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The first ever illustrated book for young readers based on the design philosophy and architectural details of Beijing, one of the oldest cities in the world, founded about the same time as Rome. Perfect for both children and adults with an interest in historical architecture, multi-culture, Asian travel and beyond. Beautifully rendered drawings are a feast for the eyes by Kirkus Review. The layout of Beijing is deeply rooted in the ancient culture of China. This captivating read provides an immersive exploration into a unique city layout. Beijing, A Symmetrical City provides background on the architect and builders that changed the course of history. It unearths ancient Chinese philosophy behind the symmetrical city layout, rooted in harmony, balance and order and highlights the historical significance of the names and placement of the most important buildings in the city. Award-winning illustrator, and author Dawu Yu has created captivating images that highlight the little-known symmetry of one of the world s most aesthetically pleasing cities. Each page of this book features Fun Facts, providing knowledge overlooked not only by tourists, but also many residents of Beijing.
About the author
A native Beijinger, Mr. Dawu Yu was born in 1948 and grew up in the city. All of his childhood activities revolved around the Forbidden City in the historic center of Beijing. When the Earth Tranquility Gate, the north gate of the inner city, was torn down in 1954, his grandfather put him in a cart and brought him there to look at it one last time. He says in the afterword of the book,
"Decades later, I feel fortunate now about painting the central axis of old Beijing. I am overwhelmed with emotions and memories, perhaps because I have deep feelings for the historic city. "
With a career dedicated to comics and book illustrations, Mr. Yu has won numerous illustration awards, including the Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO in 1988. He was also selected to take part in the Illustrators' Exhibition of the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2000.
Today, he lives with his family in his beloved city.
