During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),the square was only one-quarter of its present size,and was enclosed by a red wall.The only common people allowed to enter the enclosure were those being dragged in to be executed. After the 1911 revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty,the wall gates were demolished to let in common people,and the square has since been the scene of many historic demonstrations. The square was expanded to its present size after the founding of the People's Republic.During festivities or political gatherings,the square is alive with people,red flags,lights and music. Beijing not only ranks high among the tourist destinations in the world,but also becomes the capital of Chinese cuisine.It is well known that Chinese cuisine is the oldest in tradition and stands first on the list among the world best,with many world-renowned restaurants. 7
7 During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the square was only one-quarter of its present size, and was enclosed by a red wall. The only common people allowed to enter the enclosure were those being dragged in to be executed. After the 1911 revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty, the wall gates were demolished to let in common people, and the square has since been the scene of many historic demonstrations. The square was expanded to its present size after the founding of the People’s Republic. During festivities or political gatherings, the square is alive with people, red flags, lights and music. Beijing not only ranks high among the tourist destinations in the world, but also becomes the capital of Chinese cuisine. It is well known that Chinese cuisine is the oldest in tradition and stands first on the list among the world best, with many world-renowned restaurants
Beijing Beijing is the capital of China and a fascinating mixture of the old and new.With an area of 16,808 square kilometers,it is today the political,cultural and administrative center of the People's Republic which was founded in 1949,the home of more than 13.8 million citizens and the seat of government. Beijing has been in existence as a settlement for more than 3,000 years,although the remains of "Peking Man"show that human life existed in this part of China half a million years ago.It has been a center of power under the Mongols,the Ming,the Manchu and now the People's Republic of China for a period spanning almost seven hundred years. Beijing one of the few inland capitals of the world not built on a major river,it owes its long pre- eminence to its strategic geographical position.Lying on the northwestern fringe of the Great North China Plain,Beijing serves as a gateway to the Inner Mongolian steppes in the north,the Shanxi plateau in the west and,through the easternmost pass of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan, to north-east China. Beijing is the capital of China and a fascinating mixture of the old and new.北京，中国的首都， 是一座迷人的，古老而现代的城市。 in existence:现存的，存在的 Beijing one of the few inland capitals of the world not built on a major river it owes its long pre-eminence to its strategic geographical position.作为世界上仅有的几个不坐落在主要河流上 的内陆首都城市之一，北京以其卓越的战略地理位置而闻名。 8
8 Beijing Beijing is the capital of China and a fascinating mixture of the old and new. With an area of 16,808 square kilometers, it is today the political, cultural and administrative center of the People’s Republic which was founded in 1949,the home of more than 13.8 million citizens and the seat of government. Beijing has been in existence as a settlement for more than 3,000 years, although the remains of “Peking Man” show that human life existed in this part of China half a million years ago. It has been a center of power under the Mongols, the Ming, the Manchu and now the People’s Republic of China for a period spanning almost seven hundred years. Beijing one of the few inland capitals of the world not built on a major river, it owes its long preeminence to its strategic geographical position. Lying on the northwestern fringe of the Great North China Plain, Beijing serves as a gateway to the Inner Mongolian steppes in the north, the Shanxi plateau in the west and, through the easternmost pass of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan, to north-east China. Beijing is the capital of China and a fascinating mixture of the old and new.北京，中国的首都， 是一座迷人的，古老而现代的城市。 in existence: 现存的，存在的 Beijing one of the few inland capitals of the world not built on a major river, it owes its long pre-eminence to its strategic geographical position.作为世界上仅有的几个不坐落在主要河流上 的内陆首都城市之一，北京以其卓越的战略地理位置而闻名