Beijing city. The first Chinese emperor. Dynasties of Chinese emperors. History of China Seven Capitals of China

An unprepared person can be surprised by its number. There were four of them, but in the last century the list was expanded to 7 capitals. We will briefly look at each of them.

Beijing

The first capital of Ancient China, like all the others, was located near a mountain range. The first settlements in this area have existed since the first millennium BC. e. During the reign of the Zhou Dynasty, a military fortress was built here. In 1368 it was established. For some time the capital was moved to Nanjing, but the Yongle Emperor returned the capital of the Ming Dynasty to Beijing. The architecture of modern Beijing is largely a legacy of the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the reign of the last of them, the famous Beijing gardens and the Old Summer Palace were built. During the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven, the Imperial Palace, was built. It was the Yongle Emperor who transformed Beijing, making it look like a chessboard.

Nanking

By the way, the capital of Ancient China during the time of the first emperor was Shanghai. However, scientists did not include this city in the list and Shanghai is not considered one of the historical capitals.

Nanjing is one of the most ancient cities in China. It was the capital of ten dynasties and is currently the capital of Jiangsu. Nanjing is conveniently located between two other capitals of Ancient China - Beijing and Shanghai. Translated, the name Nanjing means “Southern Capital”. The city was founded in the 5th century. BC e. It was here that the largest number of the most dangerous uprisings took place. By the way, this is where the founder of the Ming Dynasty is buried. In 1853, the city became the capital of the Taiping State, ruled by Hong Xiuqian. In 1912, under the pressure of revolutionaries, the city became the capital of the Republic of China.

Today Nanjing is a developed center. Every day more and more foreigners come here. The city is filled with hotels, skyscrapers and luxury shopping centers. Like Shanghai, it is becoming a cosmopolitan city.

Changyaan

The list of ancient capitals of China continues with the city of Chang'an, whose name means "long peace." During its existence, it managed to visit the capital of several states in China. However, today the city of Xi'an is located in its place.

The first settlements appeared in Neolithic times. Chang'an became the capital during the reign of the Tang Empire. As in Beijing, the development resembled a chessboard. In the middle of the 8th century, more than 1 million people lived here, which, by the standards of that time, made the city the largest in the world. During the Ming Dynasty, the capital was moved to Beijing and Changyaan was renamed Xi'an.

Luoyang

The capital of Ancient China, the history of which we will now consider, was also one of the most ancient cities. The city of Luoyang was the capital of various Chinese states. The history of the city begins in the 11th century. BC e. It is believed that this is the first capital Chinese city that was built according to a thoughtful plan, taking into account cosmological semantics. In 770 BC. e. Luoyang became the capital of the Zhou Empire. After that, it was the capital of the Wei Kingdom, the Three Kingdoms and the Western Jin Dynasty.

It flourished during the Sui, Tang and Song eras. Luoyang became the cultural capital of Changyaan. Construction of the Eastern Capital, as Luoyang was then called, began during the Sui Dynasty. In just 2 years, they managed to build a completely new, transformed city. However, all buildings were significantly damaged during the end of the Tang era, which was marked by frequent wars. The revival of Luoyang began during the reign of the Ming. Today it is a small, relatively modern province.

Kaifeng

Three more cities have been added to China's historical capitals. One of them is Kaifeng. It had a huge variety of names: Bianliang, Dalian, Liang, Banjing. The city was the capital during the reign from 960 to 1127. During his reign, the city was of great military importance. However, the Wei kingdom soon built its capital on this territory, calling it Dalian. When the Kingdom of Wei was defeated by the Kingdom of Qin, the city was destroyed and abandoned. During the reign of the Eastern Wei Empire, the city again received the name Kaifeng. The city changed its name many times at the request of the rulers. Kaifeng, under different names, was the capital of the states of Later Han, Later Qin, and Later Zhou. According to scientists, in the period 1013-1027 the city was the largest in the world.

During its existence, the city was destroyed many times through military intervention or natural disasters. This did not stop the rulers from rebuilding it every time and making it the capital of their state.

Hangzhou

The list of ancient capitals of China continues with the town of Hangzhou, which today is a province. In ancient times, before the Mongol invasion, the city was called Lin'an. It was the capital during the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time it was the most populated city in the world. Today the city is famous for its natural beauty, huge tea plantations and Lake Xihu. There are two important ones here historical monument- 30-meter Baochu Pagoda and Yue Fei Mausoleum. The city still remains historical center. Hundreds of Chinese come here every weekend to see the famous monuments. In addition, Hangzhou is a powerful industrial center. It is also called the city of a thousand Chinese corporations. Produced here great amount goods. The international airport makes it possible to travel from Hangzhou to any major city located in Southeast Asia.

Anyang

Today the city is a small urban district. Anyang was created after the Qin kingdom unified China into a single empire. Under the Sun Empire, the administrative division of Anyang became two-tier. In addition, the city became the gathering center for Xiangzhou authorities. At the end of the Sui Empire, it was here that an uprising against the government, amazing in its scale, began. The city was significantly impoverished due to the fact that it became a battlefield during the An Lushan rebellion.

In the summer of 1949, after the victory in civil war, the communists organized a province, the city of which Anyang became its subordinate city. For many years, Anyang was part of various districts and regions. In 1983, Anyang City District was created.

Today we learned about the seven ancient capitals of China. A history book can tell a lot more, but Chinese history is incredibly vast and complex, so it’s very difficult to fit into the scope of an article. However, we learned the most important and most interesting about historical capitals China, and also plunged a little into the historical roots of the cities and got to know them current state. In any case, the capitals of Ancient China are of great interest not only for researchers, but also for ordinary tourists. China - mysterious country, which fascinates with its diversity and brightness.

- a state located in Central and East Asia. In the north it borders with Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, in the west - with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, in the southwest - with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, in the south - with Laos and Vietnam, and in the east - with the Korean Republic. People's Democratic Republic.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the Mongolian tribes - Khitan.

Official name: Chinese People's Republic(PRC)

Capital: Beijing

The area of ​​the land: 9.6 million sq. km

Total Population: 1 billion 339 million 735 thousand people

Administrative division: China is divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 3 central cities.

Form of government: People's Republic.

Head of State: Chairman of the People's Republic of China.

Population composition: The bulk of the population is Chinese (Han, 93%), Zhuang, Uighurs, Mongols, Tibetans, Hui, Miao, etc.

Official language: Chinese (Beijing dialect "Mandarin" or "Mandarin"), which has many different, often completely independent, dialects. English is used in tourist centers, and Russian is often used in the north of the country.

Religion: Officially, the entire population is considered atheists, but many practice Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Lamaism, Protestantism, Catholicism and others.

Internet domain: .cn

Mains voltage: ~220 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +86

Country barcode: 690-695

Climate

China's climate is very diverse - from subtropical in the south to temperate in the north. On the coast, the weather is determined by the monsoons, which occur due to the different absorption properties of the land and ocean. Seasonal air movements and accompanying winds contain large amounts of moisture in the summer and are quite dry in the winter. The arrival and departure of the monsoons largely determine the amount and distribution of rainfall across the country.

