Source: CCTV.com

11-01-2007 16:28

北京是中華人民共和國的首都，是中國政治、經濟和文化的中心。北京具有非常悠久的歷史，是中國歷史文化名城。在這座城市裏有著眾多的名勝古跡，已列入世界文化遺産名錄中的有：世界聞名的長城、中國園林博物館—頤和園、世界最大的祭天神廟—天壇、故宮博物院等。

萬里長城是中國歷史上最偉大的建築工程和國防防禦工程並被稱作中古世界七大奇觀之一。1987 年被聯合國教科文組織列為世界人類歷史文化遺産保護的項目。萬里長城從建造至今日已有兩千多年的歷史。它東起渤海之濱的山海關， 經過河北、山西、內蒙古、陜西、寧夏等省和自治區，西至甘肅省嘉峪關，沿著起伏的山脈和茫茫的沙漠，綿延一萬二千余裏。

長城在歷史上曾經為防禦北方遊牧民族的侵擾，保障北部邊疆一代人民的生産和生活起過重要作用。同時，也對北方勁吹的風沙起了阻擋作用。

長城是中華民族勤勞智慧、堅強毅力的象徵，是中華民族和世界人民共同的歷史財富，是人類歷史的奇跡。凡到過中國的外國友人，都把遊覽長城作為不可缺少的參觀旅遊項目。“不到長城非好漢”已經成為旅遊者的一句名言，他們都想登上長城，親眼看一看這座雄偉的歷史豐碑。

北京故宮博物院位於北京市中心，是在中國明清時代皇宮及收藏的基礎上建立起來的綜合性博物館。1987 年被聯合國教科文組織列入“世界文化遺産”名錄。

故宮博物院又稱紫禁城。中國明代第三位皇帝朱棣奪取皇位後，決定遷都北京，並開始營造這座宮殿，明永樂十八年（1420年）紫禁城落成。從那時起到辛亥革命共有24 位皇帝曾在這裡生活和居住並對全國進行統治。

紫禁城四面環有10 米高的城墻和52 米寬的護城河，佔地面積約78萬平方米。城墻四面各設城門一座。其中南面的午門和北面的神武門現專供參觀者遊覽出入。城內宮殿建築佈局沿中軸線東西兩側展開。紅墻黃瓦，畫棟雕梁，金碧輝煌。殿宇樓臺，高低錯落，壯觀雄偉，在此漫步仿若人間仙境。前來旅遊者對此讚不絕口。

天壇是世界上最大的祭天神廟。它坐落在北京故宮的東南方向，總面積為270 萬平方米，比故宮還要大四倍。

中國的皇帝號稱“天子”，即“天的兒子”。皇帝每年都要祭祀神靈保祐國泰民安，如需要祭祀的有：地神、水神、農業神、軍事神、社會神、宗教神、市民神，以及自己祖宗的牌位等。祭祀活動是皇帝的主要工作之一，一年四季不斷。因此，皇帝祭祀的建築也很多，遍及北京城各處，且各有特色，成為北京的一道風景線。北京現今天安門東側的勞動人民文化宮曾是皇帝祭祖的地方、西側的中山公園是祭祀豐收神的地方。北京北有地壇祭地，南有天壇祭天，東有日壇祭太陽，西有月壇祭月亮。但天壇最為光彩，氣宇非凡，是古建築中出類拔萃的代表。 現在每天到天壇遊覽的遊客絡繹不絕，流連忘返，天壇內最值得參觀的包括：祈年殿、皇穹宇及環繞皇穹宇的回音壁。

頤和園位於北京西北郊，距市中心約19 千米，是中國清代的皇家園林和行宮。頤和園原名清漪園，建成于1764年，它佔地290 公頃。園內分為宮廷區、前山前湖區、後山後湖區三大景區，共有殿堂樓閣、亭臺水榭3000 余間，是皇帝皇后政治活動和遊憩的地方。1860年被英法聯軍焚燬，1888年慈禧太后挪用海軍經費500 萬兩白銀重建該園，歷時10 年，竣工後改為現在的名字“頤和園”。

Translation:

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the nation's centre for politics, economy and culture. Enjoying a long and rich history, Beijing ranks as one of China's best-known cultural and historical cities. Here you'll find numerous heritage sites and wonderful examples of ancient architecture，including those already on the World Heritage List: the world-famous Great Wall, China's Museum of Gardens — the Summer Place, the world's largest temple to pay respects to the heavens, the Temple of Heaven, and the Forbidden City Palace.

