Beijing is the capital of China, the center of politics, economy, culture, education, and medical care. It is the most interesting city. There are 99 national cultural protection units and 326 municipal protection units.

I went to Beijing for the first time in July 1998. I traveled with my wife through the old dragon head of Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, the Summer Palace, Wangfujing, Xidan, and Tiananmen Square to see the flag raising, pay respects to the remains of Chairman Mao, and enter the Great Hall of the People. Opposite was the Museum of History and the Museum of Revolution, now rebuilt into the National Museum. Played Beijing Zoo, Grand View Garden.

The second time in the summer of 2015, the family traveled to the north of Shanxi, starting from Beijing and then returning to Beijing. They only visited the Prince's Mansion and did not stay long.

The third time I went to Beijing on New Year’s Day in 2019. The four families visited Tanzhe Temple, Jietai Temple, Lugou Bridge, Wanping City, Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, Ming Tombs, and Baiyun Temple. Went to the National Defense University for dinner.

In the golden autumn of October 2022, taking advantage of the twentieth wind, Brother Qi traveled to Beijing again, mainly thinking about the steepness of the Jiankou Great Wall. This time I stayed for a month and a half, climbed the Great Wall three times, and walked through the ancient road to the west of Beijing. Then went to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag raising, and spent a whole day in the National Museum. I went to the National Library for another day, and spent half a day in the Beiping Library, strolling around Xijiaomin Lane, Dongjiaomin Lane, Nanluogu Lane, Liulichang, Momokou, and walking Taoranting Park, Yutanyuan Park, Zizhuyuan Park, Shichahai Park , Longtan Park, Beihai Park, Badachu Park, Jingshan Park, Tianning Temple, Guangji Temple, Wuta Temple, Baita Temple, Wanshou Temple, Fahai Temple, revisit the Grand View Garden, explore the Automobile Museum, and visit Dashilan at night , Qianmen Street. The above-mentioned scenic spots will be described separately in another article. Too heavy without a SLR, all 3,000 photos were taken by vivo phones.

Here, let’s talk about some of Brother Qi’s intuitive impressions of Beijing.

Beijing South Railway Station

Impression 1: There is much less smog in Beijing. "Zhao Lei, member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Secretary-General, said in his opening introduction that the average concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing this year has dropped to 29 micrograms per cubic meter. On the opening day of the 16th General Assembly, PM2.5 has dropped to 1 microgram per cubic meter. It has reached the best level monitored in the same period of history. We have the confidence and determination to turn the "Congress Blue" into Beijing's "normal blue" and "sky blue."

Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel, you can often see the mountains of Xishan. The water in Beijing is also very clear. There is a Liangshui River near the South Railway Station. I feel that the water can be drunk directly. While walking by the river, my companion told a story. When his daughter went to Beijing for an interview when she was taking the postgraduate entrance examination, she was frightened by the smog in Beijing, and then she chose a school in Nanjing for postgraduate study.

Impression 2: Traffic in Beijing. Except that on October 4th we went for a hike on the Jingxi Ancient Trail, and there was a traffic jam on the way out of the city. It was a holiday, and it was the road to Tanzhe Temple, so traffic jams were normal. There is basically no traffic jam in Beijing.

People in Beijing probably have a fast pace of life. Generally, they don’t wait for the traffic lights and pass through the intersection without cars. Most of the three-wheelers do not wear helmets.


Bicycles are still the protagonist in Beijing, with wide bicycle lanes and priority given to bicycles. Bike sharing is very convenient. My monthly subscription is 18.8 yuan, which should be enough for one or two hundred kilometers. Under the overpasses in the streets and alleys, there are still bicycle repair stalls.

Impression 3: Hutongs in Beijing. The life of the people in Beijing's hutongs is the authentic old Beijing life. Riding a bicycle and walking in the alley at will, feeling the fireworks in the world. Most of the hutongs are narrow and a bit chaotic, with several families crowded together in small courtyards in the hutongs. The big fences are okay and renovated, and there are many Chinese-style brick carvings on the walls. There is a bronze plaque at the entrance of each hutong to introduce the history of the hutong and the former residences of celebrities.

Former Residence of Xiaofengxian in Shaanxi Lane

In the former residence of Cai E in Mianhua Hutong, Xicheng District, there are countless families living in it. It was built indiscriminately, which is worse than the temporary sheds of migrant workers. A bronze plaque "Cai E's former residence" at the door was wrapped with tape by the residents.

Brick Pagoda Hutong Ancient Temple Huguo Guandi Temple

Yongxing Nunnery in Nanliu Lane, Xicheng District, is still a district-level cultural relic.

Let's take a look at the most famous alleys in Beijing: Xijiaomin Lane and Dongjiaomin Lane.




Nanluoguxiang is a scenic spot, a pedestrian commercial street, and mainly snacks. There is a courtyard house under national security. I went shopping at night, but I didn't see it.

Half a spoonful of Chunlin Zuihonglou, rich in gold and five fragrances are all over the world.

Zapmo, there are noodles, vegetables and Beijing flavor.

The Beijing Benchmark in Nanluoguxiang was set up by the Kyoto Municipal Office in 1914-1916. There are only three existing ones. This benchmark point is 49 meters above sea level, which was the highest point in the inner city of Beijing at that time, 4 meters higher than the northeast corner of the Forbidden City.

Impression 4: The festive atmosphere. On National Day, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held, so the atmosphere was naturally stronger.

The big flower basket that is necessary for the National Day every year----bless the motherland


Fourteen flower beds are arranged along Chang'an Avenue.

Flower beds at Xidan Crossroads

Flower beds at Xidan Crossroads

Flowerbed in front of the Military Museum

Chang'an Street

conference in progress

The square during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

Zhengyangmen

drum tower

Yandun

Impression 5: Beijing's ministries and commissions, headquarters of central enterprises, famous schools, etc.

Beijing Exhibition Hall

China Millennium Monument. The most boring building in Beijing, when will it be demolished?

Capital Gymnasium


Chinese printing and coinage

All China Federation of Trade Unions

State Administration for Market Regulation, State Anti-Monopoly Bureau

The People's Bank of China, this style is the same across the country.

China Minmetals

CCTV

Central People's Broadcasting Station, the most listened to when I was a child.

China Central Radio and Television

People's Education Press, anyone who has read the book knows...

China Securities Journal, a website that used to be frequently followed

Foreign Affairs College

National Library

Specialty restaurants, the taste of hometown.