Blog Tag - Beijing History

Spine of Beijing: Traversing the City's Central Axis
I’m greeted by the crisp autumn air as I step out of Line 14’s Yongdingmenwai subway station, a little ways south of the city center. It’s here, past...
Lao She Former Residence Photo by Author
Who is he?Lao She 老舍 is one of the most important and influential authors of the 20th century. His novel Rickshaw Boy (骆驼祥子 Luòtuó Xiángzi),...
Finding the Qiao in Tianqiao: A Bridge for the Son of Heaven
There’s a reason why Tianqiao – aka “Heavenly Bridge” – a subdistrict located around Qianmen and Yongdingmen, is named as such. As someone who once...
Murder Mystery Tour: Go Back in Time With This Classic Audio Guide
As we know, Beijing is a huge mish-mash of old and new, with the significance of the former often obscured by speed of development or easy to miss to...
A History of Commerce at Longfusi
The area around the former 隆福寺 Longfusi (Temple of Abundant Blessings) is a popular place to get some of Beijing’s best Pho at Susu or grab a pint (...
Tooling Around the Tans: Exploring Beijing's Temples of Earth, Sun & Moon
When I was studying in Beijing in 2012, people often asked if I had visited the same three places: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple...
Exploring the Murky Mysteries of Beijing's History
Beijing is host to a vibrant mix of old and new, making it the kind of place that begets more questions every time we go in search of answers and...
Story of the 'Jing: When Beijing's Most Famous Sites Opened Their Doors to the Public
In Story of the 'Jing, we look at the history and tales of our fair city and how they inform the capital as we know it today. Beijing in the 21st...
Ever Seen These Mounting Stones in Beijing Hutongs?
Beijing is a city that has witnessed both the destruction and renovation of the hutongs over the years. With the rise of ambitious skyscrapers and...
Find Out How the Chinese Language was Created at this History Talk, Jun 26
In 1913, a meeting was held in a small courtyard close to Xidan with the aim to find a nationwide standard of pronunciation for the Chinese language...
Walking Tours, Online Tours & Maps Galore: Chinese History Events this Week
History never sleeps in the capital, and while most tour groups are taking a break for the time being, Bespoke Travel Company is bringing back one of...
Seeing Beyond the Surface: A History of Blind Massage in Beijing
A good massage can be a boon for both body and soul, but can it benefit others, too? If you have spent any time in Beijing or other cities in China,...
Story of the 'Jing: What's Behind the Name "Summer Palace"?
The Summer Palace in Beijing and its neighbor, the Old Summer Palace, are two of the city’s most beloved parks, but the English names for these...
Doors to the Past: Visit These 9 Ancient Beijing Gates
I've always been puzzled by the ring road system in Beijing. It didn’t make sense to me when I first arrived here years ago, and it makes only a bit...
Beijing's Other Wall: Exploring What's Left of the Former City Wall
Beijing was once a city of walls and gates. Take Line 2 or Line 7 and you’ll hear the names of some of these gates. In fact, Line 2 runs along a loop...