Beatrice Deck
Of the Beatrice Superfamily’s four optical sizes, Beatrice Deck is the smallest optical size that still emphasizes the family’s unique contrast methodology. Within the larger type system of the family, Beatrice Deck is ideal for caption and sub-headline settings, but could also be used interchangeably with Display and Headline in all manner of display settings for a more casual mood.
AAAAAAA BBBBBBB CCCCCCC DDDDDDD EEEEEEE FFFFFFF GGGGGGG HHHHHHH IIIIIII JJJJJJJ KKKKKKK LLLLLLL MMMMMMM NNNNNNN OOOOOOO PPPPPPP QQQQQQQ RRRRRRR SSSSSSS TTTTTTT UUUUUUU VVVVVVV WWWWWWW XXXXXXX YYYYYYY ZZZZZZZ
Over the 2,000 years it took to build, rebuild and extend sections of the Great Wall of China, it was sometimes referred to as the longest cemetery on Earth. Reportedly, over a million people died building the Wall and archaeologists have found human remains buried under parts of the Wall.
The most well-known of all of the legends of The Great Wall of China is the story of “Meng Jiangnu’s Bitter Weeping.” It was said that 2,000 years ago when the First Emperor of the Qin was building the Great Wall, a young called Fan Xiliang was forced to work on the construction right after his wedding day. His bride, Meng Jiangnu waited for him at home for years but did not hear a word from him. After a bad dream, she decided to walk all the way the the Wall on foot, crossing mountains and rivers. When Meng Jiangnu finally got to the construction site, she was told that her husband had died and was buried under the Great Wall. Hearing this sad news of the death of her beloved, she wept and wailed for days. Suddenly with a tremendous noise, a 400 kilometer-long (248-mile-long) section of the Great Wall collapsed over her bitter wail, surfacing her husband’s body.
This made the emperor Qin This made the emperor Qin Shihuang very angry, and he ordered Meng Jiangnu to be punished. But when he saw the young lady, he was immediately attracted by her beauty and he asked her to marry him. Meng Jiangnu put aside her anger and agreed on the condition of a grand funeral for her husband. Right after the ceremony, however, she tricked the guards and jumped into the sea, taking her own life. “To this day people are still talking of Meng Jiang Nü Yet no more is said of the First Emperor of Qin or the Martial Emperor of Han. Throughout the ages nothing is sadder than an ordinary tragedy; In her tears Meng Jiang Nü lives through all eternities.” – A poem by Liu Bannong. The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas extend over 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangtze/ Jinsha, Lancang/Mekong and Nujiang/Salween rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. Heilongjiang River is the world’s tenth longest river. It rises in the hills of western Manchuria at the confluence of its two major affluents, the Shilka River and the Ergune River, at an elevation of 303 meters, running 4,370 meters into Okhotsk Sea bypassing the Tatarskiy Proliv. As it flows through China, Mongolia and Russia, it can be called an “international river”.Shihuang very angry, and he ordered Meng Jiangnu to be punished. But when he saw the young lady, he was immediately attracted by her beauty and he asked her to marry him. Meng Jiangnu put aside her anger and agreed on the condition of a grand funeral for her husband. Right after the ceremony, however, she tricked the guards and jumped into the sea, taking her own life. “To this day people are still talking of Meng Jiang Nü Yet no more is said of the First Emperor of Qin or the Martial Emperor of Han. Throughout the ages nothing is sadder than an ordinary tragedy; In her tears Meng Jiang Nü lives through all eternities.” – A poem by Liu Bannong. The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas extend over 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangtze/ Jinsha, Lancang/Mekong and Nujiang/Salween rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. Heilongjiang River is the world’s tenth longest river. It rises in the hills of western Manchuria at the confluence of its two major affluents, the Shilka River and the Ergune River, at an elevation of 303 meters, running 4,370 meters into Okhotsk Sea bypassing the Tatarskiy Proliv. As it flows through China, Mongolia and Russia, it can be called an “international river”.
