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The
historic Tian¡¯anmen rostrum is not only the symbolic heart of China,
but also the key to Beijing. The whole city radiates out from it ¡ªor
more exactly,  from
the grand royal compound of the Forbid-den City-the old imperial palace-on
the northern side of the square. The original city of Beijing was
planned and for a time developed in such a way that the Forbidden
City remained at the true center of the capital. Old meets new every
where in Beijing-the ancient Forbidden City is overlooked by skyscrapers,
the famous Great Wall pass north of the city proper is now surrounded
by car parks, the centuries old observatory stands nest to a motor
flyover, old court houses are dotted with glittering supermarkets,
broad tar-paved avenues are flooded by millions of bicycles, ringing
an echo of jingle bells, and damp underground tombs of the bygone
emperors are illuminated by electric lighting.
Beijing,
the capital of the People¡¯s Republic of China, is one of the most
historical cities in the world. It is not only the political and administrative
center of the country, but also China¡¯s greatest repository of monuments
and treasures. And almost all of the visitors in Beijing are attracted
and fascinated by the special charm of the Chinese capital city. When
talking about Beijing, one can¡¯t help mentioning the largest public
square in the world, Tian¡¯anmen Square. More than ninety percent of
foreign visitors who come to China want to see Beijing, and their
tour of Beijing usually starts at Tian¡¯anmen Square in the heart of
the city, a site of great political and historical significance.
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