Cheng Yanqiu (1904-1958) was one of four most prominent actors in the danjue (young female) role of Peking Opera. He debuted at the age of 11 and created the Cheng School which still enjoys a large following. His residence at No 39, Xisi Beisantiao is a courtyard covering 390 sq m.
Memorial of Wen Tianxiang
Wen Tianxiang (1236-1282) was an imperial minister of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) who fought the invasion of Mongolians heroically. The memorial at No 63, Fuxue Hutong, Dongcheng District, was built on the basis of a prison where Wen Tianxiang was once kept for three tormenting years before he was executed by Kublai Khan. In Ming and Qing dynasties, sacrificial ceremonies were held here to commemorate the national hero. The memorial still maintains the ancient architectural style and covers 600 sq m. There are several stone tablets engraved with the life story and portrait of Wen Tianxiang, dating back to the Ming and Qing times.
Ten landmarks of Beijing
1950s
Ten landmarks of Beijing
Great Hall of the People
Museum of Chinese History and Museum of
Chinese Revolution
China People"s Revolutionary Military
Museum
National Agriculture Exhibition Center
Beijing Railway Station
Workers" Stadium
Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Hotel of Nationalities
Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
Prime Hotel
1980s
New Building of the Beijing Library
International Exhibition Center
China Central Television
Capital Airport Terminal
Beijing International Hotel
Daguanyuan Park
Beijing Great Wall Sheraton Hotel
China Grand Theater
Memorial of the War of Resistance Against
Japanese Aggression
Dongsishitiao Subway Station
1990s
Central Radio and TV Tower
Olympic Sports Center and Asian Games Village
Beijing New World Center
Green House of Beijing Botanical Garden
New Building of Capital Library
New Building of Tsinghua University Library
Foreign Languages Teaching and Research Press
Beijing Henderson Center
New Oriental Plaza
Beijing International Finance Building
21st century
Bird Nest
Water Cube
CCTV new building
National Center for the Performing Arts
China Millennium Monument
Capital Museum
Xihuan Plaza
Terminal 3 of Beijing International Airport
New Beijing Planetarium
China World Trade Center Phase 3
Bird Nest
The National Stadium is better known as "Bird Nest" because of its shape. Lying in the southern part of the Olympic Park, it was the main venue of the 2008 29th Olympic Games held in Beijing. On a total land area of 21 hectares, the architecture takes up 258,000 sq m. The stadium has 91,000 seats, among which 11,000 are temporary. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games and Paralympics were held here. Track and field events, as well as the football finals were also held at the Bird Nest. After the Olympics, the Olympic heritage is becoming a landmark with comprehensive functions in sports, shopping, eatery, recreation, exhibition and other activities.
Water Cube
The National Aquatics Center is nick-named "Water Cube" due to its appearance. The building is covered with two layers of plastic films between which are 3,065 inflated blue bubbles. Under different lighting, the bubbles have a dreamy appearance and help strengthen the architecture. The Olympic landmark witnessed the birth of all swimming medals in the Beijing Olympic Games. The Water Cube and the Bird Nest lie on the west and east of the capital"s central axis, putting a modern touch to the ancient city.
CCTV new building
Part of the new building for China Central Television (CCTV) entered o p e r a t i o n b e f o r e t h e Be i j i n g Olympics and many sports events were broadcast here. The complex looks like a "Z" from the air. The two supporting buildings tilt slightly as if defying gravity. The main building is where the programs are produced; while the auxiliary building is open to the public with a hotel, digital theater, multi-functional hall, studio, conference hall and cafeteria. Visitors can enter the first underground floor from the entrance near the Eastern 3rd Ring Road, look at the studios, then take the lift to the 37th floor, go through the souvenir shop and reach the public hall. There are three observation posts with glass floors at the protruding corner of the mid-air corridor, allowing visitors a bird"s-eye view of the city. Climbing by the stairs to the 38th floor, one can take the lift down to the underground exit.
Capital Museum
The museum with modern equipment lies to the west of Baiyun Street in Xicheng District. Among its 250,000 collected items are bronze ware, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, stone carvings, currency, jade ware, seals, embroidery, Buddhist statues, treasures of ancient scholars, art works of bamboo, wood, ivory and antler, as well as folk artifacts. There are quite a number of precious works which are the only one of a kind in the whole world.
Xihuan Plaza
Lying to the northwest of the Xizhimen Flyover in Xicheng District, the plaza is composed of a multifunctional transportation hubbub, a six-floor commercial center, three office buildings that soar nearly 100 m into the air and a 60-m tall comprehensive building. With a total floor space of 260,000 sq m, the plaza is the biggest building complex to the west of Beijing"s central axis. The entire complex is majestic and elegant, with the main buildings shaped like ships ready to embark on a distant journey.
Terminal 3 of Beijing International Airport
The world"s biggest single airport terminal took four years and an astronomical 27 billion yuan to complete and it entered full operation on Feb 29, 2008. Measuring 2,900 m long from north to south, 790 m broad and 45 m tall, the terminal, better known as T3, covers a total floor space of 986,000 sq m. Looking like a giant dragon, T3 opened a new national gate for Beijing before the Olympics was held.
New Beijing Planetarium
