Let us explore the depth of history with our own feet and bear witness to the distinctive charm of the ancient capital of Beijing! On our last dragon-seeking tour, we virtually visited ten iconic Beijing landmarks where the "dragon" is said to appear. In the scorching summer heat, let us walk away from the crowds and follow this guide for the discerning traveler to continue checking off ten more captivating, entertaining, and delectable "dragon" experiences!
Guozijian: Stepping into Ancient China's Imperial College
Having stood for over seven centuries, the Imperial College, known as Guozijian, remains the best-preserved site of ancient China's highest educational institution. Exploring the ensemble of ancient architecture with its red walls and golden tiles, one arrives at the northernmost point where a circular pool is encircled by a corridor, housing the "imperial lecture hall" known as Biyong Hall. "Why does the emperor establish the Biyong? To perform rites, music, and spread the culture of virtue", reads a historical text. The great hall is a square structure with diagonal beams and eaves featuring golden-dragon imperial decorations. The hall's floor is paved with "gold bricks", and the emperor's seat is positioned centrally beneath a coffered ceiling adorned with imperial dragon designs. This arrangement not only imparts a sense of grandeur and luxury to the space but also underscores the ingenuity of its architectural design. Visitors can revel in the subtleties of the historical site, immersing themselves in the intricacies of the Chinese language, and through this, experience the enduring and vibrant thread of Chinese culture that stretches through the ages.
National Museum of Classic Books: Home to the "Most Elusive Porcelain" in History
At the National Museum of Classic Books, the Blue Dragon Cloud Pattern Vase was introduced to the public for the first time. The vase was discovered in the Dingling Mausoleum, one of the thirteen imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Not only is this vase a visually stunning piece of ceramic art, but it also once served as one of the three eternal lamps within the Dingling Underground Palace. The vase itself is stately and properly proportioned, with a pure and elegant blue and white glaze. Its mouth is adorned with scrolling grass patterns, while its neck and base are embellished with lotus petal designs. The flying dragons depicted on the vase are formidable yet not overtly aggressive, their forms graceful and agile. This colossal porcelain vase was crafted by the Jingdezhen Imperial Factory during the Ming Dynasty. It is considered the "most elusive porcelain" to fire due to its thick body, which was prone to cracking or shattering upon removal from the kiln.
Longtan Park: Beijing's "Dragon" Culture Themed Park
Within the park, seven attractions are centered around the "Dragon" culture: Dragon Pool, Dragon Gate, Dragon Pavilion, Longyin Pavilion, Stone Stele Forest (featuring the inscriptions of "loong", the Chinese character for "dragon"), Dragon Maiden Tending Sheep, and the Soaring Dragon Statue. The flora, too, takes on dragon-inspired names, such as dragon jujube, dragon cypress, dragon whisker willow, and dragon claw locust, all of which complement Longtan Lake's natural beauty. "Take in the beauty of the tranquil waters of Longtan Lake, where the cypresses by the Dushi Temple still flourish in green". Longtan Park is a unique urban garden that melds Northern China's classical architecture with modern gardening techniques, highlighting the "Dragon" culture of the Chinese nation as its central theme. Renowned architect Liang Sicheng named the lake after Longtan (literally, "dragon pool"), noting its symmetrical connection to the Longxugou, creating a metaphorical dragon's tail and head. Longtan Park is a testament to the grandeur of "Dragon" culture, offering visitors a sense of the charm and depth of Chinese "Dragon" culture.
Panlong Mountain Great Wall: The Most Beautiful "Primitive Great Wall"
Standing atop the mountains in Gubeikou town, Miyun District, one can gaze into the distance amid the undulating mountain ridges. Here, the Panlongshan Great Wall (meaning "coiled dragon") stretches like a dragon towards the mountain peaks on one side and dipping into the valleys on the other. It has not been reconstructed, retaining its original character, with every brick and stone remaining as they were. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as China's "Primitive Great Wall". Standing upon this site, steeped in history, and taking in the majestic landscape, one can feel the weight of its strategic military significance amid the historical vicissitudes. It is a place where the heartbeat of the Chinese nation resonates powerfully.
Wanning Bridge: First Bridge on the Central Axis Guarded by the Dragon's Sons
Behind Jingshan and in front of the Drum Tower, the Wanning Bridge stands majestically in the center. Wanning Bridge, continuing from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to this day, has earned its title as the "First Bridge on the Central Axis". Remarkably, it is guarded by the sons of the dragon. Here, you can find the six ancient statues of mythical water-controlling beasts, the "Gongfu". The Gongfu statues on the bank, the dragon ball at the bridge's center, and the Pafu figures in the water serve as markers. If the water level rises to the uppermost Gongfu, it serves as a warning of potential floods; conversely, if it reaches the lower Gongfu, it warns of severe drought. For thousands of years, they have lain by the riverbank, their eyes fixed intently on the water's surface, never once wavering in their vigilance, not for a single moment.
