人文北京


【重点词汇】

颐和园：the Summer Palace

香山：the Fragrant Hill

雍和宫：the Yonghegong Lama Temple

十三陵：the Ming Tombs

The layout of Beijing formed in the 15th century.

The Imperial Palace is the center of the city's symmetrical layout.

The seven point seven kilometer long access is the symbol of Beijing.

There are grand examples of Chinese architecture such as the imperial palace, the temple of heaven and the Great Wall.

Traditional folk arts such as Peking Opera,

and traditional foods such as sugarcoating Gourds on a stick and roast duck are famous worldwide.

The Olympic Games was held here in 2008.

While preserving its traditions, Beijing is becoming more and more open.

Welcome to Beijing.

胡同


Hutong a type of narrow streets or alleys with houses on both sides.

It's the most typical residence in Beijing.

The hutong is not only a traffic channel but also the living area for ordinary people.

It is the most peaceful place in this noisy city.

People get along each other in harmony.

There used to be 4000 hutong in Beijing with a history of more than 800 years.

Many hutongs have been replaced by modern buildings as the city develop.

Only a few of them have been preserved.

Keeping the traditions and history of Beijing alive.



【四合院】

A courtyard residence Siheyuan, is a yard enclosed by houses in four directions.

It is a closed residence with only one gate leading to the outside.

Houses on the north are the largest ones and used as the owner's bedrooms.

Houses on the two flanks are the residences of their descendants.

The arrangement represents the hierarchy in a family.

The screen wall stands behind the gate to protect the residence from wind-blown-sand.

Chinese believe that the screen wall can also walled off bad luck,

Therefore the wall is usually decorated exquisitely.

The Siheyuan is intended to unite all the family members

to enjoy a harmonious and happy life together.


【京剧】

接下来，我们一起来聊聊中国的国粹——京剧。

《贵妃醉酒》Drunken Beauty

《霸王别姬》Farewell My Concubine

《昭君出塞》The Princess Goes to the Northwest to Marry

《群英会》 The Battle of Wits

Jingju or Peking Opera is an ancient performance art with a history of 200 years.

Jingju has four kinds of roles, according to different identities of personalities.

The lyrics of Jingju are performed by singing or rhythmic speaking accompanied by dozens of musical instruments.

Now, Jingju still enchants many Chinese people and foreigners with its unique charm.

生 male leading roles
旦 female leading roles
净 male role with painted face for different character
丑 clown

小生young man 武生courageous man 老生 old man
花旦young girl 青衣lady 刀马旦 agile girl warriors