Dani and Leo plan to spend the day seeing the main attractions in Beijing. They go to see the Forbidden City in the centre of Beijing first. Dani teaches Leo the Mandarin Chinese name for it and its literal meaning. This was the palace for many Chinese dynasties and they governed the whole of China from here. The palace was off limits to the majority of local residents, hence the name of the Forbidden City. Tian'anmen square is directly outside the gate to the Forbidden City and is a popular gathering place for tourists and tour groups on their way to see the Forbidden City
Leo is fortunate to have Dani as a tour guide to guide him around the large network of temples and squares within the Forbidden City. Dani is familiar with the fascinating cultural history of the former palace and can explain the details to Leo as they explore. It is advisable to collect a map of the Forbidden City interior to avoid getting lost or missing any of the highlights. Leo learns the Mandarin phrase to ask a Chinese tourist to take a photo of them, which will be very valuable when travelling anywhere in China.
Tian'anmen square is named as it lies outside of the Tian'anmen gate to the Forbidden City, and it means the 'Gate of Heavenly Peace'. The square has been expanded many times during its long history and is now one of the largest in the world, and can accommodate 600,000 people. The square is commonly used for state functions such as military parades or official ceremonies. Many important buildings and structures surround the square such as the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
About our Lessons
Dani, a native Mandarin Chinese speaker from Beijing, guides you through your trip in China. Dani will help you learn Chinese words and phrases that you need to know as you encounter real life situations while in China. You will also learn interesting and useful lessons about Chinese culture and values along the way. Our lessons are designed to help you learn Chinese online without the need to download or install any software. You can start to learn Chinese free by availing of our 10 free lessons.