白瀑寺：北京"最魔幻"的寺庙
Baipu Temple: Unveiling Beijing's Hidden Retreat
Nestled among the mountains, there lies an eerie and mysterious ancient temple that might shatter your stereotypes of traditional Buddhist monasteries. With its towering halls and deep-protruding eaves, the Baipu Temple is surrounded by ancient trees, offering a serene and solemn atmosphere. On the Yunlei Pavilion, a golden statue of the Buddha with one hand pointing to the sky and the other to the ground is encircled by five dragons and two phoenixes. The traditional gray-tiled and red-walled bell pavilion is adorned with colorful paintings and auspicious cloud carvings. Above the Dharma Hall, the Bodhisattvas are invited from the four great Buddhist mountains of China, and around them are figures of Nezha, General Guan Yu… A confluence of deities and heroes gather outside the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing.
Olympic Forest Park: Exploring the Dragon-Shaped Waterway
You might be surprised to learn that Beijing Olympic Forest Park is home to a "dragon". The park boasts the largest artificial urban water system in Asia, which weaves through the entire area, linking its notable landmarks and structures. This dragon-shaped waterway is not only essential for urban greenery and environmental modulation but also constitutes one of the park's eighteen scenic highlights, the "Dragon of Aohai". It features an artificial lake ("Aohai") forming the head of the dragon, with its body leisurely winding through the park, and its tail gracefully wrapping around the National Stadium, commonly known as the "Bird's Nest". Amid the fervor for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the waterway transforms into an "icy playground" in winter, offering locals a frosty haven for winter fun and a chance for a magical encounter with the "dragon". It is a must-visit spot for runners. If you are passionate about sports, come and carve out your own "dragon" path here in the Year of the Dragon!
The Colored Glaze Culture Creative Industry Park: A New Dragon-themed Legacy of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The exhibition hall provides a refreshing retreat where one can ponder the passage of time, with the radiant beauty of colored glaze offering solace to one's body and soul. At the Jinyu Colored Glaze Culture Creative Industry Park, visitors can admire the scaled rooftop ornaments of the Forbidden City's Hall of Supreme Harmony in a 1:1 scale on the stone pillars lining the roads. The glazed tiles, arranged to mimic the ridges of the Forbidden City's Three Great Halls, hang suspended in the air, offering a striking visual impact. Creative merchandise such as divine-bird-shaped paperclips, gargoyle-shaped fridge magnets, notebooks and hoodies are also popular sellers. As ancient kilns, dormant for a millennium, are fired up once more, the intangible cultural heritage of glazed ceramics is given new life. The preserved firing tunnel kiln in the park captures the essence of ancient firing practices, while the tracks on the ground and the kiln cars evoke a sense of nostalgia and spark a collision between history and modern times.
"Auspicious Dragon Year"Landscaping Art Installation: A Soaring Dragon of Breathtaking Beauty
Roaming through the streets and alleys of Beijing, one can appreciate the myriad forms of the "dragon" imagery. On the west side of the road near the Sanlitun Swiss Apartments, a colossal red dragon sprung up. The result is a piece that resembles both coral and flames, coming to life as night falls and the play of light and shadow highlights its majestic flight. Its design is inspired by the graceful strokes of Chinese ink wash paintings and calligraphic scripts, with its head pointing north and tail south. Stretching approximately 26 meters, the dragon is meticulously hand-woven from a thousand grapevines, utilizing traditional techniques such as twisting, weaving, interlacing, nailing, pressing, binding, and hanging.
"Meat Dragon": A Taste of Childhood Memories of Northern Chinese
After a day of visiting, what better way to refuel than by having some "Meat Dragon" ("roulong") rolls? "Meat Dragon", which refers to steamed rolls with meat inside, is also affectionately known as "Lazy Dragon". During the "Dragon-Head-Raising Festival", celebrated on the second day of the second lunar month, it is a Chinese tradition to enjoy "Meat Dragon" rolls to banish the springtime laziness. At the Ding Xiangrun and "Big Lazy Dragon" brand's Beijing chain store, located at 36 Deshengmennei Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, you can savor the authentic "Meat Dragon". The northern-Chinese-style filling is packed with succulent meat and scallions that enhance the flavor. The dough is rolled into a flatbread, slathered with a layer of meaty filling, rolled up, and steamed to perfection. Enjoy it with a bowl of porridge for a meal that is tender, savory, and aromatic, with the fragrance of the scallion and the meat's juices saturating every layer.
