Some people say that the study of the culture of Beijing should begin from the Beijing inhabitants or old-timers. They assert that Beijing old-timers are mostly common people and that they have a common man's trait of simplicity and straightforwardness. There is no gainsaying this point. But how large a percentage of the population is constituted by the descendants of aristocracy? It is often said that Beijing dwellers observe the traditional festival days, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-autumn Festival. This is true. But how large a proportion of Beijing inhabitants also celebrate Christmas and Valentine Day? Has anybody gone to the trouble of making statistical surveys of these cultural phenomena? It is claimed that the Beijing people are simple and easygoing, but they generally have an aristocratic air, which they have had since childhood. This assertion seems to be self-contradictory, for it is highly improbable that a person can put on airs and be easygoing at the same time. Furthermore, the common man of Beijing is said to be very humorous, but they don't make fun of other people by using vulgar expressions. Of course, the common man should have a sense of humor. But why should he make fun of other people, even if in a way that smacks of good breeding? Some people have answered these questions by saying that the culture of Beijing manifests plebeian interests of an aristocratic air or, on the contrary, the plebeianized aristocratic spirit of yore.

If you want to make an investigation of it, you will be at a loss to decide where to make the first probe.

Almost all people who have visited Beijing have the common impression that it is very big. All those who have come to Beijing from the provinces, regions or the metropolises on business or errands will tell you this experience or conclusion of theirs. Each of them would tell you, if you should venture to touch upon this topic, how hard each of them had to run about in this gigantic labyrinth in order to arrive at the place he/she was seeking. If you are an outlander, unfamiliar with this city and with only a map to serve as your guide, your work efficiency will be very high if you can succeed in having two errands done in one day. Nevertheless, you are sure to feel pain in your back and waist after running about for a whole day. Your mind will be befuddled, and your thighs and calves will bloat if you are a person not used to physical exercises. The blame for all this should be laid on the fact that the city of Beijing is really too big.

As a matter of fact, Beijing is immense not merely in a physical sense. As the capital of New China, Beijing is an all-round city functionally, serving as the center for the performance of political, economic, military, diplomatic, scientific and technological, cultural and educational, athletic and informational functions. Here are located the biggest party, political and military organizations, the biggest financial and commercial enterprises, the biggest scientific research units, the biggest colleges and universities, the biggest information networks, the biggest stadiums, publishing houses, newspaper offices, broadcasting stations and television stations and the biggest international airfield. The embassies of all foreign countries of the world are assembled here. The elite of every country of the world may be encountered here. Items of important news are received or issued at this place.

What is more, Beijing is not only the capital of New China. It was the secondary capital of what is called the Liao Dynasty and the central capital of what is calling the Jin Dynasty in the history of China. It was the capital of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is not difficult to imagine how tragic the historical events were that occurred here. The Liao Dynasty was established by an alien people, who occupied a large part of China's territory on the north side of the Yangtze River and were constantly at war with the Chinese people. The Liao Dynasty lasted more than two hundred years (907---1125). There are many stories about the heroic struggle that the Chinese waged against the Liaos. But it was a new invading power, the Jin people, that completely destroyed the Liaos. The Jins originated in what is now the northeastern part of China. After defeating the Liaos they invaded China and occupied the entire territory on the north side of the Yangtze River. The emperor of China (of the then Soong Dynasty) fled to the south of the Yangtze River. The Jins killed the Liaos and treated the Chinese on the north side of Yangtze as slaves and servants. The Jin Dynasty existed for one hundred and twenty years. Then the Mongols came. They literally annihilated the Jins and later took possession of the entire territory of China. They founded the Yuan Dynasty and located their "Big Capital" at Beijing. The Ming and Qing Dynasties that followed Yuan also designated Beijing as their capital city. It is really inconceivable that the filthy and abominable sediments of a history of one thousand years of slaughter and oppression could have been swept off in a few years after the inauguration of the People's Republic of China. Now let's ruminate over the past events and contemplate in a spirit of scientific research the relics that meet our observant gaze.