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As early autumn arrived in Beijing, the lingering summer warmth combined with vibrant blooms made this an ideal moment to explore the city. Discover Beijing's romantic floral landscapes through the photos below!
Lugou Bridge is located about 15 kilometers southwest of Tiananmen in Beijing, spanning the Yongding River. Named after the Lugou River (the ancient name of Yongding River) it crosses, the Lugou Bridge is the oldest existing stone arch bridge in Beijing. The bridge is 266.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, with its widest point reaching 9.3 meters. It has ten piers and eleven arches, and the entire bridge is made of stone, with key parts connected by silver ingot iron dowels, making it the longest ancient stone bridge in North China. On July 7, 1937, Japanese imperialists launched a full-scale...
Beijing Opera, once called Ping Opera, is one of the five major forms of Chinese opera and the foremost of the “Three Pinnacles” of Chinese theater. As a quintessential representation of traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics, Beijing Opera has become the most influential Chinese opera, earning the titles of “National Opera” and “National Treasure.” Centered in Beijing, its influence spreads throughout China.In the 55th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1790), four major opera troupes from the south—Sanqing, Sixi, Chuntai, and Hechun—gradually entered Beijing. ...
The Taiping Drum, also known as the “Fan Drum,” “Single Drum,” or “Sheepskin Drum,” is a unique form of folk dance traditionally performed during festivals in Beijing. It originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and became increasingly popular during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), developing a strong community following. Initially, the Taiping Drum in western Beijing was a collective song and dance performed by Manchu women, with men joining in only in the early 20th century. The Taiping Drum events take place from the first day of the 12th lunar month to early February of the follo...
Pingju Opera, originally known as “Beng Beng Opera” or “Luo Zi Opera”, also called “Pingqiang Bangzi Opera”, officially adopted the name “Pingju Opera” in 1935, with the implied meaning of “evaluating the past and discussing the present.” It is popular in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Northeast China, characterized by its vernacular dialogue and lyrics. It is very easy to understand, thus enjoying a wide popular base.Around 1910, Beng Beng Opera performers, led by Cheng Zhaocai, combined the singing, music, and performance arts of Northeastern Errenzhuan, Pingju Opera, shadow puppetry...
The “Tongle Stilt Association” of Milangtun was established during the Qianlong era (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty and was once granted an imperial seal of approval. With a history of over 250 years, it was originally founded by Ma Si and a few other villagers from Milangtun who were working in Beijing.The Milangtun stilt troupe consists of 13 performers on stilts, 25 flag bearers and musicians, and a few additional staff members responsible for security and logistics, making a total of 45 participants. The entire performance is divided into several segments: a grand opening, followed by th...
The Xitieying Huabo Drum Dance is a representative folk dance in Beijing, originally part of one of the thirteen martial arts troupes formed spontaneously by locals for temple fair pilgrimages during the Qing Dynasty. It is prevalent in Zhongding Village, under the administration of Xitieying Village Public Office in Nanyuan Township, Fengtai District. Locally, it is also known as the “Big Drum and Old Temple Fair” or the “Huabo Drum”. The name “Xitieying Huabo Drum” was officially adopted after the Beijing volume of the Collection of Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dances unified under the name...
Meng Village Land Boat is a form of folk culture performance where participants simulate the act of rowing and steering a boat on land. The performance typically involves a “helmsman” who leads the way, making rowing gestures as if navigating a boat. The “passengers” on the boat perform a rapid, shuffling step, creating the illusion of a boat gliding smoothly over water, vividly portraying the scene of a boat moving along a river.Land boat performances usually take place in rural areas, especially during the Chinese Lunar New Year. The performances start on the first day of the Lunar New Y...
On August 17, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, in collaboration with Baidu Map, launched a "Music Map" (音乐地图), which features the first set of 20 locations for "Beijing's Outdoor Concerts" (京彩户外音乐会). These concerts, spreading across 11 districts, will run from August until the end of the year, with over 300 sessions in total.
Shadow puppetry, which originated during the Western Han Dynasty (BC202-AC8), has a history of thousand years. It is a traditional folk theater where stories are told by projecting silhouettes of characters made from animal hides or cardboard onto a screen, using light. The puppeteers manipulate the figures from behind the screen while narrating the story through local tunes, accompanied by percussion and string instruments. This simple yet charming art form has long been beloved by audiences.When it comes to Beijing shadow puppetry, almost all older Beijingers are familiar with it. There was ...
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