The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas extend over 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangtze/ Jinsha, Lancang/Mekong and Nujiang/Salween rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters.
Heilongjiang River is the world’s tenth longest river. It rises in the hills of western Manchuria at the confluence of its two major affluents, the Shilka River and the Ergune River, at an elevation of 303 meters, running 4,370 meters into Okhotsk Sea bypassing the Tatarskiy Proliv. As it flows through China, Mongolia and Russia, it can be called an “international river”. The Amur river materializes most of the eastern section of the border between China and Russia. The Chinese province of Heilongjiang on the south bank of the river takes its name from the river, as does the Russian Amur Oblast on the north bank. Heilongjiang River is the world’s tenth longest river. It rises in the hills of western Manchuria at the confluence of its two major affluents, the Shilka River and the Ergune River, at an elevation of 303 meters, running 4,370 meters into Okhotsk Sea bypassing the Tatarskiy Proliv. As it flows through China, Mongolia and Russia, it can be called an “international river”. The Amur river materializes most of the eastern section of the border between China and Russia. The Chinese province of Heilongjiang on the south bank of the river takes its name from the river, as does the Russian Amur Oblast on the north bank.
Were you aware there are several different names for the Yellow River? The traditional Chinese name is Huang He. However, the Yellow River is also referred to as, The River, Mother River of China, The Cradle of Chinese Civilization, and even, The Sorrow. Now that might seem like a lot of names for one river, but if you look at the history of the Yellow River you will understand the the meaning behind each name. Flowing through nine provinces, the Yellow River is believed to have changed course more than 20 times due to severe flooding. Once upon a time, a hunter was chasing a tiger through the deepest river canyon in China. The chase went on until they reached the narrowest point of the gorge. The tiger found itself trapped between the hunter and the rushing river at the base of the gorge, hundreds of feet below. Left with no choice, the tiger leapt the 25m (82 ft) gap across the gorge, thus escaping the hunter. This is the legend behind the Tiger Leaping Gorge’s name. Standing by the bank of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been the outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1994. Its totally transparent elevators and glass-bottomed sightseeing floor and corridor offers the most vertiginous views of the city, 259 meters below. Were you aware there are several different names for the Yellow River? The traditional Chinese name is Huang He. However, the Yellow River is also referred to as, The River, Mother River of China, The Cradle of Chinese Civilization, and even, The Sorrow. Now that might seem like a lot of names for one river, but if you look at the history of the Yellow River you will understand the the meaning behind each name. Flowing through nine provinces, the Yellow River is believed to have changed course more than 20 times due to severe flooding. Once upon a time, a hunter was chasing a tiger through the deepest river canyon in China. The chase went on until they reached the narrowest point of the gorge. The tiger found itself trapped between the hunter and the rushing river at the base of the gorge, hundreds of feet below. Left with no choice, the tiger leapt the 25m (82 ft) gap across the gorge, thus escaping the hunter. This is the legend behind the Tiger Leaping Gorge’s name. Standing by the bank of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been the outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1994. Its totally transparent elevators and glass-bottomed sightseeing floor and corridor offers the most vertiginous views of the city, 259 meters below.
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Together, the two Chinese characters in the city’s name mean Upon-the-Sea. With an estimated population of more than 26million in 2019, Shanghai is the most populous city in China and third most populous in the world
Standing by the bank of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been the outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1994. Its totally transparent elevators and glass-bottomed sightseeing floor and corridor offers the most vertiginous views of the city, 259 meters below. The longest metro system in the world spreads beneath the city of Shanghai with 400 miles (644 km) of tunnels and track. The Shanghai metro has 393 stations spread throughout the city and connecting major attractions, making it easy to navigate for international visitors. Shanghai boasts the world’s fastest train, the Shanghai Maglev, which connects Pudong International Airport to downtown Shanghai. Standing by the bank of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been the outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1994. Its totally transparent elevators and glass-bottomed sightseeing floor and corridor offers the most vertiginous views of the city, 259 meters below. The longest metro system in the world spreads beneath the city of Shanghai with 400 miles (644 km) of tunnels and track. The Shanghai metro has 393 stations spread throughout the city and connecting major attractions, making it easy to navigate for international visitors. Shanghai boasts the world’s fastest train, the Shanghai Maglev, which connects Pudong International Airport to downtown Shanghai.
