In China for pleasure and culture, not business

The Great Wall of China is a major attraction because of its rich history and incredible architecture. Photos by Margaret Vuchiri.

What you need to know:

Like its trade, China’s cultural and breath-taking sights are attractions that have made it an admirable destination for tourists. From incredible ancient architecture to rich heritage, one is bound to be swept away by the world’s second largest economy.

CHINA Beijing

Timothy Kalyegira recently wrote an article in the Sunday Monitor about a TV series titled “Brothers: Hand in Hand with Africa” focusing on China’s projects in Africa which, he says, reveals the embarrassing backwardness of our continent. According to Tim, Africa as seen through China’s eyes lives in conditions of the 1920s.

In my view, many Chinese do not see it that way. Or perhaps they do but are too polite to say it. On the streets of Beijing, ordinary Chinese are guarded about the growing China-Africa relations. What is obvious is that the Chinese have a well-structured setup that allows a visitor to experience their country without saying much.

Beijing, China’s second largest city has many attractions. The Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall is one of the first stops for visitors because it introduces you to Beijing- its history and future! Our guide took us through the 3,200 square feet comprehensive model of Beijing in a four-story museum-like building.

This exhibition showcases impressive architecture and treasured historic models. It is an in depth assembly of everything Beijing, including a model of the city’s plans. Our tour ended in the hall’s theatre where tourists have the opportunity to see what the city will look like in future. As my colleagues lamented about how KCCA could use such plans, I recalled a recent visit to Nairobi where a young woman who had done extensive research on the Kenyan capital told us that no one was interested in her presentations. We were sympathetic enough to invite her to share her findings later. None of us showed up!

The Great Wall of China
As one of the greatest wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China boasts of more than 2000-year history. Our translator, Li Xiao, was incidentally climbing the Great Wall for the first time and like me, she descended with hands shaking and legs trembling.

As we went through endless dark alleys, I asked one of the locals why the rough surfaces are not smoothened to ease the steep ascend. “That would erase our history,” I was told. For now, the Wall is best left with its faded charm. Its uniqueness is the imposing architectural splendour, not the smoothness of the staircases.

According to www.greatwall-of-china.com, the Wall, built between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire, is the world’s longest human-made structure, with the entire wall and its branches stretching over approximately 21,196 km. Estimates put the number of Chinese who died during this project at two to three million.

The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
The Forbidden City, located in central Beijing, used to be the imperial palace for emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Jozy Zhou, our guide, speaks about this place passionately. We toured it on a Wednesday afternoon and it was teeming with tourists. According to our guide, during the Ming Dynasty people were forbidden from accessing it without permission of the emperor, thus earning the name ‘The Forbidden City’.

Today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Another frequented spot is the Tiananmen Square, with Tiananmen Tower standing at the north end of the Square. This is essentially the main entrance to the Forbidden City. At the centre of the square is a monument to the People’s Heroes built in 1952.

“The People’s Heroes are Immortal”, engraved on the monument, are reportedly written by the greatly revered Chairman Mao whose body apparently lies in the Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall on the Square’s south. The Great Hall of the People, the location for the China National People’s Congress meetings is positioned on the Square’s western side.

There are other historical sites at the Square such as the China National Museum located on the east side; another key feature on the west is the stunning Beijing National Theatre. Nicknamed the egg (it actually looks like an egg floating on water), this grand theatre is an arresting site! We visited it at night but were impressed by its novel design enclosed by an artificial lake.

Xiang Tang Cultural Village
Located about 60 kms from the centre of Beijing, this village is a place of idyllic beauty. The tour guide describes it as a perfect natural oxygen bar and a home with intoxicating culture. Established in 1995, this village has today grown into an amazing set up that was, in 2007, classified as the most beautiful village in Beijing and was chosen as the Beijing Olympic Tourism Reception village in 2008.

With its laidback but classy outlook, the residents speak with a lot of pride about this vast centre of stunning villas, an Oriental Painting and Calligraphy Institute, International Agriculture Sightseeing Park, play fields, among others. One of the most beautiful sites is the Tai Wei Golf Course- an exclusive club that exudes understated, almost snobbish, elegance.

Xiang Tang’s expansive orchards produce apples, strawberries, peaches, etc. A few kilometres from the farm, we visited a restaurant in a farm area where we were served roast sweet potatoes, boiled eggs, roast corn… but then again, strangely, pigeons. To the Chinese, food is an art, presented with such meticulous display.

China is therefore not just holding Africa’s hand through aid. It is using the country’s rich culture and tourist attractions. Through publications like ChinaAfrica Magazine published by Beijing Review and websites like china.org.cn that is published in several languages, information about China is spreading beyond foreign aid to social aspects.