The huge differences in latitude, longitude and altitude in China give rise to a wide variety of temperature and meteorological regimes, despite the fact that most of The country lies in the temperate climate region.

The northernmost province of China, Heilongjiang, has a temperate climate similar to that of Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, while the southern island of Hainan is in the tropics. The temperature difference between these regions is large during the winter months, but the difference decreases in summer. In the northern part of Heilongjiang, temperatures in January can drop to -30 °C, with average temperatures around 0 °C. The average July temperature in this area is 20 °C. In the southern parts of Guangdong, the average temperature ranges from 10 °C in January to 28 °C in July.

Precipitation changes even more than temperature. On the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains, numerous rains fall, the maximum of which occurs during the summer monsoons. As you move north and west of the mountains, the likelihood of rain decreases. The northwestern regions of the country are the driest; in the deserts located there (Taklamakan, Gobi, Ordos) there is practically no precipitation.

The southern and eastern regions of China often (about 5 times a year) suffer from destructive typhoons, as well as floods, monsoons, tsunamis and droughts. Every spring, the northern regions of China are covered by yellow dust storms, which originate in the northern deserts and are carried by winds towards Korea and Japan.

Geography

State in Central and East Asia. In the north it borders with Mongolia and Russia, in the northeast with Russia and the DPRK, in the south - with Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, India, Bhutan and Nepal, in the west - with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, in the northwest - with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In the east and southeast, the country's coast is washed by the waters of the Bohai, Yellow, East China and South China seas (the length of the coastline is 18 thousand km), the country owns more than 3.4 thousand islands.

China is the third largest country in the world by area (9.6 million sq. km). The country's topography is extremely diverse - from the Tibetan Plateau framed by the highest mountain systems of Asia ( average height about 4500 m) in the southwest and the high plains and mountains of the Eastern Tien Shan in the northwest, to the Loess Plateau and the lowlands of the Great Chinese Plain in the east.

In the northeast stretch the low ranges of the Manchurian-Korean Mountains and Khingan, and in the south - the Nanling Mountains and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The rocky Taklamakan and Gobi deserts occupy vast areas in the north and west of the country, and the cultivated sub- rainforests- southeast China.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

One of the most famous plants in China is bamboo. More than 300 species of bamboo grow here, which covers about 3% of the total area of ​​​​Chinese forests. Most of the bamboo thickets are found in the subtropical zone in the south of Chang Jiang. Bamboo is not only valuable for giant pandas, it is used as a building material and for food.

Also, many other famous plants grow in China. For example, azalea, rhododendron, lotus, magnolia, ginkgo, maple, birch, poplar and spruce. The diversity and mixture of tropical and temperate plants in China is best understood by comparing the plants of Jilin Province in the north and Hainan Province in the tropics. It is difficult to find common plant species in these two regions.

China's diversity of ecosystems is amazing: tropical forests in the south of the country; desert and steppe in northwest China; taiga forests on the border with Russia; mangroves along the shores of the South China Sea. Tropical and temperate coniferous forests with evergreen and deciduous plants dominate the southern provinces Hainan, Yunnan and Guangxi.

At the edge of the Gobi Desert there are wide grasslands and only to the northeast do the last large areas of forest appear in China.

In the north, harvesting the facai plant (a moss-like vegetable) was banned to prevent desertification of the land.

Animal world

Thanks to the richness of Chinese flora, the country also has a diverse animal world.

Despite the clear disparity in numbers, rare animals continue to survive in the wild, remote areas of China. Notably, rare animal species include alligators in central and eastern China, the giant salamander in the west, the Chang Jiang dolphin and the pink dolphin. The famous giant panda lives in a limited area in the valleys and region of Sichuan.

Throughout the Chinese mountains you can find antelope, wild yaks, sheep, numerous species of pheasants and song thrushes. The northeastern part of China is inhabited by interesting species of mammals. It is home to reindeer, moose, bears, sables and Manchurian tigers.

Ducks, cranes, herons, and swans are found in this region. The best time to watch birds here is in the spring.

Without a doubt, the tropical south of Yunnan Province, a region with the richest flora and fauna. The region is home to parrots, hornbills, night lemurs, gibbons, Indochinese tiger and wild Indian elephant.

Attractions

China has it all: highest mountains and highlands, lowlands and plains, along the shores of numerous seas - ports, beaches and resort places, famous monasteries, including the legendary Shaolin, ginseng farms in Qinghai province, numerous archaeological excavations in the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, mountaineering bases on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas and Karakoram.

Colossal “reserves” of natural attractions - the picturesque Yunnan-Guizhou Highlands with many mountain rivers, waterfalls and deep caves, unique lakes Taihu and Xihu, the picturesque Taishan Mountain (listed as a UNESCO treasure), Dunhuang Caves - a treasury of ancient Buddhist art, Yong Gan Caves, Huangguoshu Waterfall (height 74 m, width 81 m), karst caves and the "stone forest" in the county Wansheng, Reed Flute, Black Buddha, New Water and Dragon caves near Guangxi, the majestic Longgong and Zhijing caves near Anshun, and in the vast steppes of Inner Mongolia you can see the ancient art of equestrian competitions.

Hunting is organized in the forests of Greater Khingan. Harbin hosts annual ice sculpture festivals and you can even go skiing and ice skating.

Traveling along the ancient Silk Road, you can visit Xinjiang, where there are three famous canyons, Sanxia on the Yangtze River, Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou State Nature Reserve. A uniquely picturesque region - the Lijiang River in Guilin and the five “sacred” mountains, replete with beautiful places. Mount Huangshan is considered the “face of Chinese mountains,” and Mount Emeishan is famous for its inaccessibility and unique charm.

99 cities of great cultural and historical significance and 750 unique cultural monuments under state protection, as well as 119 landscape sites, are open to tourists. Among them, 19 are included in the World Natural Resources List cultural heritage UN.

• Gugun Museum
• Tiananmen
• Shaolin
• Big Buddha in Hong Kong
• Mount She (Sheshan)
• Water city Zhujiajiao
• White Heron Castle
• Nanwan Monkey Island
• Longhua Pagoda
• Reed Flute Cave
• Er Van Dong Cave
• Guangzhou TV Tower

Banks and currency

The national currency of China is the Chinese yuan renminbi. There are 10 jiao in one yuan, and 10 fen in one jiao. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 yuan, 5, 2, 1 jiao; coins - 1 yuan, 5, 2, 1 jiao, 5, 1 fen.

Banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 14:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:30. Commercial banks are open from 8:00 to 17:00, on Saturday - from 8:00 to 11:30. Uniform operating hours are not always observed; a specific bank may set its own operating hours.

Currency can be exchanged at Bank of China main branches, hotels, international airports, train stations and some major shopping centers. You should keep the receipts received during the exchange, since the return exchange of the remaining yuan at the end of the trip can only be done upon presentation. There may be complications with the exchange of old or damaged dollar bills - they may not be accepted.

