Beijing Culture

Beijing culture introduces Beijing information about history, architecture, food, opera, Hutong, religion, historical sites, ethnic groups, traditional villages, etc. Beijing is a place with multiple cultures. Chinese minority culture, together with Beijing's elegant culture and folk culture, constitutes the unique Beijing culture and has an important influence on the development and inheritance of Chinese culture. As the capital of six dynasties in history, Beijing has always been regarded as the most sacred and concerned city by Chinese people. Before the liberation, people from all over the country gathered here and brought various cultures to this precious place. Inclusiveness is the spirit of Beijing.

History of Beijing

Beijing has a history of more than 3,000 years since its construction. Since the Liao and Jin dynasties, it has been the center of politics and culture with profound historical significance.

Beijing is an ancient capital with a history of more than three thousand years. It had different appellations in different dynasties, there were roughly 20 names. Since the first emperor of Qin unified China, Beijing has been an important city and regional center in the north of China. Since 938, Beijing has been Liao's auxiliary capital, Jin Shangdu, Yuan Dadu, and the capitals of Ming and Qing dynasties successively. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this ancient capital with a history of 3,000 years had gained new vitality and began to attract worldwide attention.

From the Yan Dynasty and Zhao Dynasty of the Warring States to the unification of China in the Qin Dynasty, from the An Lushan Rebellion in Tang Dynasty to the Mongolia fighters in the south, Beijing has witnessed the prosperity of Ming Dynasty and the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Being the capital for hundreds of years, it has its own cultural atmosphere, namely, liberal, solemn, traditional, leisure and elegance.

More about History of Beijing

Religion Culture

Residents in Beijing mainly believe in Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity, among which Buddhism, Taoism and Islam have exerted great influence on the history, culture and art of Beijing. Beijing now has more than 100 venues for religious activities. Temples, monasteries, Daoist temples and churches in Beijing are places of religious activities for religious circles and believers.

Keep Reading

• Baoguo Temple in Beijing
• Big Bell Temple in Beijing
• Dajue Temple in Beijing
• Dongyue Temple in Beijing
• Fayuan Temple in Beijing
• Five Pagoda Temple in Beijing
• Guangji Temple in Beijing
• Hongluo Temple in Beijing
• Jietai Temple in Beijing
• Longquan Monastery in Beijing
• Miaoying Temple in Beijing
• Niujie Mosque in Beijing
• Tanzhe Temple in Beijing
• Yunju Temple in Beijing
• White Cloud Temple in Beijing
• Wofo Temple in Beijing
• Chongwenmen Church in Beijing
• Beijing Gangwashi Church
• Church of the Saviour, Beijing
• Kuanjie Protestant Church in Beijing

Architectural Culture

The imperial palace in Beijing, called Ouchi miyagi in the Ming dynasty and the Forbidden City in the Qing dynasty, was once the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There were 24 emperors living here successively. The magnificent architecture perfectly reflects the classical style and Oriental style of Chinese tradition. The Palace Museum is the largest existing palace in China and even the world. It is the precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Besides, the temple of heaven is famous both at home and abroad for its rational layout and exquisite construction. It was the place where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped heaven.

Beijing Quadrangle Dwellings

Nowadays, when it comes old Beijing, the first thing that comes to mind is Hutong and Quadrangle Dwellings. In fact, Beijing is made up of many Hutongs and Quadrangle Dwellings. Beijing quadrangle originated from courtyard house of Yuan dynasty, which is the most important residential building in old Beijing. Although this traditional way of life is in decline, its cultural importance has been deeply rooted in the minds of Beijingers and will never leave. Siheyuan is a general term for the northern traditional houses with the principal room, reversely-set house and the east and west wing rooms, forming a plane layout around the middle courtyard.

Central Axis of Beijing

The central axis of Beijing refers to the central axis of Beijing city during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Beijing's urban planning has the characteristic of bilateral symmetry centering on imperial palace(宫城). Beijing's central axis starts from Yongdingmen in the south to the bell and drum tower in the north, about 7.8 km long. From south to north, there are Yongding gate, Qianmen arrow tower, Zhengyang gate, Zhonghua gate, Tian'anmen, Duan gate, meridian gate, Forbidden City, Shenwu gate, Jingshan, Di'anmen, Wanning bridge, drum tower and bell tower in turn. 

City Wall and Moat in Beijing

City Wall and Moat in Beijing is the generic term of defense building of the capital of Ming and Qing dynasties in history. It consists of palaces, imperial city, inner city and outer city, including city walls, gates, Barbican, turret, moats and other facilities. It was once China's most complete ancient urban defense system. The gate of Beijing is the general name of all the gates in Beijing during Ming and Qing dynasties. According to the difference of grade and building specification, it can be divided into four categories, namely palace city gate, imperial city gate, inner city gate and outer city gate.

Beijing Food Culture

Beijing is also the eighth “city of delicious food” in the world, ranking first in the mainland, and Beijing roast duck is famous at home and abroad. Beijing's flavor snacks have a long history and wide varieties with exquisite materials and delicate production. Apart from Beijing's most famous dish, Peking roast duck, most of the city's famous dishes are imported from surrounding areas. Food from different cultures and places converge in Beijing, so there are thousands of restaurants in the capital with a variety of dining options. Whatever their origins, these dishes are now so thoroughly integrated into Beijing life that they can be eaten in restaurants all over the city.

