Background

History and Background from A Better Guide to Běijīng

Introduction to Běijīng
A Brief History of Běijīng
Emperors Ruling from Yuán Dàdū or Míng and Qīng Běijīng
Hútòng Walking
Where’s the Loot?
Ancient Pastimes
World Heritage in China

Stories

Brief background notes from within the coverage of Běijīng and its surroundings

Civil Service Examinations
The Legend of the Fragrant Concubine
Where’s the Loot?
Confucianism
Joining the Club
A Foreign Journalist in Peking
How to Bargain in Běijīng
Monumental Mismanagement
The Two Palace Museums
Where are They Now?
A Storm in a Coffee Cup
The End of the Emperors
The Last Occupant of the Forbidden City
Pride and a Fall
The Ends of the Eunuchs
Square of Heavenly Discord
Miraculous Máo
The Shock of the New
Taking Pleasure from the Weather
Máo’s Maze
Altars for all Seasons
An Early Bar Street
Islam in China
Potemkin Běijīng
Gate of Good Luck
Construction and Corruption
Architecture and Xenophobia
Princely Privileges
Wall Stories
Buddhism and Lamaism
Losing Their Heads
Three Small Temples for Three Big Heroes
Sleeping with an Emperor
Sex and the Citizen
Stupa, Dagoba, Chorten, or Pagoda?
Christianity in China
Daoism
A Licence to Paint Money
Big Character
Educating Emigrants
The Flight of the Beekeepers
Shall We Have Dinner on the Terrace?
Was Polo Here?
Just My Fifty Cents
Plate Spotting
Road Kill

Main index to A Better Guide to Běijīng