DK - China Through Time

30

The well-drilled soldiers of the imperial army are equipped with modern German rifles. The striking of the tower bell at 7pm marks the end of the working day.

Like many people, this woman is illiterate. She hires a professional letter writer to help her.

In the cramped courtyard houses and alleys (

hutongs

) of old Beijing, everyone knows everyone else’s business.

Local people greet each other with a bow, instead of shaking hands.

The End of the Canal

Beijing, 1910 ce

The Grand Canal ends its long journey at the beautiful

Shicha Lakes, close to the Forbidden City. The waterway

is quieter these days, as the barges of old have been

replaced by steamships and trains, but the restaurants and

stores around the old Yingding Bridge are as busy as ever.

Change is in the air, however. With poverty on the streets

and soldiers on patrol, an uprising will soon overthrow the

Qing Dynasty, bringing imperial rule to an end forever.

Prince regent’s mansion

Deshengmen

city gate

Houhai Lake

Guanyue

Temple

Guanhua

Temple

Bookshop

Sedan

carrying a

junior official

Steamed

bun stall

Tea house

Courtyard

houses

Workshop

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