American Express, JCB, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club credit cards are accepted in China. They can be used to pay in hotels, international restaurants, as well as large state department stores. Credit card purchases are subject to a special fee (usually 4% of the purchase price) and are not eligible for discounts. You can withdraw cash from your credit card at Bank of China branches, and the fee is usually 4%.

There are many ATMs in Beijing, but you can only withdraw money from ATMs (Bank of China) or at the airport; ATMs of other banks will most likely not give you money. In general, there are few such ATMs in China.

Useful information for tourists

Residents of China tend to respect knowledge, scholarship, and books. Chinese people greet each other with a handshake. Entrepreneurs must carry business cards with text printed in Chinese (preferably in gold) and English (not in red). The Chinese are extremely frugal, trying to quickly accumulate capital.

People in China dress quite normally, so you shouldn’t take anything special or extravagant with you. For formal events, bring a jacket and tie, a suit or a formal dress. It is best to use small but capacious suitcases or bags with wheels. Be prepared to change your clothes quite often; the weather in China is changeable.

Traveling around Beijing using the services of a rickshaw is an unforgettable experience. Although the pedicabs that stand outside hotels waiting for clients often charge quite a high price, it is definitely worth a ride.

It is not customary to tip, but a maid or porter at a hotel will not refuse 1-2 yuan.

The Chinese have never considered honesty a virtue, but cunning and deceit are traditional towards foreigners. The deception of a foreigner is considered a sign of great intelligence. Therefore, tourists are advised to bargain furiously and check the change against the light, as the money is often counterfeit.

It is prohibited to export antiques from the country; they will be confiscated at the border, but it is not customary to warn the buyer about this. Handicrafts must be labeled with a red label, otherwise there will be problems with customs. You can also find out about this at the last moment, so it’s better to consult a guide about upcoming purchases.

The area around modern Beijing began to be settled in the 1st millennium BC. e. Ji, Nanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu - all these are the names of cities erected by the Chinese, Mongolian and Manchu ruling dynasties on the territory of today's metropolis and subsequently successfully destroyed by them to the ground.

At the end of the 14th century, during the era of the Ming Empire, a new settlement grew from the ashes of the former Dadu - Beijing, which the Yongle Emperor liked so much that he moved the capital of the country to it, having previously deprived Nanjing of this honorary title - a fairly large port at that time on the Yangtze River. By the way, the word “Beijing” itself is not considered truly Chinese. Residents of the Celestial Empire call their administrative center Beijing, which means “Northern Capital”.

In 1928, after the unification of China, the status of the main city of the country was again assigned to Nanjing, and Beijing was renamed Beiping (“Northern Calm”). But already in 1937, the Japanese, who had taken over the Celestial Empire, returned the metropolis to its original name, however, only for the period of occupation. In 1945, the Chinese capital became Beiping for the second time and bore this name for another 4 years, until the “Great Helmsman”, Mao Zedong, came to power.

Geography, water resources, climate

Beijing is located in the northern part of the Great Chinese Plain. From the northwest and west, the capital is protected by the Jundushan and Xishan mountain ranges. Concerning water resources, then through main city The country has two relatively large rivers - Yundihe and Chaobaihe, but only Chaiobahe supplies the capital with water, since the famous Miyun reservoir is built on it. Another waterway connecting the metropolis with other cities and provinces of the PRC is the Grand Canal.

The climate in Beijing is moderate monsoonal: in summer, due to the action of East Asian winds blowing from the ocean, the city is hot and rainy. The average July temperature in this part of the country is +25...+26 ºС. In winter, things are exactly the opposite: with the arrival of the Siberian anticyclones, dry, windy and very cold weather sets in in Beijing. By the way, despite the traditional frosts, snow is in great short supply here, which is why the cold is felt much more acutely. The average January temperature in the metropolis ranges from –7 to –4 ºС.

The optimal time to visit Beijing is traditionally considered to be the period from September to October, when the city is still quite dry, sunny and warm, but no longer has the sweltering heat that is typical for the summer months. You can also enjoy wandering the streets in April, which is surprisingly warm in the Chinese capital.

Ecological situation

Beijing had to pay for its status as the country's largest transport hub and one of its economic centers with clean air. Daily emissions from industrial facilities, exhaust gases, coal heating on the outskirts of the metropolis - these are some of the main reasons for the dense veil of smog that periodically covers the city. It’s easy to guess that in this situation, masks and respirators that protect the respiratory system from harmful fumes are the most popular goods in the Chinese capital.

Not everything is perfect with drinking water either: drinking the liquid that flows from the tap in every Beijing apartment is strictly not recommended. By the way, the residents of the capital themselves, as well as residents of other cities in the country, drink mainly warm water, which they constantly carry with them in thermoses and containers like My Bottle. On this matter, the Chinese even have their own philosophical doctrine, according to which only heated liquid helps to achieve longevity and inner harmony.

Beijing districts

The first thing that strikes a tourist who comes to Beijing is the amazing symmetry of the city layout. If you look at a map of the metropolis, the modern capital of the Celestial Empire will appear as a cluster of giant concentric circles, “cut” by arrows of boulevards and avenues. The main axis of Beijing, along which its main historical and cultural symbols are lined up in a strict order, stretches from east to west and is called Chang'anjie (literally "Street of Eternal Peace"). The dimensions of the prospectus are a separate topic; in some places Chang'anjie can stretch up to 100 m in width, but the length of the most beautiful street in China is at least 40 km.

Beijing is administratively divided into 14 districts and two counties. For sightseeing hunters, guidebooks usually recommend the Dongcheng Qū area. Firstly, there is a large rental housing market here, both elite and economy class. And secondly, it is in Dongcheng that such national symbols of the Chinese capital as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, National Museum and even several ancient temples. Shopaholics and fans of Asian street food will not get bored here: you can taste fried silkworms and shop for creations by Chinese designers on the city’s main shopping street, Wangfujing, which today is almost entirely pedestrian.

The second most popular area among tourists is Xicheng Qū, which occupied part of the old city and, accordingly, grabbed a decent number of ancient attractions, in particular, all kinds of temples and museums. In addition, on its territory there are the famous Beijing Zoo, the Beihai Imperial Garden, the National Grand Theatre, Shichahai Park and Zhongnanhai Lake.

The business center of the capital is the Chaoyang district (Cháoyáng Qū). Living here is expensive, but prestigious, since this part of Beijing is aimed primarily at businessmen and representatives of the tourist elite. This is where the center of the city's nightlife is located - the Sanlitun quarter with its fashionable restaurants, bars and nightclubs, where you can not only leave all your savings in the evening, but also get into debt. Chaoyang is better known to Russian tourists for Yabaolu Street, which specializes in wholesale and small wholesale trade with Russia. You can understand that you have arrived at Yabaolu by the Russian-language (in the Chinese version) signs at shopping centers and the street thieves who masterfully fish out your wallet from your bag. The majority of representatives of the Russian diaspora live in this part of the city. Chaoyang is not rich in historical sights, but you will nevertheless find a couple of ancient sanctuaries in it - the Temple of the Sun and the Dongyue Temple.