The Shanghai Tower is a 632-metre (2,073 ft), 128-story megatall skyscraper. It is the world’s second-tallest building by height to architectural top, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It shares the record (along with the Ping An Finance Center) of having the world’s highest observation deck within a building or structure at 562 m, and the world’s second-fastest elevators at a top speed of 20.5 metres per second (74 km/h; 46 mph). Construction work on the tower began in November 2008 and work was considered complete in September 2015. Surrounding Shanghai are eight ancient water towns, which make for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip. If you don’t have time to visit them all, Qibao is the perfect place to stop. Located within the city limits, Qibao is known for its delicious street food and its beautiful canal views. Just a few streets long, Qibao is like a mini-town. It is best enjoyed during the week, as it can get packed with tourists at the weekend. Highlights include the cheap shopping and the Qibao Winery. Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. It was a private garden of the Pan family in the Ming Dynasty, and it was considered the the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai after it was completed in 1577. This garden features a unique design, and it perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering pools, zigzag bridges, pagodas, archways, and impressive rockeries. Wandering through the corridors and archways brings you a feeling of relaxation, and you can stop to gaze at the famed Exquisite Jade Rock, a 5-ton, porous, beautifully-shaped, spiky rock; or climb to the top of the Great Rockery. When walking in the garden, don’t just focus on the huge items like buildings and bridges, but keep your eyes on the details. The Shanghai Tower is a 632-metre (2,073 ft), 128-story megatall skyscraper. It is the world’s second-tallest building by height to architectural top, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It shares the record (along with the Ping An Finance Center) of having the world’s highest observation deck within a building or structure at 562 m, and the world’s second-fastest elevators at a top speed of 20.5 metres per second (74 km/h; 46 mph). Construction work on the tower began in November 2008 and work was considered complete in September 2015. Surrounding Shanghai are eight ancient water towns, which make for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip. If you don’t have time to visit them all, Qibao is the perfect place to stop. Located within the city limits, Qibao is known for its delicious street food and its beautiful canal views. Just a few streets long, Qibao is like a mini-town. It is best enjoyed during the week, as it can get packed with tourists at the weekend. Highlights include the cheap shopping and the Qibao Winery. Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. It was a private garden of the Pan family in the Ming Dynasty, and it was considered the the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai after it was completed in 1577. This garden features a unique design, and it perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering pools, zigzag bridges, pagodas, archways, and impressive rockeries. Wandering through the corridors and archways brings you a feeling of relaxation, and you can stop to gaze at the famed Exquisite Jade Rock, a 5-ton, porous, beautifully-shaped, spiky rock; or climb to the top of the Great Rockery. When walking in the garden, don’t just focus on the huge items like buildings and bridges, but keep your eyes on the details.
The Mulan River flows through the southern part of Putian. You can find the Wonderland on the Sea and the Heavenly Mountain in South China in Fuding. Bengbu means “Oyster Wharf” in Chinese. Its nickname is “the Pearl City”, echoing its former reputation as a freshwater pearl fishery.
In Eurasia, the Continental Pole of Inaccessibility is the place on land that is farthest from the ocean, and it lies in northwestern China, near the Kazakhstan border, in Xinjiang. The location 43°40′52″N 87°19′52″E in the southwestern suburbs of Ürümqi was designated by local geography experts as the center point of Asia. Anhui province is today announcing the cancellation of Chaohu city, the local news said. It went on to explain that the city once known as Chaohu, a city in eastern China’s Anhui province with a population of about 4 million, no longer appears on the map. It had been divided into three pieces absorbed by the nearby cities of Hefei, Wuhu and Ma’anshan. The people have remained, but the city has vanished. Continental Pole of Inaccessibility is the place on land that is farthest from the ocean, and it lies in northwestern China, near the Kazakhstan border, in Xinjiang. The location 43°40′52″N 87°19′52″E in the southwestern suburbs of Ürümqi was designated by local geography experts as the center point of Asia. Anhui province is today announcing the cancellation of Chaohu city, the local news said. It went on to explain that the city once known as Chaohu, a city in eastern China’s Anhui province with a population of about 4 million, no longer appears on the map. It had been divided into three pieces absorbed by the nearby cities of Hefei, Wuhu and Ma’anshan. The people have remained, but the city has vanished.