The Great Wall of China is one of the "Seven Wonders of the World", as well as a grand feat of architecture and defense. In 1987, it became listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Over two thousand years have passed since the construction of the Great Wall began. Starting at Shanhaiguan (Shanhai Pass) near the Bohai Sea in China's east, the provinces and autonomous regions it passes included Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Ningxia, extending to Jiayuguan of western China's Gansu province. The entire length of over6,000 kilometers (over 12,000 li, each li is half a kilometer) stretches over undulating mountain ranges and an endless desert.

The Great Wall was instrumental in protecting northern China from the attacks of nomads, and at the same time, it lessened the destructive forces of the wind and sand from the north.

The Great Wall is seen as a symbol of the Chinese people's intelligence, tenacity and industriousness, It also belongs to the world as an invaluable part of heritage. Overseas visitors often put the Great Wall at the top of their must-see list. "You are not a hero unless you've been to the Great Wall" has become a well known motto among travellers. By climbing the grand structure, they too experience the history and magnificence of the Wall.

The Beijing Gugong (Imperial Palace) Museum is situated in the center of Beijing, It is a treasure trove of architecture, artifacts and history and also has gained World Heritage List status by the UNESCO in 1987.

Gugong Museum is also called the Purple Forbidden City. After his ascension, Zhu Di, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, decided to move the national capital to Beijing and build this palace. The Palace was completed in 1420, the 18th year of the Yongle period during the Ming Dynasty. From then until the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which saw the overthrow of China's ruling Qing Dynasty, a total of 24 emperors resided and ruled here.

The 780,000 square meter Forbidden Palace is surrounded by walls ten-meters high and a moat 52 metres wide, and there are gates at four sides of the city walls. Wumen (Meridian Gate)in the south and Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Military Genius) in the north are the entrance and exit points for visitors. The layout of the Forbidden City is based on a Chinese cosmic diagram of the universe that clearly defines the north-south and east-west axes. With its crimson walls and golden tiles, painted pillars and sculpted beams, the spectacular grandeur and masterful workmanship often leave visitors enthralled. A walk among the different palaces, pavilions and halls is like a journey back in time or being transported into a different world.

The Temple of Heaven is the world's largest temple for heaven-worshipping. Situated to the south-east of the Forbidden Palace, its area is a massive 2.7 million square meters, four times the size of the Forbidden City.

China's emperors were called "Tianzi" or "Son of the Heavens", hence it was their responsibility to pray to the gods in order to bless the nation, including those gods who represent Earth, Water, Agriculture, Military, Society, Religion, Civilians and the ancestors. Worshipping the gods was one of the Emperor's major functions and there were related activities all-year round. Thus, Beijing abounds with these architectural marvels, each with their own characteristics. The Workers' Cultural Palace to the east of Tian'anmen Square was where the Emperor used to pray to his ancestors. Zhongshan Park to the west of Tian'anmen is where they prayed to the Harvest God. There is the Temple of Heaven in the south, the Temple of Earth in the north, the Temple of Sun in the east, and the Temple of the Moon in the west. Of these, the Temple of Heaven is by far the finest, most magnificent representation of ancient Chinese architecture. The Temple draws huge crowds of visitors each day, and renowned tourist attractions include: the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian), the Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and those famous Echo Walls around the Vault.

The Summer Palace is located in the north-western suburbs of Beijing, around 19 kilometres from the city centre，and is the best preserved Qing dynasty royal garden and palace in China.

Built in 1764, the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan-Garden of Peace and Harmony) which was named originally as Qingyiyuan (Garden of Clear Ripples), occupies 290 hectares. Divided into three areas: palace, front hill and lake, rear hill and lake and this tribute to the extravagant imperial lifestyle encompasses over three thousand halls, pavilions, platforms and lakeside marquees. Here the emperor and empress conducted administration, entertained, and relaxed in style. In 1860, the Summer Palace was burned to the ground by the Anglo-French allied forces. In 1888 the Empress Dowager used naval funds of 5 million taels of silver to rebuild the palace. The reconstruction took ten years and had a new name, "Yiheyuan" after completion.

 

Editor:Liu Fang