Beijing [antikvár]

Introduction For centuries, Beijing has been the promised land of China. Originally a walled bastion for emperors and officials, it remains a majestic political and architectural marvel. Today, poor peasants still flock to the city in search of the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; many wind up camped out on the pavement in front of the railway station. The govemment encourages them to go home, but the lure of the capital proves too enticing. Meanwhile, down the road by the Friendship Store, smartly attired customers clutching cellular telephones head for the nearest banquet or disco. As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is home to bureaucrats, gen- erals, nouveau-riche cadres and lâobâixîng (the common people); host to reporters, disgruntled diplomats, English-teaching expatriates and tourists; a labyrinth of doors, walls, tunnels, gates and entrances, temples, pavilions, parks and museums. As far away as Xinjiang they run on Beijing's clock; all over the land they chortle in putônghua, the Beijing dialect; in remote Tibet they struggle to interpret the latest half-baked directives from the capital. This is where they move the cogs and wheels of the Chinese universe, or try to slow them down if they're moving in the wrong direction. Perhaps nowhere else in China is the generation gap more visible. Appalled by the The city's Western Gate was an imposing sight for travellers such as Thomas Allom, who recorded this scene in the early 19th century. While the giant gates and walls have long gone, the Forbidden City remains as Bejing's well preserved ancient heart. :; j '' I i