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| Bill Pullman - a presidential Thomas Whitmore, delivers bad news in Independence Day |
If there really is any doubt then just try this brief thought experiment; a peaceful species of sentient mushrooms lumbers into our solar system in a faulty space-craft the size of Tasmania. They assume a discrete orbit, explain that their primary engine has blown a gasket and they'll be on their way as soon as they can fix it. They just need to open a quarry the size of Wales somewhere on Earth to mine the rare earth elements needed for the repairs. They then ask innocently; "Please take us to your leader". Now the $64,000 question is; if this happened tomorrow, who would we really want to step into the spotlight to speak for all humanity at this critical juncture in Earth history ?
Of course, if the sentient mushrooms study our Earth history, they might easily suppose that our Global Leader is somewhere in China and most probably in Beijing. After all, China's population is 4 times larger than the USA and 8 times larger than Russia. No surprise then that Beijing and Shanghai are now the world's two largest urban populations, featuring the world's most modern infrastructure and global concentrations of trade and finance. This development is not merely a recent achievement. A quick peek through history shows that 6 of the world's 15 largest empires were based in China and that Beijing especially was the world's most populous city for much of the last millenium. Accounts of early 15th century Chinese trade and diplomatic missions westwards to India, Arabia, East Africa and eastwards to Asia Pacific (and quite possibly Australasia and the eastern Pacific) offer a definitive guide on what it meant to be a global superpower, in an era before the same term eventually became synonymous with a nuclear arms race.
Today's Beijing proudly displays a rich history of ancient dynasties, grand military and engineering projects and cultural revolutions in the forms of squares, parks, palaces, temples, walls and canals which can be easily enjoyed by anyone - who has the right documents.
Whether it's a wasteful communist trait to employ as many unproductive minions as possible or whether there is a real need to prevent western ideas contaminating the population, the Chinese authorities still follow the old adage "Trust is good but control is better". Hence a tourist visa application requires a daily itinerary of everything you plan to do and everywhere you plan to go. A foreigner wanting to leave a city hotel to visit the country must list the people he will visit and the addresses he will stay at and must register his arrival with local police during the excursion. Meanwhile the internet is widely available but external news and social media are blocked and therefore inaccessible without Virtual Private Networks. Curiously a visit to the Forbidden City requires proof of ID such as passport or driving licence simply to buy a ticket. Basically it's a pretty good reflection of Poland in the early 1980's.
Paperwork aside, the sights are indeed amazing. The unique size and richness of of the Forbidden City seems special enough to have survived the heavy boot of the state, which seems to have made no effort to eradicate the ethereal names of the buildings, such as; the Palace of Peace and Longevity, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, The Palace of Earthly Tranquility, etc, etc.
Likewise the majestic Temple of Heaven set in huge leafy cherry orchards is surrounded by the spiritually uplifting Garden of 100 Flowers, the Palace of Abstinence and the Imperial Vault of Heaven.
It is perhaps at The Summer Palace, a collection of temples and gardens around a huge lake system, overlooked by the Temple of the Fragrance of the Buddha where you start to wonder if the designer was trying just a little too hard to impress his royal patrons.
As you walk through the gardens up the hill you pass through the Valley of Fumbling Discovery, along the Path of Breathless Anticipation which leads up onto the Peak of Heavenly Euphoria.
And finally; depending on how touchy-feely you are, for decades China's greatest treasure has been either their irresistible pandas or the famous Great Wall. It long since passed into common consensus that the Great Wall is visible from space, some said from the moon and others even suggested it is visible from Mars. Sadly nothing of the sort seems to be true, as confirmed by astronauts who squinted in vain from many space vehicles, including the International Space Station.
https://m.thevintagenews.com/2017/02/12/the-myth-that-the-great-wall-of-china-is-visible-from-space-originated-before-anyone-had-ever-been-into-space/
https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html
This sad realiasation proved to be very upsetting, not least to Chinese astronauts who, it was suggested, needed more training to learn how to identify the Great Wall.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-chinas-great-wall-visible-from-space/
However the amazing good news for the touchy-feely types is that pandas are indeed finally visible from space.
