| Over the centuries, Beijing has suffered the effects of war and revolution, large-scale industrialisation and a building boom to meet the demands of a growing, modern city. Skyscrapers loom over colourful temples and the intimate courtyards of the hutongs, while traffic crawls along the streets surrounding tranquil parks. Beijing used to be a walled city but little remains now apart from the grand Tiananmen and Qianmen gates, located at either end of Tiananmen Square. The imposing square is home to the Great Hall of the People, China’s parliament, the Mao Ze Dong Memorial Hall, where the body of Chairman Mao rests, and the Monument to the People’s Heroes, an obelisk depicting major events of the revolution. |