Opera Culture

Beijing Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture, and its source can be traced back to several ancient local plays. In 1790, the four local theatrical troupes in Anhui, namely Sanqing troupe(三庆班), Sixi troupe(四喜班), Chungong troupe(春公班), and Hechun troupe(和春班), came to Beijing successively to perform. Anhui troupes were often in cooperation with the Han tone(汉调) performers from Hubei, and then, a new type of opera, which is mainly based on the "Erhuang melody(二黄)" of Anhui opera and the "Xipi melody(西皮)" of the Han tone, and also integrates the essence of the local operas, such as the Kun opera, the Qin opera and the Bangzi opera, has been born. This is the Beijing Opera.

Hutong Culture

Nowadays, when it comes old Beijing, the first thing that comes to mind is Hutong and Quadrangle Dwellings. In fact, Beijing is made up of many Hutongs and Quadrangle Dwellings. The earliest Hutongs in Beijing originated from the Yuan dynasty, with more than 6,000 at most. The earliest Hutongs in Beijing are the Hutongs between Chaoyangmen inner avenue and Dongsi, which are well planned. Hutongs look similar from the outside, but their internal features are not the same, casually walking in a common alley is a comfortable choice. In addition to South Luogu Lane, there are many interesting and characteristic Hutongs in Beijing, such as North Luogu Lane, Yandai Xiejie Street, Mao Er Hutong, Guozijian street, Wudaoying Hutong, Liulichang ancient culture street and so on.

Modern Culture

Beijing is a 3000-year-old famous city in the world, and Beijing culture have been inheriting for many years as well. It is not only a world famous ancient capital, also a modern international city, so Beijing culture has its own unique cultural elements, on the one hand it has profound and brilliant history and culture, and the royal culture, etc., on the other hand it has rich and colorful modern culture. In Beijing, visitors can experience the modern culture of Beijing at the 798 art district, at the Beijing international film festival, at the Tang club, Sanlitun bar street, Houhai bar street, Tango club and so on.

Traditional Beijing Temple Fairs

The traditional Beijing temple fair is a folk activity with Beijing leisure culture. Temple fairs in Beijing were originally held around temples and held regularly, so temple fairs in Beijing gradually became the city culture. In Beijing, temple fairs are held in turn every 10 days at Earth temple, the flower market, the White Pogoda temple, Huguo temple and Longfu temple. These temple fairs have been held regularly for more than 300 years. Most temple fairs in Beijing are held during the Spring Festival. The highlights of the Beijing temple fair are folk performances and various folk handicrafts. Yangko dance, lion dance and other performances can be seen everywhere. In this kind of carnival, people wear traditional Chinese costumes and play joyfully.

Beijing Dialect

Beijing dialect belongs to Beijing mandarin language. It's very popular in central Beijing. Some people regraded Beijing dialect or Beijing dialect of Mandarin accent as "Jing Pian Zi". Beijing dialect usually refers to the accent spoken in downtown Beijing, not the suburban Beijing dialect. Standard Chinese(Mandarin) is based on Beijing dialect. Still, there are certain differences between Beijing dialect and mandarin. Compared with mandarin, Beijing language is also a dialect. It is the closest language to mandarin.

Folk Custom Products

Beijing is one of the four ancient capitals of China. There are many local featured customs, including Beijing snacks, Beijing Opera, Jingyun bass drum(京韵大鼓), cross talk, the living theater, quick books, cloisonne, ivory carving, lacquer carving, grasshopper race and cage, sugar-figure blowing, dough figurine and so on.

China Time-honored Brands

Intangible Cultural Heritages in Beijing

More National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Beijing City

Inheritors of Intangible Cultural Heritage

More Inheritors of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Beijing City

Historical and Cultural Attractions in Beijing

Beijing is the city with the most world heritage sites and the first capital city with world geoparks.

Main Museums in Beijing 

Beijing is the "museum capital" with 151 registered museums. The national museum is the world's largest museum. The Palace Museum is one of the five largest museums in the world.

• Beijing Planetarium
• Natural History Museum
• Capital Museum
• Military Museum
• China Aviation Museum
• National Museum of China

Beijing Ethnic Culture

Beijing was the first city in China gathering 56 ethnic groups, of which the Han ethnic group has the largest population. Among the ethnic minority population, the top five ethnic minorities are Manchu, Hui, Mongol, Korean and Tujia, accounting for about 90% of the minority population. There are 5 ethnic towns in Beijing, namely, Changying Hui Ethnic Town, Yujiawu Hui Ethnic Town, Tanying Manchu and Mongol Ethnic Town, Changshaoying Manchu Ethnic Town and Labagoumen Manchu Ethnic Town. 

Traditional Villages

• Shuiyu Village in Nanjiao Township of Fangshan District房山区南窖乡水峪村
• Liuliqu Village in Longquan Town of Mentougou District门头沟区龙泉镇琉璃渠村 
• Sanjiadian Village in Longquan Town of Mentougou District门头沟区龙泉镇三家店村 
• Jiaozhuanghu Village in Longwantun Town of Shunyi District顺义区龙湾屯镇焦庄户村 
• Changyucheng Village in Liucun Town of Changping District昌平区流村镇长峪城村
• Jijiaying Village in Xinchengzi Town of Miyun District密云区新城子镇吉家营村

More Traditional Villages in Beijing