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Chinese_Solar_Farm_in_the_Shape_of_a_Giant_Panda_Can_Be_Seen_From_Space_999.html
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| "Take us to your leader !" |
Of course, if the sentient mushrooms study our Earth history, they might easily suppose that our Global Leader is somewhere in China and most probably in Beijing. After all, China's population is 4 times larger than the USA and 8 times larger than Russia. No surprise then that Beijing and Shanghai are now the world's two largest urban populations, featuring the world's most modern infrastructure and global concentrations of trade and finance. This development is not merely a recent achievement. A quick peek through history shows that 6 of the world's 15 largest empires were based in China and that Beijing especially was the world's most populous city for much of the last millenium. Accounts of early 15th century Chinese trade and diplomatic missions westwards to India, Arabia, East Africa and eastwards to Asia Pacific (and quite possibly Australasia and the eastern Pacific) offer a definitive guide on what it meant to be a global superpower, in an era before the same term eventually became synonymous with a nuclear arms race.
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| The westward voyages of the voyager eunuch Zheng He |
Today's Beijing proudly displays a rich history of ancient dynasties, grand military and engineering projects and cultural revolutions in the forms of squares, parks, palaces, temples, walls and canals which can be easily enjoyed by anyone - who has the right documents.
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| Oldies playing board games in the shade around the Temple of The Sun in Ritan Park |
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| The Forbidden City - where entry is forbidden without formal ID, but cycling is permitted, evidently |
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| Temple of Heaven |
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| SuZhou Street at the Summer Palace - complete with weeping willows, arched bridges, lilly ponds and traditional stores as featured on all blue and white Chinese-themed crockery since time began |
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| Traditional Spode pottery from Staffordshire featuring all the same signature themes |
It is perhaps at The Summer Palace, a collection of temples and gardens around a huge lake system, overlooked by the Temple of the Fragrance of the Buddha where you start to wonder if the designer was trying just a little too hard to impress his royal patrons.
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| The Summer Palace - a quiet little palace outside the city for an emperor to get away from it all |
As you walk through the gardens up the hill you pass through the Valley of Fumbling Discovery, along the Path of Breathless Anticipation which leads up onto the Peak of Heavenly Euphoria.
And finally; depending on how touchy-feely you are, for decades China's greatest treasure has been either their irresistible pandas or the famous Great Wall. It long since passed into common consensus that the Great Wall is visible from space, some said from the moon and others even suggested it is visible from Mars. Sadly nothing of the sort seems to be true, as confirmed by astronauts who squinted in vain from many space vehicles, including the International Space Station.
https://m.thevintagenews.com/2017/02/12/the-myth-that-the-great-wall-of-china-is-visible-from-space-originated-before-anyone-had-ever-been-into-space/
https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html
This sad realiasation proved to be very upsetting, not least to Chinese astronauts who, it was suggested, needed more training to learn how to identify the Great Wall.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-chinas-great-wall-visible-from-space/
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| The Great Wall - easily visible at Mutianyu, 75km north of Beijing. Started in the 6th century, then rebuilt in the 15th and 16th century. It is up to 8.5m high and 5m wide, the best preserved part of the Great Wall today. |
However the amazing good news for the touchy-feely types is that pandas are indeed finally visible from space.
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| The 100 MW Datong Solar Power Plant in Shanxi Province - designed to raise awareness and be visible from space - finally. |
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Chinese_Solar_Farm_in_the_Shape_of_a_Giant_Panda_Can_Be_Seen_From_Space_999.html
Been there, did the 7 mile hike at Forbidden City. Now, go to the night market and eat some fried seahorse!
ReplyDeleteFrankly it should more accurately be named The Eternal City because it just goes on for ever. You think each higher level and courtyard is the last but there is always another beyond. Now I know the where the inspiration for Super Mario came from
ReplyDelete