From: Jesslyn Lau Qi Yu, Malaysia
University: Beijing Institute of Technology
“What kind of city is Beijing?”
Eight months ago, my answer was prosperous and busy. The stream of luxury cars never stops flowing, and there is a lot of hustle and bustle in the capital city; at night, the lights are bright and colorful. For me, a person who grew up in a small town, Beijing is a city of solemnity, and everything is remote. At that time, I was full of curiosity, joy and anxiety about the upcoming study in Beijing that I was about to embark on.
However, when I actually set foot on this land and started living here, those stereotypes were shattered. Here, high-rise buildings are not ubiquitous, but coexist with buildings of different characteristics, such as courtyard houses and hutongs. Some urban villages have also been transformed into niche check-in spots, and I love the murals on the corners, the rose-filled fences, and the seemingly inconspicuous coffee shops that fill the houses with fragrance. It’s not a well-known attraction, but I also love to wander around these corners and spend the whole day in a slow way. Don’t ignore Beijing’s hutongs, they all have their own characteristics, the winding alleys connect the warm time of a family, and the aged people bask in the sun at the door, chatting about homely things; the children chase and play, and occasionally there are cute, docile kittens who come lazily towards you, and your heart softens when you watch it all.
During the May Day holidays, I walked around the city of Beijing. To my surprise, I found that Beijing’s subway stations have their own characteristics, such as the glass windows of the subway station Capital University of Economics and Business as the exchange station and the Line 10, and even the pillars are engraved with exquisite patterns; the interior of the Yonghegong Lama Temple station is decorated with red walls and white pedestals. It’s just that I wonder if people who are busy on the road every day have noticed these small details?
By far my best favorite is the snack districts that are clustered with historic buildings, the most representative of which is Nanluoguxiang, which is home to Beijing’s and all of China’s specialties, such as mending meatloaf, sugar fire, bean juice and donkey rolling. Every free afternoon, I would like to go to the neighborhood to walk, stroll and eat. The red walls and yellow tiles reflect the blue sky and green trees, so beautiful. Usually, I walk all the way to Shichahai, a small lake that is a great place to relax for me who loves water. The breeze gently brushed my hair, and I quietly stared at the lake in a daze, watching the parents and children rowing, and the ripples caused by the oars awakened a burst of memories for me. Sometimes I would stand outside the window of the tavern, listening to the bands on stage, watching people drinking inside, finding my rhythm, unloading the burden and pressure and regaining the courage and energy to move forward.
I was struck by the grandeur of Tiananmen Square, one of Beijing’s business cards, but the impression and emotion left on me by the tower itself was far less than the brand-new flags being raised every day. At sunrise, the five-star red flag rises against the rising sun, which is so dazzling; At sunset, that touch of red slowly descends with the afterglow of the setting sun, and it has a solemn beauty. Behind the “every meeting is the first meeting” principle, I couldn’t help but wonder where the national flags that greeted the rising sun and bid farewell to the sunset went. It turns out that their “mission” is not over, some have been donated to schools and some institutions that have made significant contributions to society, and some are used to cover the remains of martyrs. It is those heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country and defended the country, so that we can live in peace and happiness on this land. Every time I think of them giving their purest love to this great country, my heart suddenly rises in awe.
Beijing is a very special city, in the bustling streets, you can see the pedlars with bamboo baskets on their backs selling rock sugar gourds and sugar paintings. I lived, grew, explored and pursued my passions and dreams here. I believe that there are many more lively cities like Beijing, so let’s start our journey from Beijing.