Hongcun is a village in Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City in the historical Huizhou region of southern Anhui Province, China, near the southwest slope of Mount Huangshan. The village is arranged in the shape of an ox with the nearby hill (Leigang Hill) interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it as the horns. Four bridges across the Jiyin stream can be seen as the legs whilst the houses of the village form the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream represents the intestines and various lakes such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) form the other internal organs. Qingyang is sadly famous for the Chíing-yang meteor shower of 1490. On surviving account records: Numerous stones rained in Ch’ing-yang. Their sizes were all different. The larger ones were like goose’s eggs and the smaller ones were like water-chestnuts. More than 10,000 people were struck dead. All of the people in the city fled to other places. Due to the paucity of detailed information and the lack of surviving meteorites or other physical evidence, researchers have also been unable to definitively state the exact nature of the dramatic event. Hongcun is a village in Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City in the historical Huizhou region of southern Anhui Province, China, near the southwest slope of Mount Huangshan. The village is arranged in the shape of an ox with the nearby hill (Leigang Hill) interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it as the horns. Four bridges across the Jiyin stream can be seen as the legs whilst the houses of the village form the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream represents the intestines and various lakes such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) form the other internal organs. Qingyang is sadly famous for the Chíing-yang meteor shower of 1490. On surviving account records: Numerous stones rained in Ch’ing-yang. Their sizes were all different. The larger ones were like goose’s eggs and the smaller ones were like water-chestnuts. More than 10,000 people were struck dead. All of the people in the city fled to other places. Due to the paucity of detailed information and the lack of surviving meteorites or other physical evidence, researchers have also been unable to definitively state the exact nature of the dramatic event.
Parallel Rivers Shiquizhen Yangtze River Qing Dynasty Pudong District Jade Rock Vertiginous
Beijing has served as a capital of six notable dynasties and Governments over 21 centuries. The name Northern Capital was first used during the reign of the Ming dynasty’s Yongle Emperor in 1403, and restored in 1949 at the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Beijing is actually the 16th name of the city. Throughout the centuries, the city has been given many other names: Ji and Jicheng, Yan and Yanjing, Guangyang, Fanyang and Yuyang, Jixian, Youzhou, Nanjing, Khanbaliq and Dadu, Beiping, Shuntian and Beizhili, Jingshi, Zhongdu, Peking. People have been living in the Beijing area since prehistoric times. The earliest remains of hominid habitation in Beijing Municipality were found in the 1920s. The anthropologists discovered that the Homo Erectus dubbed “Peking Man” (Sinanthropus pekinensis) lived in this area from 770,000 to 230,000 years ago. Archaeologists have discovered over 40 neolithic settlements and burial sites throughout the municipality. Beijing is actually the 16th name of the city. Throughout the centuries, the city has been given many other names: Ji and Jicheng, Yan and Yanjing, Guangyang, Fanyang and Yuyang, Jixian, Youzhou, Nanjing, Khanbaliq and Dadu, Beiping, Shuntian and Beizhili, Jingshi, Zhongdu, Peking. People have been living in the Beijing area since prehistoric times. The earliest remains of hominid habitation in Beijing Municipality were found in the 1920s. The anthropologists discovered that the Homo Erectus dubbed “Peking Man” (Sinanthropus pekinensis) lived in this area from 770,000 to 230,000 years ago. Archaeologists have discovered over 40 neolithic settlements and burial sites throughout the municipality.
