IPT597- HPT in China – China Learning Journey

Highlights of Beijing

Location, location, location…

HISTORY is pervasive in Beijing

•½ million years ago – Peking Man- remnants of human life

•20,000 years ago – first evidence of civilization

•5000 years ago – settlements

•4000 years ago – Dynasty rule begins with Xia Dynasty

•2500 years ago – Beijing becomes capital for the first time as Ji, Grand Canal constructed

•850 years ago – Imperial Palace, central Beijing buildings built, population reached 1 million people

•725 years ago – Palaces rebuilt, city walls, moats and canal built

TIMELINE

HISTORY is pervasive in Beijing

•600 years ago – new ownership (Ming) built current walls around city, temples, called it Beijing for first time

•360 years ago – Manchus of Qing spend 100 years building the Forbidden City as well as palaces, pavilions, and gardens

•97 years ago – Last of the Dynasties, Republic of China formed

•65 years ago – Mao Zedong declares the People’s Republic of China, gets his picture put up as a result…

•Bejing was capital city many times throughout the Dynasties

•Bejing has had numerous names throughout history

TIMELINE

POPULATION

According to www.chinavista.com, as of 2002, the population of the overall Beijing area was over 14.23 million people. Of those,

•The population density was 536 people per square kilometer. •Over 96% Han race•Less than 4% are representative of 55 other ethnic minorities; Hui, Manchu, and Mongolian people are the most prevalent of the ethnic minorities found in Beijing

PRESENT

CULTURE

The culture of any community is made up of many elements. Food, clothing, religion, art, music, language, fine arts, theater, customs, celebrations and ceremonies, symbols, folklore, poetry, shopping, and more. •Food•Shopping•Art•Celebrations•Language•Religion

PRESENT

FOOD comes from mixed heritage

Tastes developed in this capital city throughout history, picking up specialties throughout the dynasties. Meat was a staple.

Beijing has as high as 30% immigration from outlying areas. Food and culture are brought to the city from all over China.

Northern Cuisine is saltier, spicier – wheat products, noodles, potstickers, dumplings, buns, hot pot, Peking duck.

•Southern Cuisine relies more on sweet flavors – rice, fish, vegetables, etc.

•Regional favorites – Sichuan, Cantonese, Chaozhou, Hunan, etc.

•Everywhere in the world!

NORTH & SOUTH, EAST & WEST

ECONOMY growing astoundingly!

•Automobile industry has grown at a rate of 82% year-over-year since 2003!

•Communications –270 million landline subscribers. 280 million mobile phone users, growing at 14%, 80 million Internet users, growing at 60% annually

•Household appliance industries growing at a rate of 35% annually

•China is expected to be the number one travel destination in the world by 2020

SOME OVERALL NUMBERS

ECONOMY in Beijing on the fast track!

•Industry

•Agriculture

•Commerce

•Finance and Insurance

•Foreign Trade

•Tourism

BEIJING Economic Focus

CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY

•Hot, wet summers•Cool, nice autumns•Cold, dry and windy winters•Dry and windy springs

4 SEASONS

ARCHITECTURE reflects the history

The ancient building style in Beijing typifies architecture throughout much of China

•Forbidden City

•Tiantan – Temple of Heaven

•Ming Tombs

•Hutongs

ANCIENT

ARCHITECTURE reflects change

Modern architecture in Beijing typifies architecture throughout much of China - affected greatly by 2008 Olympics

•Transportation

•Hotels

•Convention centers

•Housing

NEW

CHANGE

“As it readies itself as an Olympic stage, Beijing is redefining its image: it wants to be ultra-modern, the essence of cool, designed by the best the world has to offer with money as no object. But in this headlong rush to modernise, China's people and its traditions risk being left behind.”

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