If you have free time, it is worth taking a look at the Haidian district (Hǎidiàn Qū), which has the status of a student town due to the prestigious educational institutions concentrated on its territory. Among the interesting places in the area, we can particularly highlight the Summer Imperial Palace, Xiangshan Park, the architectural heritage of the Ming Dynasty - Dajue Temple, the botanical garden and the Zhongguancun Technology Center, which Western media dubbed "China's Silicon Valley".

Beijing sights

Modern Beijing is not only typical buildings and futuristic designs of business centers, but also all kinds of ancient sanctuaries. Temple of the Earth, Temple of Heaven, Temple of the Sun, Yonghe Temple, Temple of Confucius, Temple of the Great Bell - the list of capital attractions includes almost two and a half dozen religious buildings that survived both the destructive force of military conflicts and the blind mercilessness of the Cultural Revolution.

It is in Beijing that the largest palace complex in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gugun or the Forbidden City covers an area of ​​72 hectares, on which about 800 different buildings fit. Built at the beginning of the 15th century palace ensemble for several centuries it served as the main residence of Chinese emperors, entry into which was punishable by cruel execution for a mere mortal.

Not far from the Forbidden City is the second largest attraction in Beijing - Tiananmen Square, which received its name in honor of the main gate that guarded the entrance to the Imperial City. As in the case of Gugong, the Chinese’s constant desire for everything large-scale was also reflected here: the main square of the country, according to experts, is capable of accommodating a million spectators. It is better to come to admire its architectural monuments in the morning, when the raising ceremony takes place on the square. national flag- an event that amazes with its strict solemnity. The nearby National Museum of China, which houses unique historical artifacts dating back several millennia, is also included in the obligatory program of visits. There is another cult place on Tiananmen that every Chinese patriot must visit - this is Mao’s mausoleum.

On Chang'anjie Boulevard, in close proximity to Tiananmen Square, you can see the building of the Opera House, more often referred to by Beijingers as the “Egg”. The futuristic ellipsoidal structure rests in the center of an artificial pond and looks more like an alien spaceship than the classic concert venue that, in fact, it is.

To tour the summer residence of the Chinese emperors of the Qin Dynasty, head to the outskirts of Beijing. Surrounded by a well-kept park, the palace complex on the shores of Lake Kunming is interesting for its elegant buildings, including fancy bridges, exquisite marble pavilions, and the 700-meter Changlang Gallery.

Beijing parks also make a pleasant impression, where everything is “feng shui”. To the northeast of the Forbidden City is the Beihai Imperial Garden, founded in the 10th century, on the territory of which several ancient sanctuaries are nestled. Be sure to take time for a walk through Shichahai Park (Xicheng District), which includes three lakes. On summer days, you can rent a boat here to ride on the surface of the water, and in winter, amateur skaters strip the lake ice.

And in Beijing, you should definitely visit the stunning zoo, one of the seven largest zoos in the world. This is where the symbols of China, charming in their clumsiness, live - giant pandas, and along with them snub-nosed monkeys, South Chinese tigers and another 600 species of amazing living creatures. Tourists who prefer more active entertainment to quiet contemplation can recommend the local Happy Valley park, where there are about 100 types of carousels alone, not to mention other crazy attractions. Great opportunity to do trip around the world without leaving Beijing, visit the Peace Park, which has collected on its grounds copies of the most recognizable architectural monuments of the planet, reduced in a ratio of 1 to 10. If you want Asian exoticism in maximum concentration, welcome to the Beijing Opera (Jingxi), which will completely change your ideas about this art form.

The legendary Beijing hutongs with their cozy stone courtyards are gradually giving way to modern buildings. However, if you really want to wander through the medieval streets and look at the life of an ordinary Chinese “uncut,” you will find several authentic places in Beijing. The most “glossy” hutongs are located in the area of ​​Yonghegong Monastery and Shichahai Park. In fact, all tourists coming to the capital of China wander through these areas with their countless shops and newly restored houses. If you really want, you can come across very slum areas where the urban poor live, but such an excursion is unlikely to leave a pleasant impression.

Among the must-see suburban attractions of Beijing is the most beautiful section of the Great Wall of China - Badaling, passing through the territory of Yanqing County. The building looks like new, thanks to the large-scale restoration carried out under the “Great Helmsman”.

All attractions of Beijing

Hotels and hostels

Hotels in the capital of China are found literally at every turn. The same Booking.com offers more than 2,000 accommodation options in Beijing, including both luxury hotels and cheap hostels. A double room in “five” hotels like Celebrity International Grand Hotel and Beijing Prime Hotel Wangfujing will cost 451-734 yuan. The classics of the genre for the average budget traveler are three-star hotels, where prices for a fairly decent room range from 293 to 417 yuan. The interiors of the capital's "three rubles" are often made in traditional chinese style, so if you are looking for authentic accommodation, take a closer look at these options.

The cheapest and most comfortable hostels are grouped in the Dongcheng and Xuanyu areas - Happy dragon, 365 Inn, Spring Time Hostel and others. If necessary, you can arrange a relatively quiet overnight stay in such establishments for 100 yuan (the cost of a bed in a common room).

Food in Beijing

In Beijing (Mandarin) cuisine, rice is respected much less than in other parts of China, but noodles, lamb and dark soy paste are adored here. The queen and at the same time the gastronomic symbol of the local table is the Peking duck. By the way, eating poultry baked over a live fire also has its own subtleties. It is better to consume aromatic meat with a crispy crust immediately after cooking, since a cooled duck automatically ceases to be considered a delicacy.

A traditional snack that can be ordered at most eateries in Beijing is sweet mulberry spring roll (fuling jiabing). Many people like the so-called hot pot - a variation on the theme of fondue, where noodles, meat, vegetables, tofu and seafood are mixed in a container with boiling broth. Those with a sweet tooth will be helped by the local confectionery brand Daoxiangkan, whose cupcakes and cookies are considered the best in the city.

For grilled scorpions, fried spiders and other unusual delicacies, go to the hawkers of Wangfujing Street. Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, Beijingers themselves treat such food with a fair amount of contempt. Arthropod skewers, which have become the hallmark of local markets, are more of a gastronomic show designed for tourists. But the caramelized fruits and meat on skewers here are really very tasty.

The constant favorite among Chinese drinks is tea, although recently Beijing’s youth are increasingly leaning on coffee, which McDonald’s and Starbucks regularly supply residents of the metropolis with. Well, for tourists interested in the famous tea ceremony and who want to take part in tasting new varieties of aromatic drink, there are special tea houses.

For your information: despite the somewhat Europeanized nature of the Chinese capital, gastronomic traditions are respected here in the same way as in the provinces. Starting from 12 noon, the whole of Beijing begins to have lunch, therefore, according to the rules of local etiquette, at this time it is better not to go on visits and not to bother friends with calls. Another subtlety concerns behavior at the table: a well-fed Beijinger will definitely leave some food on the plate. Empty dishes mean that you were not fed well, so wait for the obligatory supplement.