First built in the 11th century, The Beihai Park is among the largest of all Chinese gardens. As with many of Chinese imperial gardens, it was built to imitate renowned scenic spots and architecture from various regions of China; the Taihu lake, the elaborate pavilions and canals in Hangzhou and Yangzhou, the delicate garden structures in Suzhou and others all served as inspirations for the design of the numerous sites in this garden located in the northwestern part of the Imperial City. Since 1925, the place has been open to the public as a park. The Temple of Heaven, founded in the first half of the 15th century, is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods. In its overall layout and that of its individual buildings, it symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God’s world – which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony, and also the special role played by the emperors within that relationship. There are nine million bicycles in Beijing That’s a Fact, it’s a thing we can’t deny Like the fact that I will love you till I die (…) [Nine Million Bicycles, Katie Melua, 2005.] First built in the 11th century, The Beihai Park is among the largest of all Chinese gardens. As with many of Chinese imperial gardens, it was built to imitate renowned scenic spots and architecture from various regions of China; the Taihu lake, the elaborate pavilions and canals in Hangzhou and Yangzhou, the delicate garden structures in Suzhou and others all served as inspirations for the design of the numerous sites in this garden located in the northwestern part of the Imperial City. Since 1925, the place has been open to the public as a park. The Temple of Heaven, founded in the first half of the 15th century, is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods. In its overall layout and that of its individual buildings, it symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God’s world – which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony, and also the special role played by the emperors within that relationship. There are nine million bicycles in Beijing That’s a Fact, it’s a thing we can’t deny Like the fact that I will love you till I die (…) [Nine Million Bicycles, Katie Melua, 2005.]
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The imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing. The Forbidden City counts precisely 9,999 rooms, as 9 is a lucky number in China. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the Forbidden City consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 hectares (over 180 acres).
It was named the Forbidden City because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm. Government functionaries and even the imperial family were permitted only limited access; the emperor alone could enter any section at will. The Forbidden City now houses the Palace Museum. It was established in 1925 after the last Emperor of China was evicted from his palace, and opened its doors to the public. It is home to over 1.8 million pieces of art, mostly from the imperial collection of the Ming and Qing dynasties, including paintings, ceramics, seals, steles, sculptures, inscribed wares, bronze wares, enamel objects, etc. It was named the Forbidden City because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm. Government functionaries and even the imperial family were permitted only limited access; the emperor alone could enter any section at will. The Forbidden City now houses the Palace Museum. It was established in 1925 after the last Emperor of China was evicted from his palace, and opened its doors to the public. It is home to over 1.8 million pieces of art, mostly from the imperial collection of the Ming and Qing dynasties, including paintings, ceramics, seals, steles, sculptures, inscribed wares, bronze wares, enamel objects, etc.
The architecture of the walled complex adheres rigidly to the traditional Chinese geomantic practice of feng shui. The orientation of the Forbidden City, and for that matter all of Beijing, follows a north-south line. Within the compound, all the most important buildings, especially those along the main axis, face south to honour the Sun. The buildings and the ceremonial spaces between them are arranged to convey an impression of great imperial power while reinforcing the insignificance of the individual. The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tài Hé Diàn) is the largest hall within the Forbidden City. It is located at its central axis, behind the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Built above three levels of marble stone base, and surrounded by bronze incense burners, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is one of the largest wooden structures within China. It was the location where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties hosted their enthronement and wedding ceremonies. The Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan) is located outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility. Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters. This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design. There are some twenty structures, each of a different style, and the ways in which they harmonise with the trees, rockeries, flower beds and sculptural object. The architecture of the walled complex adheres rigidly to the traditional Chinese geomantic practice of feng shui. The orientation of the Forbidden City, and for that matter all of Beijing, follows a north-south line. Within the compound, all the most important buildings, especially those along the main axis, face south to honour the Sun. The buildings and the ceremonial spaces between them are arranged to convey an impression of great imperial power while reinforcing the insignificance of the individual. The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tài Hé Diàn) is the largest hall within the Forbidden City. It is located at its central axis, behind the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Built above three levels of marble stone base, and surrounded by bronze incense burners, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is one of the largest wooden structures within China. It was the location where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties hosted their enthronement and wedding ceremonies. The Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan) is located outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility. Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters. This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design. There are some twenty structures, each of a different style, and the ways in which they harmonise with the trees, rockeries, flower beds and sculptural object.
