Inside China Business – January / February 2025

Starting with 'Listen', 'Feeling Good', 'At Last' and 'Something's got a hold on me'. Plus 'Price tag', 'Time to say goodbye', '(Does that make me) Crazy', 'She's gone' and 'What a wonderful world', plus some classic Chinese songs. Not to be missed ... "It wasn't because I didn't know that much ... It was just I knew TOO much ... Does that make me crazy ... ??"

With Lulu's Daily In China ... Welcome to the Forbidden City Explore the imperial palace and ancient architecture of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Introduction The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is a vast imperial palace complex in Beijing, China. It served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for almost 500 years. Location The Forbidden City is located in the Dongcheng District in the heart of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square. History The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406 and was completed in 1420. It was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, housing 24 emperors. The complex covers 72 hectares (178 acres) and consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,886 rooms. In 1925, the Forbidden City was transformed into the Palace Museum, showcasing extensive collections of artwork and artifacts from the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Attractions Meridian Gate (Wu Men): The main entrance to the Forbidden City, known for its grand architecture and historical significance. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian): The largest hall in the Forbidden City, used for major ceremonial occasions. Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe Dian): A smaller, intimate hall where the emperor prepared and rested before ceremonies. Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian): Used for banquets and later for imperial examinations. Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing Gong): The emperor's residence, representing his supreme authority. Hall of Union (Jiaotai Dian): A hall connecting the emperor's and empress's palaces, symbolizing their union. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong): The residence of the empress and the site for imperial weddings. Imperial Garden: A serene garden area with ancient trees, rockeries, and pavilions, used by the imperial family for leisure. Clock and Watch Gallery: Displays a vast collection of timepieces from the imperial collection. Treasure Gallery: Houses valuable artifacts, including jade, gold, and other treasures from the imperial era. Activities Exploring historical buildings and courtyards Visiting museum exhibitions Photography Participating in guided tours Attending cultural performances and events Facilities Visitor Center Restrooms Gift Shops Cafes and Restaurants Parking Lots Audio Guide Rentals Guided Tour Services Visitor Tips Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water and snacks, especially if you plan to stay for several hours. Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Respect the cultural and historical significance of the site; behave appropriately and follow all rules and guidelines. Plan your visit to include the main attractions and leave time for exploring lesser-known areas.

Shangri-la (XiāngGéLǐLā) was a semi-fictional paradise depicted in the book 'Lost Horizon' by James Hilton. This town in YunNan province, with a great likeness to the fictional paradise that Hilton depicted, was renamed from ZhongDian to Shangri-la in 2001.

BěiHǎi GōngYuán is just a five minute walk (north west) from the Forbidden City (immediately west of sister JingShan Park).

With XiaoQianFeng ...

Born in TianMen, near ZhangJiaJie (think of the movie Avatar), HuBei province, she became interested in the guitar and started lessons at age six, with a penchant for heavy metal ! PinXi made her public debut in October 2015, at the China (ShangHai) Musical Instruments Exhibition, invited by the JOYO company as a guest performer; this is the first clip seen here - playing Cross-Ozielzinho. This montage also includes 'Angel of Darkness' by Andy James (age 9; PinXi, not Andy ;). Don't miss it ... Her favorite quote : Believe in yourself. PinXi exhibits that no-hesitation / no force expression strived for in the finest calligraphy, in which the hand and brush are as one. In Chinese this is known as Wu Wei or Wu Wei Wu - loosely translatable as action without effort.