Shopping

Beijing is the birthplace of fake products and a Mecca for shopaholics on a budget. Where else, if not in the capital of the Celestial Empire, can you buy a Louis Vuitton bag at the price of consumer goods or the latest iPhone model for a fifth of the real cost. The main shopping areas of the city are Wangfujing and Liulichang streets, famous for their antique shops (yes, in Beijing you can buy not only cheap replicas, but also real rarities). Authentic souvenirs that you are not ashamed to take with you as a reminder of your trip include Jingdezhen porcelain, jade crafts, ginseng root, silk embroidery and real Chinese tea. The latter can be purchased at a special market in Maliandao.

Excellent souvenirs will include Chinese prints, New Year's popular prints from Yangliuqing County, as well as religious paintings - tanka. If you are into painting in the Guohua style, buy a jar of real Chinese ink and a stack of rice paper. But with healing potions and all kinds of herbal potions, which are littered with pharmacies and shops in the metropolis, it is better to be careful.

Even if you are not yet ready for huge expenses, do not miss the opportunity to hang around the Chuanwan pearl market, where Hollywood stars and world-famous celebrities periodically shop. It makes sense to visit the silk market on Xiushuijie Street, where, if you bargain correctly, you can buy a lot of interesting goods, from clothes to electronics. Hundreds of antique shops and cozy shops await their customers on the main street of Beijing - Chang'anjie. Well, fans of European-style shopping will be helped by large shopping malls like 3d3 Mall, New Yansha Mall, Oriental Plaza Mall, Ginza Mall.

Population

The number of permanent residents of the metropolis began to approach 22 million back in 2015. Well, since for the Chinese provinces Beijing is like the Mother See for the Russian periphery, about 10 million illegal immigrants and labor migrants who arrived in the capital from the regions in search of work should be added to this already rather large figure.

The average Beijinger, in the eyes of a Chinese provincial, is an open, self-confident intellectual, not concerned about financial problems and slightly despising those who have come in large numbers. This stereotype is also supported by the fact that in the capital of the PRC they do not particularly care about politeness. Sales, a departing bus, a queue at a street stall - any ordinary situation can be a reason to demonstrate one’s own resourcefulness for a metropolis dweller. For your information, stepping on feet and using elbows is even fashionable here. At the same time, Beijingers are quite friendly towards tourists. True, as before, people no longer take photographs here hugging a “white man,” but they try to answer questions politely and with visible participation.

Another interesting phenomenon that can be found, perhaps, only in Beijing are cheerful pensioners who in the evenings besiege public gardens and city parks to meditate, do gymnastics in the company of their same grandparents, or delight (but more often - torment) their ears. passers-by with their vocal talents.

The language barrier

You can speak English in Beijing, but there is no guarantee that you will be understood correctly. Representatives of the younger generation and people involved in the tourism sector can more or less communicate in the language of Shakespeare. The indigenous residents of the capital themselves speak the Beijing dialect. Well, since there are several million visitors to the metropolis, a provincial accent, which, by the way, is very different from the capital, is also not uncommon here.

The easiest way to explain to a Beijinger what you are looking for is to show him the hieroglyph representing a particular attraction. This way they will definitely understand you and, most likely, show you the right route. Well, or, if the option with hieroglyphs seems too complicated, you can transcribe the desired word using the Pinyin system (the phonetic designation of the hieroglyph in Roman), which residents of the PRC are taught in elementary school. True, the same principle applies here as in the case of English: older Chinese do not always remember the basics of this subject.

Urban transport

The cheapest and most popular form of public transport in Beijing is, of course, the subway. For the 2008 Olympics, the capital's metro was thoroughly updated, so now it has 9 lines connecting all areas of the metropolis. As for the cost of the trip, it can be called symbolic - only 2 yuan. But traveling by subway from the airport to the city center will cost a more significant amount (about 25 yuan).

With ground transport, things are worse: despite the fact that there are about 600 bus and trolleybus routes in the capital, they still cannot cope with the huge flow of passengers. So be prepared for the fact that getting on a Beijing bus during rush hour will be problematic. Another difficulty with local motor transport is the names of stops, which are written and announced mainly in Chinese.

Prices for travel in the capital of China are very humane. For example, traveling on buses No. 1-122 will cost 1 yuan. A ticket for night flights No. 201-212 costs the same. The payment system for commuter buses is a little more complicated: 1 yuan for the first 12 kilometers and 0.5 yuan for every subsequent 5 kilometers (No. 300-899).

How to save money: for holders of an Ikatun smart card, travel on bus routes No. 1-499 costs significantly less (about 0.4 yuan per trip). In addition, you can pay by card in any type of public transport, including the metro and some types of taxis. You can buy Ikatun in city supermarkets, metro stations, and post offices.

Taxis in Beijing are relatively inexpensive: as a rule, payment is made at the meter at the rate of 10 yuan for the first 3 kilometers, and then 2-3 yuan for each subsequent kilometer. At the same time, the cost of night trips increases by 1/3. By the way, cheating a naive tourist out of money is still a practice in the metropolis, so getting into a taxi where the driver himself acts as a counter is extremely undesirable.

Extreme enthusiasts craving road adventures can rent a car: most of the local rental offices are located right at the Beijing airport. The rental cost directly depends on the car model: an economy version will cost 265 yuan, an SUV will cost about 495 yuan, and for a premium car you will have to pay at least 1,425 yuan.

As for the driving itself, this is a test for the experienced and strong-willed, because only the lazy do not break the traffic rules in Beijing. Another unspoken law that local car enthusiasts sacredly respect: in any unclear situation, press the horn. It is for this reason that there is an unimaginable noise on the capital’s streets, which can lead an unprepared driver to a nervous breakdown. If you want to maintain the health of your nervous system, but are not ready to sacrifice convenience in favor of public transport, use the services of a hired driver. The pleasure will cost a little more than just renting a car (about 660 yuan), but it will provide the opportunity to choose a driver who speaks your language, or, in extreme cases, English.

Fans of a healthy lifestyle may prefer a bicycle: there are several dozen bicycle rental points in Beijing. An hour's drive will cost 5 yuan, but daily rent is more profitable - about 20 yuan. And of course, don’t forget about the traditional Asian exotic – pedicabs. For just 180 yuan, a tireless Chinese cyclist will happily take you around iconic places Beijing and hutongs, professionally maneuvering in the endless stream of street traffic. The average duration of such a trip is 2.5 hours.

Connection

Cellular communication services in China are provided by two largest operators - China Unicom and China Mobile. The main difference between the companies is that the first has the advantage of high-quality 3G Internet, while the second attracts with a wider network coverage area, which is especially important if you are planning to travel outside the metropolis.

You can purchase a local SIM card at the airport or at the offices of mobile operators. Connection cost is 100-300 yuan. The first option will cost more, but it provides a chance to get the most complete information on tariffs and services, since almost all airport employees speak English.

