*Beijing* 北京 - Page 3

***big-dog*** · July 16th, 2008, 10:05 AM

Beijing Olympic park, the city is all ready for the game

HiTOPHi · July 16th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Wow, I never know the park is this big!

***big-dog*** · July 21st, 2008, 10:50 AM

(beijingupdates.com)

***big-dog*** · July 21st, 2008, 10:55 AM

(beijingupdates.com)

Subway

***big-dog*** · July 21st, 2008, 11:33 AM

7.15

7.19 CBD

7.19 Jianguomen

7.20 Sanlitun & CBD

(beijingupdates.com)

xtraxxl · July 22nd, 2008, 08:05 PM

顶顶顶顶顶顶顶顶顶

HiTOPHi · July 22nd, 2008, 09:57 PM

Beijing definitely TRANSFORMED!

snow is red · July 23rd, 2008, 09:40 PM

Xidan Cultural Square in Beijing

People walk past the Xidan Pailou, a decorated archway, at the new Xidan Cultural Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 23, 2008. The reconstructed Xidan Cultural Square was opened to the public on Wednesday. More than 4,000 square meters of underground commecial area, the central stage and waterscape have been added to it. The Xidan Pailou, a decorated archway, was restored after disappearance of 85 years

***big-dog*** · July 24th, 2008, 02:44 AM

(beijingupdates.com)

***big-dog*** · July 24th, 2008, 02:46 AM

(beijingupdates.com)

snow is red · July 25th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Tide of "modernization" on the ebb in old Beijing

2008-07-24

The map of Beijing on Zhang Wei's wall is turning black, as though being eaten away by a tumor.

The 31-year-old has used the map to track the destruction of the Chinese capitals ancient hutongs (lanes) and siheyuan (traditional courtyard houses), marking the site of each demolition with a black pen.

The tumor metaphor fits in with his view of Beijing as a living entity in its own right.

"The hutongs are the blood vessels while siheyuan are the cells of Beijing," says the slightly built Zhang who walks around his home, the base for the conservation website oldbeijing.org, in traditional black slippers, now usually favored only by the elderly.

Zhang founded the website eight years ago after watching his childhood home in a hutong named East Banbi Street being reduced to rubble and dust under the bulldozers.

He managed to rescue a piece of a delicately carved wooden window frame. "It had not changed a lot in the last 120 years," says Zhang.

He treasures the frame piece in his new apartment, where he operates the website dedicated to preserving images and memories of hutong life.

The non-profit project has become a virtual old Beijing for more than 16,000 registered users, with a file of more than 1 million photos and 45 million words.

"Beijing is changing too fast," says Zhang, who photographs the disappearing hutong with his team of dedicated amateur conservationists every weekend.

Too often they just find ruins, he says.

Much of the wood and brick old city has fallen victim to a relentless drive for modernization that has been realized in a series of steel and glass image-boosting buildings and a network wide highways and avenues.

The destruction began in the 1950s after architect Liang Sicheng (1901-1972) failed to persuade Chinese leaders to build the new downtown Beijing outside the old city. Since then, many old walls have received the white painted "To be demolished" character, and disappeared days after.

Standing at the end of East Rongxian Hutong, the shining egg-shaped National Centre for the Performing Arts looks like an alien spaceship.

It joins other modern or post-modern buildings, such as the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), the Bird's Nest (the National Stadium) and the China Central Television (CCTV) Tower, in a list of new landmarks.

All of these buildings have been opened in the last two years, except for the CCTV Tower, which is still under construction.

But thanks to the efforts of Zhang and like-minded campaigners, the city is beginning to realize the value of its architectural heritage -- and looking to strike a balance between preservation and modernization.

It consulted a think tank comprising more than a dozen experts on architectural history and town planning, including Luo Zhewen, 84, a student of Liang Sicheng.

In 2000, the municipal government announced its most ambitious plan to date to preserve the old city, promising 330 million yuan (US$48 million) over the next three years to repair and preserve old buildings.

It ordered the preservation of dozens of parts of downtown Beijing, taking 37 percent of the ancient city area. In 2002, this was revised to 42 percent.

Cao Yuejin, who sits on the city planning committee, says, "Beijing needs to be modernized, and also traditional. The city needs to be balanced, and this guides the government's efforts."

However, the modernizers argue, "traditional" should not mean communal toilets and water facilities for hutong residents.

The deprivations of hutong life are well-documented. Writer Liu Xinwu famously detailed the discomforts of freezing winters in a siheyuan, and the inconvenience of traipsing through all weathers to go to the toilet.

The conservationists should understand that many hutong dwellers wanted the better living conditions that modern apartments offered, Liu wrote.

"Beijing used to be protected in an inappropriate way," says Cao. "We are aiming to create a comfortable living environment."

