Discover China

At last another trip to China is very near. Over three weeks from the end of December we will visit China’s capital Beijing as well as Tianjin, located south of Beijing, Zhengzhou in central China, and possibly some other places too. Beijing has an abundance of historical and cultural attractions which we will explore over several days. As it is winter, impressive sites such as the Forbidden City and Summer Palace are likely to be framed in snow. From Beijing we’ll then take a 30-minute journey on one of China’s new high speed rail trains to the city of Tianjin, and then after that travel to Zhengzhou. I can hardly wait!

A ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the looting and burning of Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, was held in Beijing on 18 October 2010. This imperial garden built in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911) was ransacked and destroyed by the British and French forces on 18 and 19 October 1860 during the Second Opium War. Yuanmingyuan, also known as “Garden of Gardens”, was 5 times the size of the Forbidden City. It was renowned for its garden and building architecture. The initial construction began in 1707, during reign of Emperor Kangxi, and the expansion continued for the next 150 years. Find out more in the CNTV Special Feature 150th Anniversary of Looting and Burning of Yuanmingyuan.