picturesque scenery but also famous for its culture and special local products. In addition, many ancient buildings, stone caves and engraved tablets in surrounding areas are among the most cherished national treasures of China, with significant artistic value which make West Lake to the top attractive places to visit during your China Travel.
Besides so many historical sightseeing and beautiful scenery, tourists could also pay a visit to China National Silk Museum to learn more about the traditional Chinese silk culture. With so many places to visit, Hangzhou is worthwhile visiting during your China Tour Packages. 

The famous Temple of Heaven will leave you a deep impression

As a human cultural behavior, worship the god was once an important part of life of the ancient Chinese ancestors. From the legendary “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” era to the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony has been held stretching about 5,000 years. Temple of Heaven was built during the Yongle period (1403–1420), which is a traditional Chinese ritual system established in accordance with the national altar. Since the 9th year of Yongle reign, a total of 22 emperors came to the Temple of Heaven to worship God and Heaven. While the revolution broke out, the government announced the abolition of Heaven worship and changed alter to Temple of Heaven Park in 1918. Heaven ceremony lasted about five years in China. Heaven ritual system is introduced from a historical perspective of ancient Chinese ritual to heaven, showing the history of China’s Heaven – the ancient Chinese culture.

Temple of Heaven is one of the symbols of Beijing located in the southeastern part, south east of the Forbidden City and east to Zhengyangmen. Temple of Heaven is the sacrifice place during ancient Ming and Qing dynasties of emperors to worship the heaven.
In the Temple of Heaven, the famous Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is in the far north, which is the most ambitious, the most beautiful building. The excellence of the architecture in Temple of Heaven is that it is make of 28 pillars and 36 interlinked announcements, which supporting the three-piece eaves of the house. These pillars have different symbolic meaning: the central four-poster called Tongtian Pillar which representing the four seasons; middle twelve golden pillar are on behalf of twelve months; outer twelve Yan pillar are on behalf of 12 hours; the sum of two outer fourteen stands for twenty-four solar terms; three sum twenty-eight are on behalf of 28 stars; plus eight column capitals are on behalf of thirty-six Plough; the Thunder pillar under the column is representing the emperor unified the world. Here, tourists will enjoy the unique ancient Chinese architectural style.
If the Tiananmen Gate has become a symbol of China, Temple of Heaven is a symbol of this monumental city. Indeed, this unique building is the crystallization of the wisdom and civilization, accommodate such a wealth of knowledge.
Are you interested in the Temple of Heaven? Pay a visit here and the excellent experience in the famous Temple of Heaven will leave you a deep impression.

The Beijing Bus Tour to Forbidden City

As capital of China, Beijing attracts large numbers of tourists from all over the world. The Forbidden City tour becomes more and more popular in recent years. If you are not interested in visit Forbidden City alone, you can take part in Beijing Group Tour. In Beijing Bus tour, you will not only save money from private tour, but also will you make friendship with members in this group.

Forbidden City is the world cultural heritage and national relic protections unite. And it is located in the center of Beijing. Forbidden City was palace in Ming and Qing dynasty originally. When the last one emperor of Qing dynasty was expelled from palace in 1914, it became an antique exhibition museum in south of Forbidden City. The Palace Museum was set in Oct. 1925. The important cultural relics were sent to Shanghai, Nanjing and Sichuan. After the victory of anti-Japanese, they were sent back to Palace Museum and parts of them sent to Taiwan later.

Forbidden City, formerly known as the Palace Museum, located in the center axis of Beijing, is the palace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It covers an area of ​​720,000 square meters, with the construction area of 150,000 square meters. Many tourists would like to see this symbol of China. The building started from the 4^th year of Yong Le of Ming Dynasty (1406) and completed in 18^th year (1420). Forbidden City culture, in terms of the sense of classical culture, has the characteristic of authority, immortal and tradition. For any one nation and country, classical culture is always the backing of its life, the spirit of support and a source of innovation, which are the veins and blood vessels of the subsisting and extension of the country.

When you walking across these places in Forbidden City, the time seems like back to that time with flouring dynasties. Some of the palaces in the Forbidden City have also established a comprehensive history of the Museums. Forbidden City has a large number of ancient art collections. According to statistics, there are totally 1,052,653, accounting for one sixth of the total number of the Chinese cultural relics. It is the museum with richest collection of cultural relics in China, and also the world famous ancient culture and art museum and many of these relics are unique priceless. During the Beijing Bus tour to the Forbidden City, tourists will feel the grand of emperors’ power in Chinese ancient times.

Lama Temple Tour

Since in the early summer the temperature in Beijing is not very high, it is the best time for traveling around the city downtown. Is this your first Tour Beijing? If so never miss the world famous attractions like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. If you have been to Beijing more than once, there are still many other attractive places waiting for you.

Covering an area of 66,400 square meters with more than a thousand palaces, built in Kangxi reign of Qing Dynasty, Lama Temple has over 300 years of history. Lama Temple is located in the northeast corner of the Lama Temple Avenue, Dongcheng District which is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Beijing. In 1983 it was identified as Chinese Buddhist temple for Han nationality area by the State Council.
Lama Temple complex formation, in the history of the Qing Dynasty, was crossing Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong three dynasties, through palace, temporary imperial palace for brief stays and temple three times. Lama has many unique features, the Buddhist relics, of which the most famous relics are: Ruin of wood, bronze Sumeru, vertical Buddha and six cycle map. Yongyou Palace is the palace during the regular slept of the Yongzheng emperor before his throne. The palace now houses the three statues in the middle, the middle of Amitayus Buddha, left for the Medicine Buddha, right for Roar Buddha. All the three Buddha are 2.35 meters high, carved by sandalwood. Green Tara Illustrated hanging up on the Western Wall which is a fine workmanship and is said to be the mother of Emperor Qianlong personally fill the Empress Dowager Xiao San embroidery. East wall hung portraits of White Tara. The east hall of Yongyou Palace is the room of medicine, from where lamas study medicine; west hall is the room for mathematics, from where the monks to learn math and science historical.
Today people who have visited the Lama Temple during their Beijing Travel there is no doubt that everyone was appealed to the splendid imperial garden architecture, mysterious Tibetan Buddhist statues and unique Tibetan Buddhist culture. In fact, in a sense, Lama Temple now shows the most prosperous and the most brilliant culture to the modern face.
Visiting the Lama Temple, you will learn more about the history and the Buddhist Culture and the unique atmosphere in the Lama Temple will certainly leave you a deep impression of your Beijing Tour