Instead tearing down whole hutongs, the government made plans to rebuild dangerous siheyuan, defining the property rights, and opening the hutongs to commercial uses such as shops, hotels and bars.

"There will be no more large scale demolitions, even outside the protection areas," says Cao. "The culture of hutongs will be protected in accordance with the living patterns of the residents."

Under the pressure of a population swelling with the tide of rural migrants, the authorities have drawn up plans to extend the urban area. Three "new cities" will be built in the northeast Shunyi District, the eastern Tongzhou District and the southern Yizhuang District.

"Beijing needs space to develop under the increasing pressure. The rapid speed of development is forcing the city to change," says Cao.

The new spirit of conservation has prominent supporters among the very people who stand to gain most from modernization -- the architects.

One of the architects changing Beijing, Australian John Bilmon, who designed the Water Cube, is blunt: "I feel sad to see the destruction of the hutongs."

Bilmon says he has tried to adopt elements of Chinese culture in the Water Cube

"The Water Cube represents water while the Bird's Nest with its red lights stands for fire, which are the two elements of traditional Chinese geomancy, Fengshui," he says.

The Cube also symbolizes the earth and the Nest the sky according to the ancient Chinese concept of universe in which the earth is square-shaped and the sky is round.

Bilmon was delighted when the site of the Water Cube was moved 100 meters in order to preserve an ancient temple dating from the Ming Dynasty.

"I'm glad to see Beijingers have realized the need to protect their history," he says.

"I love cycling through the old hutongs. I enjoy the sunshine and tranquility in the narrow lanes away from the noisy outside world.

"I see two Beijings here. One is the fast-developing modern Beijing, and the other is the quiet traditional Beijing," adds Bilmon.

Many of the "Olympic homestay" households designated as accommodation for foreigners showcase the modernization of the ancient hutong homes.

"My home is centuries old, but it has clean toilets, computers, televisions and a refrigerator," says Wang Zhixi, owner of an Olympic homestay. Her siheyuan in Dajinsi Hutong near the Shichahai lake area is handy to one of Beijing's burgeoning new bar and nightlife districts.

Wang and her husband, who both claim descent from Qing Dynasty nobility, have decorated their home with traditional Chinese paintings.

"We can both enjoy the birds' singing in the old yard just as Beijingers used to do and enjoy the convenience of modern life," Wang says.

D&A · July 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM

Beijing is fascinating! I love it!

cmoonflyer · July 29th, 2008, 02:56 AM

cmoonflyer · July 29th, 2008, 02:58 AM

snow is red · July 30th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Traditional Beijing delicacies in Wangfujing snack street

Two foreigners enjoy shish kebab in a snack street of Beijing, capital of China. In the past, the popular Beijing snacks used to be hawked at temple fairs or roadside bazaars.

Wearing traditional Chinese costume, the owner of a traditional Beijing snack bar solicits customers with his delicacies baodu, quick-boiled tripe in Wangfujing snack street in Beijing, capital of China, July 26, 2008. In the past, the popular Beijing snacks used to be hawked at temple fairs or roadside bazaars.(Xinhua/Du Huaju)

***big-dog*** · July 31st, 2008, 12:41 PM

some great photography and PS work by toomanytribbles, flickr.com

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

(Thanks cobble, beijingupdates.com)

***big-dog*** · August 1st, 2008, 04:09 AM

love this Olympic park panorama photo (wang3769, sina.com)

mafun · August 1st, 2008, 06:51 AM

Beijing must be the most exciting place to be right now. I wish I could be there. OH GOD! please let me win the damn lottery! ...please

snow is red · August 1st, 2008, 11:32 AM

snow is red · August 1st, 2008, 01:25 PM

New landmark of Gui street

Workers unhook a round-mouthed food vessel with four loop handles in ancient China, that is set here as a new landmark of Gui street, the famous food and beverage street, near Dongzhimen overpass in Beijing, capital of China, on July 31, 2008

July 16th, 2008, 04:40 PM	#42
HiTOPHi Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 227 Likes (Received): 0	Wow, I never know the park is this big! __________________ 紫禁之巅，王者风范。

July 21st, 2008, 10:50 AM	#43
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	7.12 East 2rd Ring (beijingupdates.com)

July 21st, 2008, 10:55 AM	#44
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	7.12 Sihui-Yong'anli (beijingupdates.com) Subway Last edited by big-dog; July 21st, 2008 at 11:09 AM.

July 22nd, 2008, 09:57 PM	#47
HiTOPHi Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 227 Likes (Received): 0	Beijing definitely TRANSFORMED! __________________ 紫禁之巅，王者风范。

July 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM	#52
D&A Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Almaty, London Posts: 1,985 Likes (Received): 2	Beijing is fascinating! I love it! __________________ Welcome to Kazakhstan!