As for the Internet, in numerous Internet cafes in the city, an hour of online surfing will cost from 10 to 30 yuan. But keep in mind that the great Communist Party does not sleep here either, so social networks are officially banned in the PRC. However, if you ask the establishment’s administrator carefully, there is a chance that they will tell you how to bypass the blocking. Free Wi-Fi in Beijing can be found in restaurants, shopping centers and chain cafes such as Starbucks and McDonald's. However, to receive an SMS with a password in such establishments you usually need a SIM card from a local mobile operator.

Safety

Order in Beijing is carefully monitored, so you can walk along the city streets without risking life and health at almost any time of the day. The only thing that cannot yet be eradicated is petty theft, so, in order to avoid unpleasant conflicts, it is better to leave valuables in the hotel safe. If you still find yourself in a situation in which you cannot do without the participation of law enforcement officers, dial 101 - the number of the local police.

Note: the capital's thieves are after not only jewelry, but also identity cards, so it is better not to carry a passport with you in Beijing - a simple photocopy of the document is enough.

If you urgently need medical help, call 102 to call an ambulance or go to the first hospital you come across, where in emergency cases they are accepted without an appointment or other paper formalities. And one more thing: you will have to pay for treatment in cash.

Phone numbers that may be useful

• 10 – Beijing telephone code;
• 115 – international reference (in English);
• (+86 10) 6532 1381, 6532 2051 – telephone numbers of the Russian embassy in Beijing.

How to get there

Most comfortable view transport for traveling to the capital of the Celestial Empire - plane. Direct flights from Moscow to Beijing are operated by two airlines: Aeroflot and Air China. The flight duration is usually 7 hours 15 minutes. In addition, there are options with transfers (with connections in Vienna, Zurich, Guangzhou, Dubai, Warsaw) offered by Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, Air China, Emirates, Finnair. The duration of the transfer can vary from 45 minutes to 23 hours.

Flights to Beijing from St. Petersburg are operated by Aeroflot, Emirates, China Eastern, SAS, Finnair, while direct flights can only be found from " Ural Airlines" You can get to the center of the Chinese capital from Capital Airport by metro (the line runs directly to one of the terminals), taxi or bus.

Another way to get to Beijing from Moscow is the Vostok train, departing from Yaroslavsky Station. This option is suitable for fans of long trips, since you will have to spend about 6 days on the road. In addition, trains from Korea and Vietnam run to the capital of China.

Beijing ( 北京, Běijīng, Beijing, Northern Capital) - capital of China, city of central subordination. It borders the city of Tianjin in the east, and is surrounded on other sides by Hebei Province. One of largest metropolises world with a population of more than 20 million people.

Beijing is the second most populous city in China, behind Shanghai, and the country's political, educational and cultural center. The headquarters of most national companies in China are located in Beijing. China's largest transportation hub, Beijing is the origin of many highways and railways, and Beijing Capital International Airport is the second-largest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic.

The history of the city goes back more than three thousand years. Beijing is the last of China's Four Ancient Capitals, the country's political center for most of the last seven centuries. The city is famous for its luxurious palaces, temples, parks, tombs, walls and gates.

Name

Throughout its vast history, Beijing has changed its name many times. The modern name of the city is Chinese- “Beijing” (北京), which means “Northern Capital”. In English, the city is also called Beijing. In some languages, including Russian, other Slavic, German, Dutch, Portuguese and some others, the city is called Beijing. This is the name of the city in the dialects of Southern China, where European missionaries first came to get acquainted with China. The nickname of Beijing, reflected also on car license plates, is “Jing” (京, capital).

Geography

Yanshan Mountains

Beijing is located at the northern tip of the North China Plain. The plain opens to the south and east of the city. The North and Northwest are occupied by the Jundushan Mountains, and the West is mountain range Xishan. In the Xishan Mountains, on the border with Hebei Province, is Mount Dongling, the city's highest point (2,303 meters).

The largest rivers in Beijing are Yundinghe and Chaobaihe, which flow in the southern and southeast direction, and flow into the Haihe River. The Haihe River, in turn, belongs to the Bohai Bay basin of the Yellow Sea, the shore of which is located 150 kilometers east of Beijing. Beijing is also the terminus of the Grand Canal, which runs from the city of Hangzhou through the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers from south to north. On the Chaobaihe River there is the Miyun Reservoir, Beijing's largest reservoir, which is crucial for the city's water supply.

View of Beijing from space

Beijing's urban development is located in the south-central part of the territory, and occupies a small but rapidly expanding part of it. The remaining area is occupied by mountains, rural fields and suburbs. The center of the city is the Forbidden City - the former residence of Chinese emperors. To the south of it is Tiananmen Square - the main square of the city and the country, the largest in the world. From west to east, Chang'anjie, the main street of the city, passes through it. Adjacent to the Forbidden City to the west is Zhongnanhai, an area of ​​government buildings where the residences of the central government of the PRC are located. The city as a whole has a rectangular layout. Around the Forbidden City, on the site of the dismantled city wall, there is a second ring road (the first has now been abolished). Behind it are the third, fourth and fifth, the sixth ring road already passes through the satellite cities of Beijing.

Minerals

Coal is mined in the vicinity of the city.

Climate

The climate in Beijing is temperate continental, influenced by monsoons. Winters are cool (-4 - -7 degrees), dry and almost snowless, with cold northern winds blowing. In spring, dust storms are frequent, brought by westerly winds from the Gobi Desert. Summer is hot, 25-27 degrees and above. During the year, 600-800 mm of precipitation falls, mainly in summer.

Story

Early history

On the territory of the city, near the village of Zhoukoudian, there is a cave in which the remains of Sinanthropus were found - ancient cave people who lived about 250 thousand years ago. The remains of Paleolithic Homo Sapiens, about 27 thousand years old, were found there. Archaeologists have also found Neolithic settlements within the city, one of which is located directly under Wangfujing Street in the city center.

The first city on the site of present Beijing was Ji. This city-state existed from the 11th to the 7th centuries BC. e. part of the Zhou State, and was located on the site of the current West Station. Later, Ji was conquered by the large principality of Yan, and made its capital under the name Yanjing.

Early dynasties

After the conquest of the Yan Kingdom by the Qin Empire, during the reign of the Qin and Han dynasties, Beijing was the center of the region under various names. During the Three Kingdoms period, the city was fought over by Gongsun Zang and Yuan Shao until it was captured by Wei. In the 3rd century the city was demoted, the center of the province was moved to another place. The "Yan" kingdoms of the Sixteen Kingdoms period also located the center of the area in other settlements.

The city regained its former importance during the Sui Dynasty, with canals dug through it to supply the armies invading Korea. During the Tang Dynasty, Beijing was called Youzhou and again became the center of the region. And in the 8th century, during the An Lushan uprising, a city called Fangyang was briefly the capital of the Great Yan kingdom. In 936, the Later Jin Dynasty was forced to cede Beijing to the Khitan Liao Dynasty along with sixteen regions. Two years later, the Liao ruler made Beijing his second capital, calling it Nanjing (Southern Capital). The oldest surviving buildings in Beijing, such as the Tianning Pagoda, were built during the Liao Dynasty.

