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Presented by Lesson two A Journey through China Activities: 1. Find the population of Xi’an, Beijing and Shanghai. How do they compare with American cities? 2. Find the three cities on this interactive map: http://www.chinaspree.com/china-travel-guide/3D-MAP/ With a territory the size of the United States and a 5000 year history there’s a lot to see in China! Let’s take a journey through China to three well known and historical cities. First Stop: Xi’an (西安, Western Peace). This 3000 year old city still has a wall surrounding the city center. Inside are the Bell and Drum Towers. The Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque are reminders that Xi’an was once the beginning of the Silk Road through Asia to Rome. Outside is the Terra-cotta Army, built near his tomb by China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, founder of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE. Second Stop: Beijing (北京, Northern Capital), China’s capital since 1264 when Kublai Khan built his capital there after the Mongols conquered China and founded the Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368). In the heart of the city lies the Forbidden City (故宫 gu gong). Its 9,999 rooms were home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Nearby are Tiananmen (天安门, Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square, containing the Monument to National Heroes and Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum; the Great Hall of the People; and the National Museum of China. Just north of Beijing is the 4000 mile long Great Wall of China (长城, Changcheng, Long Wall) built beginning 2,000 years ago under emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Final Stop: Shanghai (上海, Upon the Sea). This ancient fishing village grew to become China’s largest city after it became a European treaty port after the first Opium war in 1842. The European influence is on display along the Bund, a line of buildings on the east bank of the Huangpu river that separates Shanghai’s East Bank (Pu Xi) from its west bank (Pu Dong). The French Concession offers French architecture surrounding the greenery of Fuxing Park. A visit to Shanghai should also include Yuyuan Garden and its adjacent shopping mall; the Jade Buddha Temple; and an evening boat ride on the Huangpu to see the lights of the Pu Dong skyscrapers. To learn more about travel in China, visit the OU Confucius Institute Website: ouci.ou.edu/ajourneythroughchina Trips to China Chinese Bridge Summer Camp July 9th – July 24th Oklahoma Educators Trip to China June 16th – June 29th ouci.ou.edu
