History of Beijing - The Armchair Traveller

This offers a broad range of valuable information for tourists and also exploring the transformative history of Beijing, from ancient time to 21st century.

Sommario

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Dynasties

1: The Land of Swallows: Prehistory to 221 BC

The Discovery of Peking Man

The Waste of the Bitter Sea

The Place of Thistles

Intrigues of the Warring States

The Plot to Kill a King

2: North and South: 221 BC-AD 1215

Beijing as a Borderland

The Ballad of Mulan

The Life and Death of Nezha

South, Middle and Holy Capital

The Bridge of Magpies

3: Khanbalikh: 1215-1368

The Chessboard Streets

The Tartar City

The ‘Marco Polo Bridge’

The Drum and Bell Towers

4: The Forbidden City: 1368-1644

Perpetual Happiness

The Living God of Wealth

The Centre of the World

The Eight Great Sights

The Advent of the Manchus

5: ‘Peking’: 1644-1912

A Square Atop a Rectangle

Lanes and Alleys

Foreign Mud

The Origin of ‘Peking’

The Empress Dowager

6: Northern Peace: 1912-1949

The 100-Day Empire

The May 4th Movement

The People’s Republic of China

7: Empty Spaces: 1949-1989

Permanent Revolution

The Underground City

The Goddess of Democracy

8: Beijing in the 21st Century

The 50th Anniversary

The Demolition Derby

Modern Ghosts

Interesting Times

9: Eating and Drinking

Food

Drink

Alcohol

10: Travel Logistics

Getting Around

Security Issues

Shopping

Postage and Packing

11: Gazetteer

The Centre: Tiananmen, the Forbidden City and environs

Xicheng (West Central)

Dongcheng (East Central)

Chaoyang (East Suburbs)

Fengtai (Southern Suburbs)

Haidian (West Suburbs)

Shijingshan (Western Hills)

Further Afield

Chronology of Major Events

Further Reading and References

 

Info autore

Jonathan Clements is an author and TV presenter specializing in the history and cultures of the Far East. Previous books by him include A Short History of Tokyo, The Emperor's Feast, Anime: A History, and a biography of Gustaf Mannerheim, Mannerheim: President, Soldier, Spy. He lives in Finland.

Riassunto

An Armchair Traveller's History of Beijing presents the capital from its earliest beginnings as a prehistoric campsite for Peking Man through its fluctuating fortunes under a dozen dynasties. The book is an essential introduction to one of the world's most remarkable cities

Testo aggiuntivo

"'This book is like having a friendly, knowledgeable companion taking your arm as you wander through the back alleys and boulevards of one of the world's great cities. Clements wears his learning lightly, and his informed but inclusive tone makes this the perfect book for the visitor to Beijing."

— Rana Mitter, author of Modern China: A Very Short Introduction

"'Beijingers, both Chinese and foreign, mourn the Chinese capital's rapidly-disappearing traditional alleys but few of us appreciate Beijing as a city that has lasted through 2,500 years of building and destruction. Jonathan Clements' tour of the city starts with Peking Man and a jovial candy seller, and moves on through the Chinese dynasties with a readable flair. He comes well-stocked with tales that will be new even to long-time residents. It's a book for a warm teahouse on a cold winter afternoon."

— Lucy Hornby, China correspondent, Financial Times

"It's hard to imagine anyone better equipped than Jonathan Clements to compile a readable account of Beijing. Authoritative yet deliciously irreverent, his history of the city is an essential companion for the visitor and a treasure trove of vicarious delights for the chair-bound."

— John Keay, author of China: A History

"If New York and London dominated the global imagination in the twentieth century, Beijing is already in the process of usurping them in the twenty first. An extraordinarily exciting city, possessed of enormous optimism and expectation, it has a long, fascinating and complex history. Jonathan Clements unpeels the onion that is Beijing and in a highly readable and informative book gives us a wonderful glimpse of the history of a compelling city."

— Martin Jacques, author of When China Rules the World

"Evocatively captures the contradictions and complexities of contemporary Beijing while rooting the city in its broader historical context. . . . Clements's writing is lyrical at times, but there are also moments of jocularity in unexpected places. . . . As a quick and breezy peek into Beijing life and culture, the book will provide tourists and armchair-bound travelers with enough tips and tales to satisfy their curiosity and sense of adventure."

— Times Literary Supplement

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Jonathan Clements
• Editore: The Armchair Traveller
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 30.04.2017
• EAN: 9781909961272
• ISBN: 978-1-909961-27-2
• Dimensioni: 116 mm x 210 mm x 14 mm
• Serie: Armchair Traveller; Armchair Traveller; Armchair Traveller's History
• Categorie: Saggistica; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Storia > Storia dei paesi e delle regioni