In the 12th century, Liao fell to the Jurchens, who founded the Jin dynasty and moved the capital to Nanjing in 1153, renaming the city Zhongdu ( Central capital). In 1213, the city was captured by the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan and destroyed two years later. Two generations later, Kublai Khan, the conqueror of China and founder of the Yuan dynasty, ordered the construction of his capital - Dadu, or Khanbalik - near the ruins of Jin. The new capital of all China was to be located in the north of the country, closer to the homeland of the Mongols. Construction lasted from 1264 to 1293. The earthen wall of the Yuan capital is partially preserved, and is called tucheng.

Ming Dynasty

When the first emperor of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, came to power, Khanbalik was destroyed in 1368, the Mongols were expelled from China, the capital was moved to Nanjing, and the city of Beiping was built on the site of Dadu to guard the northern border. The Shuntian district was established around him, and Zhu Di, the second son of Zhu Yuanzhang, was appointed its ruler with the title Yan-wan. In 1403, he came to power, became the Yongle Emperor and made Beijing one of the capitals, giving it its current name - Beijing ( northern capital). Construction of the imperial palace and capital infrastructure began in Beijing, only in 1421 the work was completed and the capital was finally moved to Beijing. In addition to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Fortress Wall, partially preserved, the Tiananmen Gate and many other structures were built in Beijing. Since the Yongle Emperor, the Thirteen Tombs - the imperial necropolis - have been erected near Beijing. The Hongxi Emperor did not like Beijing, and demoted it to temporary imperial headquarters, although he did not move to another city. The Zhengtong Emperor restored Beijing to official capital status.

In 1644, Beijing was besieged by peasant rebel troops led by Li Zicheng, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty hanged himself from a tree in the park behind the Forbidden City, and Li Zicheng took the city and proclaimed the founding of a new Shun dynasty. However, after 40 days the city was retaken, this time by the Manchus under the leadership of Prince Dorgon. On October 30, 1644, in Beijing, the Manchu ruler Aixingyuro Fulin was declared emperor of the Qing dynasty under the motto Shunzhi.

Qing Dynasty

Beijing was the capital throughout the reign of the Manchu Qing dynasty.

Republic of China

China

Economy

Industry

Beijing is an industrial center with developed both light and heavy industries. Beijing is home to one of the country's largest metallurgical enterprises, the Shoudou plant. The city is home to many mechanical engineering enterprises, machine tool manufacturing enterprises, mining and energy equipment production, and automobile factories.

Light industry is significantly represented: the production of cotton and clothing products, leather clothing, shoes, furniture, and various household appliances. Traditional arts and crafts are of great importance: wood carving and cloisonne enamel.

High tech

Beijing's status as the country's educational and scientific center predetermined the development high technology. Several high-tech development zones have been created in the city. The production of electronics, mobile phones, optical fiber, genetic engineering products, composite materials, etc. has been launched. Production zones are being created software. High-tech industries account for a quarter of the city's industrial profits.

Transport

Beijing is the country's largest transport hub. From here, railways and roads diverge in all directions. Convenient geographical position and developed transport infrastructure determine Beijing's position as a trade and financial center.

Railways

Car roads

Airports

Metro

Beijing is home to the first subway built in China.

Population

Education and science

Tourism

Beijing is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Forbidden City (the imperial residence of Beijing), the Zhoukoudian Cave, where the remains of Sinanthropus were found, a section of the Great Wall of China, the Yiheyuan Imperial Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the imperial tombs of the Qing and Ming dynasties. All of them, except Zhoukoudian Cave, have a Chinese tourism rating of AAAAA (the highest). Also top rated are Gongwangfu Manor, Xiangshan and Beihai Parks, Tiananmen Square and Beijing National Stadium.

The average person knows little about China. He can immediately name the quality of Chinese goods, the Great Wall of China and, perhaps, the fact that it is the most populated country in the world. Few people know that the history of this state goes back several thousand years and has many pages on which you can linger with delight. Today we will talk about the rulers of this country. The list of Chinese emperors who made a huge contribution to the history of the country looks like this:

• Qin Shi Huangdi.
• Jan Di.
• Li Shimin.
• Yongle.
• Kangxi.

The beginning of the march to greatness

Until 221 BC, there was no such country as China, but there were 6 counties: Han, Wei, Chu, Zhao, Yan, Qi. These small countries had different economies, had different religions, and spoke different languages. The first Chinese emperor united these lands. His name is Qin Shi Huang. Born in Qin County to a local prince and his concubine, the boy received the name Ying Zheng. He was first in line to the throne, which he ascended at the age of 13 after the death of his father. At first, the boy was treated like a puppet, and many decisions were made on behalf of the page Lu Bu Wei, the smartest person in charge of the education of the ward. It was the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang who ordered the construction of an irrigation canal, which made it possible to increase the number of fertile lands and the growth of agricultural products to unprecedented proportions.

Independent steps to the throne

But after the owner came of age, the regent was expelled from Qin County, since Ying Zheng considered him a traitor who was plotting against him. The first thing he began his legal reign with was the annexation of other counties and the expansion of territory. His army had no mercy for those undesirable and after 20 years of struggle, in 221 BC. e., he managed to unite the Chinese lands and accept the imperial title - Qin Shi Huang.

Achievements and memory of descendants

His reign was remembered for the beginning of the construction of the Great Wall of China, which was supposed to protect the people from the raids of nomads, exterminated by the emperor later, and the introduction of a unified monetary system. He reformed the written system, built roads, and introduced an order so that all carts were the same size, which greatly facilitated the work of ordinary peasants. But at the same time, he was remembered as one of the cruelest rulers, since in case of refusal to follow the laws of the emperor, not only the violator was executed, but also his family, and distant relatives became servants of the nobles.

Vanity

The Chinese emperor was vain. During his lifetime, he began to build his tomb, which was distinguished by its luxury. 6 thousand terracotta soldiers made of clay stood guard over the peace of the deceased emperor. 48 concubines were buried alive to please their master even after death.

Period of Troubles

After the death of the great man, Chinese civilization began an almost 800-year period of turmoil. The united territory was subject to both external and internal disasters. The question of choosing Confucianism or Buddhism, attacks by nomads, an environmental disaster caused by a change in the course of the Yellow River, famine of the peasants, droughts and crop failures, a rebellion against the feudal lords, the inept leadership of Liu Bang, Wang Mang and other emperors leads to the fact that the once great country fell apart again into several principalities. The struggle for the throne lasted for several centuries, sometimes it seemed that an ordinary passerby, having gathered a couple of hundred military men, could seize the imperial throne. Uncertainty grew along with generations, and this led to the disunity of interests, culture, and religion.