Buses in Wuhu start at ¥1 for a general bus and ¥2 for air-conditioned buses. If Neijiang was an important salt producing area, it is now referred to as the sugar capital of Sichuan. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the Forbidden City consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 hectares (over 180 acres).
On the edge of the Tibetan plateau, Xining, a city of 2.2 million has one of China’s most interesting cultural mixes. More than 37 ethnic groups call Xining home. If there is a Chinatown in New York, there also is a Manhattan in China. Yujiapu Financial District is an under construction central business district in Tianjin, modelled after Manhattan’s skyline. Dozens of skyscrapers are to arise in a few years. This ambitious project is being developed with a total investment of about 200 billion yuan. The Window of the World is located in the western part of the city of Shenzhen. This theme park features miniature versions of about 130 of the world’s most famous landmarks squeezed into 48 hectares (118 acres). The 108 metre (354 ft) tall Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline and the sight of the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal or the Niagara Falls all in proximity to each other are all part of the appeal of this theme park. On the edge of the Tibetan plateau, Xining, a city of 2.2 million has one of China’s most interesting cultural mixes. More than 37 ethnic groups call Xining home. If there is a Chinatown in New York, there also is a Manhattan in China. Yujiapu Financial District is an under construction central business district in Tianjin, modelled after Manhattan’s skyline. Dozens of skyscrapers are to arise in a few years. This ambitious project is being developed with a total investment of about 200 billion yuan. The Window of the World is located in the western part of the city of Shenzhen. This theme park features miniature versions of about 130 of the world’s most famous landmarks squeezed into 48 hectares (118 acres). The 108 metre (354 ft) tall Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline and the sight of the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal or the Niagara Falls all in proximity to each other are all part of the appeal of this theme park.
In the far northeastern province of Heilongjiang, Harbin turns its bitter coldness (winter temperatures can be as low as -40°C) into an attraction. Each January and February the city hosts the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, with fantastical ice sculptures of famous world monuments on display. Past highlights include a life-size Forbidden City, a sphinx and the Kremlin, all carved from blocks of ice and illuminated with disco-esque neon green and pink spotlights. Dujiangyan became a county-level city in 1988 and was renamed after the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, in the city’s northwest, channeling and dividing the water of the Min River. The whole system, designed by Li Bing and his son around 256 BC, has functioned for over 2,000 years, preventing floods and providing substantial irrigation and facilitating shipping and wood drifting. It has contributed greatly to the richness of Chengdu Plain with its reputation as “The Land of Abundance.” “The shimmer of light on the water is the play of sunny skies, The blur of color across the hills is richer still in rain. If you wish to compare the lake in the West to the Lady of the West, Lightly powdered or thickly smeared the fancy is just as apt.” Drinking by the Lake: Clear Sky at First, then Rain by Su Hi. One of the many poems inspired by the legendary beauty of Hangzhou. In the far northeastern province of Heilongjiang, Harbin turns its bitter coldness (winter temperatures can be as low as -40°C) into an attraction. Each January and February the city hosts the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, with fantastical ice sculptures of famous world monuments on display. Past highlights include a life-size Forbidden City, a sphinx and the Kremlin, all carved from blocks of ice and illuminated with disco-esque neon green and pink spotlights. Dujiangyan became a county-level city in 1988 and was renamed after the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, in the city’s northwest, channeling and dividing the water of the Min River. The whole system, designed by Li Bing and his son around 256 BC, has functioned for over 2,000 years, preventing floods and providing substantial irrigation and facilitating shipping and wood drifting. It has contributed greatly to the richness of Chengdu Plain with its reputation as “The Land of Abundance.” “The shimmer of light on the water is the play of sunny skies, The blur of color across the hills is richer still in rain. If you wish to compare the lake in the West to the Lady of the West, Lightly powdered or thickly smeared the fancy is just as apt.” Drinking by the Lake: Clear Sky at First, then Rain by Su Hi. One of the many poems inspired by the legendary beauty of Hangzhou.