July 16th, 2008, 10:05 AM	#41
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	Beijing Olympic park, the city is all ready for the game

July 21st, 2008, 11:33 AM	#45
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	7.15 7.19 CBD 7.19 Jianguomen 7.20 Sanlitun & CBD (beijingupdates.com)

July 22nd, 2008, 08:05 PM	#46
xtraxxl Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto T-Dot Posts: 354 Likes (Received): 0	顶顶顶顶顶顶顶顶顶

July 23rd, 2008, 09:40 PM	#48
snow is red Vicky Pollard lol Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,279 Likes (Received): 0	Xidan Cultural Square in Beijing People walk past the Xidan Pailou, a decorated archway, at the new Xidan Cultural Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 23, 2008. The reconstructed Xidan Cultural Square was opened to the public on Wednesday. More than 4,000 square meters of underground commecial area, the central stage and waterscape have been added to it. The Xidan Pailou, a decorated archway, was restored after disappearance of 85 years

July 24th, 2008, 02:44 AM	#49
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	(beijingupdates.com)

July 24th, 2008, 02:46 AM	#50
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	(beijingupdates.com)

July 25th, 2008, 01:17 PM	#51
snow is red Vicky Pollard lol Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,279 Likes (Received): 0	Tide of "modernization" on the ebb in old Beijing 2008-07-24 The map of Beijing on Zhang Wei's wall is turning black, as though being eaten away by a tumor. The 31-year-old has used the map to track the destruction of the Chinese capitals ancient hutongs (lanes) and siheyuan (traditional courtyard houses), marking the site of each demolition with a black pen. The tumor metaphor fits in with his view of Beijing as a living entity in its own right. "The hutongs are the blood vessels while siheyuan are the cells of Beijing," says the slightly built Zhang who walks around his home, the base for the conservation website oldbeijing.org, in traditional black slippers, now usually favored only by the elderly. Zhang founded the website eight years ago after watching his childhood home in a hutong named East Banbi Street being reduced to rubble and dust under the bulldozers. He managed to rescue a piece of a delicately carved wooden window frame. "It had not changed a lot in the last 120 years," says Zhang. He treasures the frame piece in his new apartment, where he operates the website dedicated to preserving images and memories of hutong life. The non-profit project has become a virtual old Beijing for more than 16,000 registered users, with a file of more than 1 million photos and 45 million words. "Beijing is changing too fast," says Zhang, who photographs the disappearing hutong with his team of dedicated amateur conservationists every weekend. Too often they just find ruins, he says. Much of the wood and brick old city has fallen victim to a relentless drive for modernization that has been realized in a series of steel and glass image-boosting buildings and a network wide highways and avenues. The destruction began in the 1950s after architect Liang Sicheng (1901-1972) failed to persuade Chinese leaders to build the new downtown Beijing outside the old city. Since then, many old walls have received the white painted "To be demolished" character, and disappeared days after. Standing at the end of East Rongxian Hutong, the shining egg-shaped National Centre for the Performing Arts looks like an alien spaceship. It joins other modern or post-modern buildings, such as the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), the Bird's Nest (the National Stadium) and the China Central Television (CCTV) Tower, in a list of new landmarks. All of these buildings have been opened in the last two years, except for the CCTV Tower, which is still under construction. But thanks to the efforts of Zhang and like-minded campaigners, the city is beginning to realize the value of its architectural heritage -- and looking to strike a balance between preservation and modernization. It consulted a think tank comprising more than a dozen experts on architectural history and town planning, including Luo Zhewen, 84, a student of Liang Sicheng. In 2000, the municipal government announced its most ambitious plan to date to preserve the old city, promising 330 million yuan (US$48 million) over the next three years to repair and preserve old buildings. It ordered the preservation of dozens of parts of downtown Beijing, taking 37 percent of the ancient city area. In 2002, this was revised to 42 percent. Cao Yuejin, who sits on the city planning committee, says, "Beijing needs to be modernized, and also traditional. The city needs to be balanced, and this guides the government's efforts." However, the modernizers argue, "traditional" should not mean communal toilets and water facilities for hutong residents. The deprivations of hutong life are well-documented. Writer Liu Xinwu famously detailed the discomforts of freezing winters in a siheyuan, and the inconvenience of traipsing through all weathers to go to the toilet. The conservationists should understand that many hutong dwellers wanted the better living conditions that modern apartments offered, Liu wrote. "Beijing used to be protected in an inappropriate way," says Cao. "We are aiming to create a comfortable living environment." Instead tearing down whole hutongs, the government made plans to rebuild dangerous siheyuan, defining the property rights, and opening the hutongs to commercial uses such as shops, hotels and bars. "There will be no more large scale demolitions, even outside the protection areas," says Cao. "The culture of hutongs will be protected in accordance with the living patterns of the residents." Under the pressure of a population swelling with the tide of rural migrants, the authorities have drawn up plans to extend the urban area. Three "new cities" will be built in the northeast Shunyi District, the eastern Tongzhou District and the southern Yizhuang District. "Beijing needs space to develop under the increasing pressure. The rapid speed of development is forcing the city to change," says Cao. The new spirit of conservation has prominent supporters among the very people who stand to gain most from modernization -- the architects. One of the architects changing Beijing, Australian John Bilmon, who designed the Water Cube, is blunt: "I feel sad to see the destruction of the hutongs." Bilmon says he has tried to adopt elements of Chinese culture in the Water Cube "The Water Cube represents water while the Bird's Nest with its red lights stands for fire, which are the two elements of traditional Chinese geomancy, Fengshui," he says. The Cube also symbolizes the earth and the Nest the sky according to the ancient Chinese concept of universe in which the earth is square-shaped and the sky is round. Bilmon was delighted when the site of the Water Cube was moved 100 meters in order to preserve an ancient temple dating from the Ming Dynasty. "I'm glad to see Beijingers have realized the need to protect their history," he says. "I love cycling through the old hutongs. I enjoy the sunshine and tranquility in the narrow lanes away from the noisy outside world. "I see two Beijings here. One is the fast-developing modern Beijing, and the other is the quiet traditional Beijing," adds Bilmon. Many of the "Olympic homestay" households designated as accommodation for foreigners showcase the modernization of the ancient hutong homes. "My home is centuries old, but it has clean toilets, computers, televisions and a refrigerator," says Wang Zhixi, owner of an Olympic homestay. Her siheyuan in Dajinsi Hutong near the Shichahai lake area is handy to one of Beijing's burgeoning new bar and nightlife districts. Wang and her husband, who both claim descent from Qing Dynasty nobility, have decorated their home with traditional Chinese paintings. "We can both enjoy the birds' singing in the old yard just as Beijingers used to do and enjoy the convenience of modern life," Wang says.

