The company offered their employees a 3-day visit to Beijing with their partners. A huge city, with a long history. being China’s capital for many, many years, it has a number of monuments that date back 600 years: The former imperial palace, called the “Forbidden City”, and numerous temples.
Housing 16 million people, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of buildings reach high, both office- and residential towers go up 30 stories, and more. Not that the environment in monotone: there is a lot of modern architecture to enjoy. And with the 2008 Olympics in sight, things have changed in the last two years: The city has gained colour, wherever there was room for flowering plants, it’s now all yellow, orange, red and green where previously gray and brown prevailed. At least, according one of the tour hostesses who visited the city two years ago.
Of course it has it’s drawbacks: many of the typical quarters, with narrow streets and small courtyards, have been demolished to make space for towering concrete and steel structures. However, some historical awareness has entered the mind of the planners and now some of these old “hutongs” are being preserved.
One of the other impressive buildings in China is the Great Wall, and of course it was part of the trip. Just a few kilometers, near Beijing, is open to the public, and this part has been restored in some extent. You can follow – by sight – the track of the wall outside this area, as long as the mountain ranges allow.
Of course it means a lot of images. 188, to be precise.