The Five Elements Architecture Tour
“Wu Xing”, The five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth), raised by the ancients to compose the physical universe and later used in ancient philosophical practices to explain various physiological and psychological phenomena).
The Chinese ancients defined all things in the universe by five elements, Metal (金 jīn), Wood (木 mù), Water (水 shuǐ), Fire (火 huǒ), and Earth (土 tǔ), and called them “Wu Xing”.
E1- Gold (金)
金属、钢结构、现代主义建筑
(Metal, Steel Structure, Modernist Architecture)
The architects think out of the box of traditional architecture, intend to build an urban space that embraces both function and beauty, by their free dimensional composition and superb detail craft.
1.中国尊 China Zun, or China respect（BIAD）2hours
2. CCTV央视大楼 CCTV Headquarters（OMA）2hours
3. 侨福芳草地 Parkview Green（IDA） 2hours
4. 凤凰国际传媒中心Phoenix Center（BIAD）2hours
5. “墨色山水”——朝阳公园广场及阿玛尼公寓建筑群
Armani apartments group, Beijing Sun Park（MAD） 2hours
6. 中国国家大剧院 National Centre for the Performing Arts
（Paul Andreu）2hours
7. 中国银行Bank of China（I. M. Pei） 2hours（贝聿铭）
8. 望京SOHO Wangjing SOHO（Zaha Hadid）2hours
9. 银河SOHO Galaxy SOHO 2hours
10. 鸟巢 Beijing National Stadium 2hours
11. 水立方 National Aquatics Center 2hours
12. 丽泽SOHO Leeza SOHO 1.5hours
13. 三源里菜市场 Sanyuanli Market 2hours
14. 798艺术区 798 ArtDist 3.5hours
15. 草场地艺术区 Caochangdi international art village 2hours
16. 国家图书馆 National Library of China 2hours
17. 红砖美术馆 Red Brick Art Museum 3hours
18. 香山饭店 Fragrant Hill hotel 3hours
E2-Wood (木)
植被、园林、景观
(Vegetation, garden, landscape)
The architects create a spiritual aura by injecting artificial buildings into splendid natural scenery, in order to build a space where human can live harmoniously with nature and eventually combine into one.
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圆明园 The Old Summer Palace 3.5hours
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北海公园 Beihai Park 2.5hours
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景山公园 Jingshan Park 2hours
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园博园 Beijing Garden Expo Park 3.5hours
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篱苑书屋 Liyuan Library 3hours
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长城脚下的公社 Commune by the Great Wall Hotel 2hours
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松美术馆Song Art Museum 3hours
E3-Water (水)
水边建筑
(Waterfront architecture)
The tranquil sound of lapping waves, the beauty of sunsets over the water and the feeling of being in one’s own paradise retreat compose a perennial favorite for everyday living and relaxing getaways.
1. 什刹海 Shichahai Lake 3hours
2. 颐和园 The Summer Palace 3.5hours
3. 雁栖湖 APEC Yanqi Lake 2.5hours
E4-Fire (火)
热能、权力象征
(heat, Symbol of power) Chinese imperial architecture
From its overall layout to the finest detail, Chinese imperial architecture was meticulously planned to reflect philosophical and religious principles, and above all to symbolize the majesty of Imperial power.
1. 故宫 Forbidden City 3hours
2. 天坛 Temple of Heaven 3hour
3. 天安门 Tian'anmen Square 2hours
4. 长城 the Great Wall 5hours
5. 咖啡厅：我与地坛 café: the Corner
6. 地坛 Temple of Earth 2hours