Age of Hope

This is the name given to the Tang era of Li's reign. Chronology of existence - 618-907. During the “Just War,” when the peasants rebelled against the anti-people policies of Emperor Yang Di and intended to destroy the ruling stratum, Li Yuan, the dictator’s military leader, came to their aid, on the advice of his son. His son was destined to become the greatest emperor, during whose reign the Chinese Empire became the most developed country of that time. His name was Li Shimin.

Choosing a route

Coming from an aristocratic family, Li Shimin received an excellent education. It was developed in many branches of science and art. He devoted a lot of time to military equipment and martial arts classes. He understood that the main problem in China is disunity between people. After all, among those who called themselves Chinese, there were aristocrats who were accustomed to living well and enjoying wealth, and peasants who were looking for ways to earn food through hard work, and military step soldiers who were ready to immediately go into battle for their interests. To unite them, he pursued a policy of “good brother”, giving a helping hand to the poor, stroking the aristocrats who wanted it, and supporting step dancers by praising their ability to master the martial art.

Great power politics

Li Shimin directed his policy to help the largest population of his country - the peasants. He reduced taxes and allowed them to pay in food, shortened the days of work for the feudal lord, and allowed the trade of allocated land. He reformed the monetary system, issued a code of laws and rules in society, to facilitate trade, he established road connections between cities, and gave impetus to the development of land and sea transport.

He assigned the most important role in building the empire to officials, who now held their positions not by right of origin, but thanks to their knowledge in a certain industry. Book printing, silk-screen printing, and metal production began to develop. The Chinese began to grow new crops: tea, sugar cane, oak silkworm. A revolution took place in the agricultural environment when a field irrigation system was introduced, which significantly reduced the time it took to cultivate fields.

Changes also affected the military industry: shipbuilding developed, gunpowder was invented, and armor was improved. It is impossible not to mention the achievements of art of the Tang Dynasty - masterpieces of sculpture, poetry and fine art became the hallmark of this period of history.

Fall of the dynasty

Chinese history tells us that policies aimed at economic development have borne fruit for three centuries. But when local feudal lords put their own interests above the state, huge problems began. Often they bought up all the land in the surrounding area, imposed disproportionate taxes on the peasants, and then, if people could not pay, they sent them outside their native lands, transferring the debt per person to another feudal lord. This led to unprecedented economic prosperity for the nobles. Some of them became millionaires. With that kind of money, they were not afraid to go against the will of the emperor and openly oppose his policies. Rebellions have again come to the prosperous territory.

Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

After the fall of the House of Tang, a fifty-year period of five dynasties and ten kingdoms began in Chinese history. Perhaps the bloodiest era in Chinese history. At the end of the Tang dynasty, regional governors were given broad powers. They played the role of the emperor, sending him large taxes taken from the local residents. But sensing the sovereign’s precarious position, they wanted to take his place. As a result of this, 10 kingdoms were created with their leaders: Wu, Wu Yue, Min, Chu, Southern Han, Early Shu, Later Shu, Jingnan, Southern Tang, Northern Han.

This period in history was short-lived, because each of the rulers, not without reason, suspected their immediate circle of a possible coup. Inheriting domestic politics, there was also bloodshed in foreign policy for the expansion of territories. True, at the same time, the principalities did not forget to exchange goods and pursue a broad economic policy among themselves.

The era of the great dynasties of Chinese emperors

The Song Dynasty (960-1279), having existed for about 3 centuries, was split into two parts: northern and southern. During its 70 years of reign, the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) was remembered for its wars with the Mongols and their final expulsion from its territory. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), founded by Zhu Yuan-chang, with its policy of caring for the feudal lords, turned the peasants against themselves and inflamed their fighting spirit, which they could not extinguish even after the end of the existence of the Mings. The Southern (Nan) Ming Dynasty became a transitional stage to the establishment of the power of the Qin Dynasty.

Luxury for the Holy Emperors

The Ming era was remembered not only for turning peasants against themselves and brutal showdowns with them, but also for the construction of the Purple forbidden city- a complex of palaces used for housing and ceremonies among emperors. The Chinese Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of the Palace of the Emperor of China. About 100 thousand masters of various arts worked on this - stone and wood carvers and artists. It took no less than 1 million builders. It was with the completion of work in this complex that Beijing became the capital of the empire.

Roots of a new dynasty

The Chinese Jurchen people in Manchuria and Northeast China were destroyed by Mongol raids in the 13th century. Nomads lived comfortably in these territories for two centuries. But the troops of the Ming family drove them out of their habitats and formed three military districts - Haixi, Jianzhou and Yeren, which were led by regional governors.

In 1559, Jianzhou united the Jurchens and stopped sending tribute to the capital. He named his dominion Later (Hou) Jin, emphasizing the connection of the new power with the Jurchen emperors. The period of the Jin Dynasty went down in history under the name of the Great Qing Empire, or the Manchu Dynasty. The existence of this dynasty is significant - from 1644 to 1912. During this time, 12 emperors were replaced.

Challenging Challenges

Since its formation, the dynasty has shown a multicultural approach to its residents. The rulers used the official titles of the emperor, while remaining Mongol khans, and supported Confucianism and Buddhism. They believed that everyone deserved a promotion, but at the same time they launched a bureaucratic system that is still used in the modern Republic of China.

To begin with, the future empire had to fight the corruption of officials, high taxes and poverty of the population. But the main problem of this period was foreign policy. The Manchu dynasty lost the war against Great Britain and was forced to sign an unequal treaty, as a result of which it gave up its ports for free use and did not tax foreign goods, with which domestic goods could not adequately compete. The war with the Japanese further aggravated the plight of the Qing dynasty.

Golden era of the Chinese Empire

This is the name of the era of the reign of the great Chinese Emperor Kangxi. He came to power in 1679 when he overthrew his predecessor, Prince Songota. He reigned for about 60 years. He weakened the influence of the Council of Princes-Regents and dignitaries, listened only to himself regarding the most important decisions, and led the war to conquer and pacify China. During his reign, the number of armed uprisings against the Manchu conquerors sharply decreased.

The Emperor was interested in science and was aware of the latest developments in the scientific world. He was interested in the hydraulic engineering of cities, strengthened dams, and built new dams connecting different villages. At this time, he risked introducing a tax on monopolistic foreign goods, which led to an unprecedented development of the domestic market for consumption and production of products. Also, this Chinese emperor showed brilliant knowledge of foreign policy. He defeated Russia and conquered part of its territory, but subsequently established economic relations with it. In Northern Mongolia, he actively fomented an internal conflict in order to subsequently seize part of its territory, which he did very well by annexing Khalkha.

The diplomat also had a strong influence on culture. He allocated significant sums for the publishing of ancient manuscripts, anthologies and encyclopedias. True, he acted as an authoritarian censor, forcing publishers to cross out criticism of the Manchu rulers and free views on life. IN personal life everything was fine with him too: he had 64 wives, who gave him 24 sons and 12 daughters. He died at the age of 68, leaving a brilliant empire, which after his death began to decline.

This is just a small part interesting story The Chinese Empire, which modern China is rightfully proud of.