Taken as a whole, the Beatrice superfamily makes full use of the wide spectrum of optical sizes defined by the extrema of Display and Standard. All four styles share a common framework and contrast logic, with point sizes broadly determining each subfamily’s application.
Tuscany borders the regions of Liguria to the northwest, Emilia-Romagna to
Tuscany has a western coastline on the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, among which is the Tuscan Archipelago, of which the most significant island is Elba. Tuscany has an area of approximately 22,993 square kilometres (8,878 sq mi).
During the Republic's history, Florence was an important cultural, economic, political and artistic force in Europe. Its coin, the florin, was the dominant trade coin of Western Europe for large scale transactions and became widely imitated throughout the continent. During the Republican period, Florence was also the birthplace of the Renaissance, which is considered a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic "rebirth". Battles first began between the Cerchi and Giugni at their houses in the Via del Garbo; they fought day and night, and with the aid of the Cavalcanti and Antellesi the former subdued all that quarter: a thousand rural adherents strengthened their bands, and that day might have seen the Neri's destruction if an unforeseen disaster had not turned the scale. The Ghibellines were supporters of the noble rulers of Florence, whereas the Guelphs were populists. The Ghibellines, who had ruled the city under Frederick of Antioch since 1244, were deposed in 1250 by the Guelphs. The Guelphs led Florence to prosper further. Their primarily mercantile orientation soon became evident in one of their earliest achievements: the introduction of a new coin, the florin, in 1252. It was widely used beyond Florence's borders due to its reliable, fixed gold content and soon became one of the common currencies of Europe and the Near East. The same year saw the creation of the Palazzo del Popolo.
Florence's population continued to grow into the 13th century, reaching 30,000 inhabitants. As has been said, the extra inhabitants supported the city's trade and vice versa. Several new bridges and churches were built, most prominently the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, begun in 1294. The buildings from this era serve as Florence's best examples of Gothic Architecture. Politically, Florence was barely able to maintain peace between its competing factions. The precarious peace that existed at the beginning of the century was destroyed in 1216 when two factions, known as the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, began to war. The Ghibellines were supporters of the noble rulers of Florence, whereas the Guelphs were populists. The Ghibellines, who had ruled the city under Frederick of Antioch since 1244, were deposed in 1250 by the Guelphs. The Guelphs led Florence to prosper further. Their primarily mercantile orientation soon became evident in one of their earliest achievements: the introduction of a new coin, the florin, in 1252. It was widely used beyond Florence's borders due to its reliable, fixed gold content and soon became one of the common currencies of Europe and the Near East. The same year saw the creation of the Palazzo del Popolo. During World War II the city experienced a year-long German occupation (1943–1944) being part of the Italian Social Republic. Hitler declared it an open city on 3 July 1944 as troops of the British 8th Army closed in.[33] In early August, the retreating Germans decided to demolish all the bridges along the Arno linking the district of Oltrarno to the rest of the city, making it difficult for troops of the 8th Army to cross. However, at the last moment Charles Steinhauslin, at the time consul of 26 countries in Florence, convinced the German general in Italy that the Ponte Vecchio was not to be destroyed due to its historical value. Instead, an equally historic area of streets directly to the south of the bridge, including part of the Corridoio Vasariano, was destroyed using mines. Since then the bridges have been restored to their original forms using as many of the remaining materials as possible, but the buildings surrounding the Ponte Vecchio have been rebuilt in a style combining the old with modern design. Shortly before leaving Florence, as they knew that they would soon have to retreat, the Germans executed many freedom fighters and political opponents publicly, in streets and squares including the Piazza Santo Spirito.