2008 Olympics: Propaganda and the Chinese hosts
There is no doubt, that question were been ask when choosing Beijing as host city for the Olympics, first it was a hurdle to jump over, when considering that the organisation will be bringing the modern games into the pages of ancient history, with one fifth of the worlds population totalling 1.3 billion people.
It was a big gamble, to suggest a country steep in dense friction, would have the courage to change their way of thinking, and be a little open-minded to accommodate western freedom and innovations. Rather than promoting propaganda, Beijing is a city launching itself into the modern arena of western civilization. They will still repress the rights of dissidents, but in time, divided interests will come to the table for discussion.
The transformation of Beijing is quiet remarkable, when considering the ring of doubt that had pervaded over the country, with its amazing buildings and complete new look of oriental revamp, anticipation is running at fever pitch for the up coming Olympic games, people will crack out the sweets and bemuse themselves in moments of adrenalin.
China desires to dispel traditional stigma, and ditch their old creaky image, that has been hanging around like a dirty cloud, some residents have been forced out of communities into other suburbs to live, in order for the authorities to undertake and develop their massive reconstruction program.
With the world at their feet and the sky remaining still dirty, Beijing has the look of a capital masculinity going wild in outpouring emotions, china has never had so much interest, never before had they been the focus of such attention, with their hard days suspiciously behind them, peoples confidence is rising again along with the city smog, we all want to believe that the Chinese capital is ready to host the Olympic games.
But inadvertently, questions still remains to be answered, will the games be a great success amidst the mess, we would like think so, because athletes have gone to great lengths in preparation for this feast of enjoyment, the athletes themselves will definitely turn it on with their trained skills, but will Beijing be a turn off? Republicans and democratic wants to make this propaganda stitch up, but other nations needs to reassert themselves with the green way of thinking, before kicking down the back door of Beijing.
Expectation is high, there is no getting away from that, locals will be watching with national pride, but the world will be analysing every
Forbidden City of Beijing – A Magical And Overwhelming Place
By: Marc D. Jong
The Forbidden City in Beijing is no longer forbidden territory anymore. And we should be grateful for that. Why? If you have had the honor to visit this extraordinary place, you will understand.
This stunning complex of imperial buildings, right in the heart of the Chinese capital, is one of the most magical sights in the world. It’s so overwhelming that once you’ve been there, you’ll keep talking about it whenever you have the opportunity.
Let’s look at some facts.
The Forbidden City is the former palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was planned and built from 1407 to 1420, and for its design and layout principles of Feng Shui were used. An estimated 200,000 workers helped to construct it.
The numbers explain why so many people were needed: there are 800 buildings with a total of 8,886 rooms. The word ‘city’ is not misused as it measures 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters from east to west.
A 52-meter wide moat (6 meters deep) and an 8-meter high wall around the complex kept intruders (and ordinary people!) away until the fall of the Empire in 1912.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the buildings are used as a museum.
Again, the numbers are impressive. The Palace Museum holds no less than 340,000 pieces of ceramics and porcelain as well as 50,000 items of paintings. I regret to say that once you’re there, you won’t have time to see everything, but even a quick review can make you speechless.
The sheer size of the complex is impressive, but a problem at the same time. How can you make the most out of your visit?
If you go there on a guided tour, the guide will likely follow the middle path to save time. In two hours time you’ll see the most important parts of the city, but since there’s so much to pay attention to, you will hardly have time to stop.
If you go there alone, use a full day and come early. Don’t plan to visit any other sights on that day, just the Forbidden City. If you take your time and enjoy what you see, you can spend half a day and still only see half of it.
Another good idea is renting the audio guide at the entrance.
Don’t be intimidated by the crowd at the entrance. Yes, it’s very touristy and it can take a while before you are in, but once people have got their ticket the crowd splits up in several groups.
Take a rest in the imperial gardens. Jingshan Park, with an artifical hill, is the most famous. You’ll feel an emperor for a second when you sit there!
Finally, if you want to get into the mood, you could watch The Last Emperor, the first Hollywood movie for which the government of China allowed to film inside the complex.
Festive China
Traditional Chinese festivals range from the quiet and dignified to colourful free-for-alls with booming gongs and cymbals and frantic dancers in dragon and lion costumes. Most are based on the Chinese lunar calendar and so the actual date differs from year to year.
Confucius’s birthday
First we’ll look at the birthday of Confucius in September. Though celebrated all over China, you can best experience this event in Confucius’s home of Qufu, specifically at the Confucius Temple.
Confucius is revered in China for being a thinker, social philosopher and teacher. He spent his life in poverty and relative obscurity, and his teachings were only written down and disseminated by his disciples after his death.
Celebrations for Confucius’s birthday start at 4 a.m. in the Confucius temple. Ceremonies are modest as befitting a man who taught moderation. Celebrants pay their respects and offer flowers at the temple altars. Festivities can also include musical performances with traditional instruments, together with dancing and the wearing of traditional costumes.
Beijing International Kite
Now to Beijing for an event of a very different kind, the Beijing International Kite Festival held in April, the windiest month in the Chinese capital. Kite flying has been a part of Chinese culture for millennia both as a leisure activity and a tool in warfare. Wei Fang in Shandong province is the major kite flying area in China but Beijing holds an annual international kite festival.
Starting off with a colourful ceremony, the Beijing International Kite Festival showcases fine examples of kites from the last century and experts talk about their features and regale visitors with kite lore and anecdotes. The event attracts kite-flying teams from all over the world.
Chinese New Year
Finally to Hong Kong to the biggest bash in the Chinese festival calendar, Chinese New Year. It’s a time of wailing Chinese opera performances, pounding drums, fireworks and feasts, writhing lions and dancing dragons, fortune telling and grand parades.
Chinese New Year starts on the first new moon day of the year and ends with the Lantern Festival fourteen days later. It falls between mid-January and mid-February. It’s a time when the industrious Chinese put their feet up for a few days of family reunion, thanksgiving, feasting and going to temple. People clean their homes and hang red lanterns out front. Veneration of ancestors is at the heart of Chinese New Year. On New Year’s Eve, they are offered a Banquet at the family dinner table.
In Hong Kong the festival kicks off with a parade between Admiralty and Wanchai, a grand firework display over Victoria Harbour, and the territory’s skyscrapers are lit up more than usual and decorated with lights and motifs. The temples are busy and the red envelopes known as Lai See containing “lucky money” are given to family and friends.
If you’re lucky enough to be in China on festival day, you have a treat in store. Not only will you have a great deal of fun, but you’ll witness something very special in the lives of the people. The only difficulty with visiting the events in Canada might be your accommodation. Be sure to have a reservation, because Beijing hotels or Hong Kong hotels could be fully booked during the festivals. Of course the Internet offers many opportunities to book China hotels in advance.