July 29th, 2008, 02:56 AM	#53
cmoonflyer Mainland Sea & Sky Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Changchun Posts: 6,254 Likes (Received): 8	__________________ We looked at mountains until dawn, and then when dawn came, it was too pretty for me - there was pink and blue and gold, in the sky, and on icy places, brilliant pink and gold flashes, and the snow was colored too, and I said," Oh," and sighed; and each moment was more beautiful than the one before; and I said, " I love you, Momma." Then I fell asleep in her arms. That was happiness then. - Harold Brodkey

July 29th, 2008, 02:58 AM	#54
cmoonflyer Mainland Sea & Sky Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Changchun Posts: 6,254 Likes (Received): 8	__________________ We looked at mountains until dawn, and then when dawn came, it was too pretty for me - there was pink and blue and gold, in the sky, and on icy places, brilliant pink and gold flashes, and the snow was colored too, and I said," Oh," and sighed; and each moment was more beautiful than the one before; and I said, " I love you, Momma." Then I fell asleep in her arms. That was happiness then. - Harold Brodkey Last edited by cmoonflyer; August 5th, 2008 at 02:36 PM.

July 30th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#55
snow is red Vicky Pollard lol Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,279 Likes (Received): 0	Traditional Beijing delicacies in Wangfujing snack street Two foreigners enjoy shish kebab in a snack street of Beijing, capital of China. In the past, the popular Beijing snacks used to be hawked at temple fairs or roadside bazaars. Wearing traditional Chinese costume, the owner of a traditional Beijing snack bar solicits customers with his delicacies baodu, quick-boiled tripe in Wangfujing snack street in Beijing, capital of China, July 26, 2008. In the past, the popular Beijing snacks used to be hawked at temple fairs or roadside bazaars.(Xinhua/Du Huaju)

July 31st, 2008, 12:41 PM	#56
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	some great photography and PS work by toomanytribbles, flickr.com image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr (Thanks cobble, beijingupdates.com)

August 1st, 2008, 04:09 AM	#57
*big-dog* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,738 Likes (Received): 418	love this Olympic park panorama photo (wang3769, sina.com)

August 1st, 2008, 06:51 AM	#58
mafun Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SFO Posts: 103 Likes (Received): 0	Beijing must be the most exciting place to be right now. I wish I could be there. OH GOD! please let me win the damn lottery! ...please

August 1st, 2008, 11:32 AM	#59
snow is red Vicky Pollard lol Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,279 Likes (Received): 0

August 1st, 2008, 01:25 PM	#60
snow is red Vicky Pollard lol Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,279 Likes (Received): 0	New landmark of Gui street Workers unhook a round-mouthed food vessel with four loop handles in ancient China, that is set here as a new landmark of Gui street, the famous food and beverage street, near Dongzhimen overpass in Beijing, capital of China, on July 31, 2008

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