Beijing is today a dirty, polluted city where numerous old buildings have been razed to the ground – but despite all this, it has been chosen as the most beautiful Chinese city.
The host of the next Summer Olympic Games, Beijing won the title of the most beautiful Chinese city against 558 other cities, including Hong Kong, the former British colony, which is second on the list. The city of Shenzhen is the third most beautiful Chinese city due to its “pioneering role in opening up China,” while Shanghai ranks fourth. Various criteria were taken into account in assessing the beauty of Chinese cities – from the preservation of historical monuments to greenery, air quality, transportation networks, urban life, etc.
The results of this selection may surprise a large number of visitors to China, who usually prefer the cities of Qingdao, Hangzhou, and Xi’an. Historical sites in Beijing are often overshadowed by a toxic combination of dust, smoke from factory chimneys, and numerous cars. The ruling Communist Party ordered the confiscation of numerous old buildings to house new state organs after the communists took power in 1949. During the early years of communist rule, most of the old walls of Beijing were demolished. (H)
