2．傳統(tǒng)文化薈萃地

2．傳統(tǒng)文化薈萃地

北京不僅是中國的政治經(jīng)濟(jì)中心，還是傳統(tǒng)文化的會聚地。這里有獨具特色的京劇藝術(shù)，有以“全聚德”為代表的飲食文化，有以“同仁堂”為代表的中藥文化，等等。

京劇是中國的國粹，至今已有200多年的歷史了，是在全國流行的重要劇種之一。早在清朝乾隆年間，原來在南方演出的四個徽調(diào)班社，相繼來到京城演出，后來同來自湖北的漢調(diào)藝人合作，在徽戲和漢戲的基礎(chǔ)上，又吸收了昆曲、秦腔和一些民間戲曲的部分劇目、曲調(diào)和表演方法，逐漸演變發(fā)展成了今天的京劇。京劇自產(chǎn)生以來，曾有過亂彈、簧調(diào)、京簧、京二簧、二簧（二黃）、大戲、平劇、京戲等許多名稱。京劇表演講究唱、念、做、打并重，重視情景交融、聲情并茂，而且京劇角色的行當(dāng)劃分也比較嚴(yán)格，大體上可以分為生、旦、凈、丑四個行當(dāng)，各個行當(dāng)都有相對應(yīng)的角色，角色形象鮮明、栩栩如生。京劇在200多年的發(fā)展過程中有上千個傳統(tǒng)劇目，比較著名的曲目有《將相和》、《群英會》、《空城計》、《貴妃醉酒》、《拾玉鐲》、《打漁殺家》等。另外，獨具特色的京劇臉譜，也逐漸成為一種具有民族特色的、以人的面部為表現(xiàn)手段的圖案藝術(shù)了。

“全聚德”是中華著名老字號，始建于清朝同治年間，已經(jīng)有140多年的歷史了，憑借其獨具特色的飲食文化和餐飲品牌享譽(yù)海內(nèi)外。

前門全聚德烤鴨店，是“全聚德”的起源店，有“天下第一樓”的美稱。當(dāng)年，位于老北京前門的“全聚德”聘請名廚，將宮廷御膳“掛爐烤鴨”這一佳肴引入民間?！叭鄣隆笨绝喗?jīng)過不斷發(fā)展完善，形成了“外形美觀，顏色鮮艷，鮮香味美”的特點。另外，它的傳統(tǒng)風(fēng)味菜“全鴨席”、“鴨珍系列”及百余種特色菜也都深受人們的歡迎。

同仁堂創(chuàng)辦于清朝康熙年間。他的創(chuàng)辦人樂尊育幾代人都以行醫(yī)賣藥為業(yè)，他立志提高中藥的質(zhì)量，治病救人，于是就在前門外開辦了一家制藥作坊，這就是最初的“同仁堂”。

同仁堂前邊是店，后邊是作坊，自制自賣。同仁堂一向注重藥材的質(zhì)量，有些藥品制作雖然繁瑣，但不省去任何一道工序；有些藥材很貴，亦不減少應(yīng)有的藥量。因此，在社會上享有很高聲譽(yù)。在清朝時同仁堂專門為清宮御藥房提供中藥，連皇帝、后妃吃的藥也是同仁堂制作的。另外，同仁堂還經(jīng)常向窮人施舍棉衣、發(fā)放藥品，獲得了社會的贊譽(yù)。

景泰藍(lán)又叫琺瑯，是一種瓷銅結(jié)合的美術(shù)工藝品，起源于元朝時的北京，在中國已有500多年的歷史了。因為其釉料顏色以孔雀藍(lán)和寶石藍(lán)為主，所以稱為景泰藍(lán)。最初的景泰藍(lán)大多是仿古的青銅器皿，現(xiàn)存最早的景泰藍(lán)是元代的產(chǎn)品。景泰藍(lán)的制作運用了青銅工藝和瓷器工藝，同時又引進(jìn)了傳統(tǒng)的繪畫、雕刻技術(shù)。景泰藍(lán)品種繁多，造型優(yōu)美，色彩逼真，風(fēng)格多樣，是具有中國民族特色的傳統(tǒng)工藝美術(shù)品。

景泰藍(lán)產(chǎn)品既可以供收藏欣賞，又可以作為日常使用，大到大廳屏風(fēng)和板凳桌椅，小到筷子、耳環(huán)、煙具等，既是人們喜歡的居室裝飾工藝品，也是贈送國際友人、親朋好友的民族旅游文化藝術(shù)品。

2. Cultural Relics

Beijing is not merely a national political and economic center but also a land of cultural treasures among which are the famous Peking opera, Quanjude roast duck and Tongrentang traditional Chinese medicine.

Peking opera, one of different types of dramas prevailing in today's China, has a history of more than two hundred years and is honored as the quintessence of the Chinese culture. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty, four drama performing troops from Anhui province came to Beijing and acted with performers from Hubei. When they performed, they incorporated some melodies and acts from other types of dramas such as Kunqu and Qinqiang, gradually giving shape to today's Peking opera which was once known for many different names such as Luantan, Huangdiao, Jinghuang, Jing Erhuang, Erhuang, the grand drama, Pingju, Jingxi. There are four main types of characters including Sheng (the main male role in Peking opera), Dan (any female role), Jing (a painted face male role), and Chou (a male clown role). In Peking opera, the performers employ the skills of singing, speaking, pantomiming and fight miming to present a lively story to the audience. After more than two hundred years of development, now there are more than one thousand traditional plays. Among the famous are The Compromise between the General and the Chancellor, A Gathering of Heroes, An Empty City, The Drunken Beauty, Picking up a Jade Bracelet, The Fisherman's Revenge, etc. Now the unique ways of painting the performers' faces have become one type of national art.

Quanjude is a time-honored food brand. Created during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing dynasty and having stood the test of more than 140 years, now the brand enjoys a high reputation both in and out of China.

The Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant situated at Qianmen is where the brand was created and is honored as "the best restaurant". Back in the Qing dynasty, the restaurant hired cooks of fame and started to roast ducks by hanging them in a furnace as was done in the imperial kitchen. This brought the brand instant success and fame among ordinary people. After a hundred years of improvement, now Quanjude roast duck, tempting both in color and taste, arouses the appetite of gastronomes from all over the country. In addition, more than a hundred traditional dishes made from the different parts of ducks are spoken highly of as well.

Tongrentang traditional Chinese medicine is another brand created in the reign of Emperor Kangxi. Born into a family of doctors, the founder of the brand opened a medicine workshop at today's Qianmen in a bid to provide patients with high-quality medicine. Quality was always the number one priority in his workshop. No matter how complicated a medicine making process was, any tiny step wouldn't be omitted; no matter how expensive a raw medicinal material was, the amount required was precise. Thus, the brand soon established a high reputation and became a medicine provider for the Royal Drugstore in the Imperial Palace of the Qing dynasty. A even more creditable act is that the workshop constantly gave away cotton-padded clothes and medicine to help the ordinary people.

Jingtailan or Cloisonné, also known as enamel, is one type of artistic handicraft made of both porcelain and copper. Originated in the Yuan dynasty, Jingtailan making in Beijing has a history of more than five hundred years. The handicraft is named Jingtailan ("Lan" in Chinese literally means "blue") because the glaze used is mainly of the peacock blue and the sapphire blue. The process of producing a cloisonné is a combination of bronze ware making, porcelain making, painting and carving. Though most of the earliest cloisonné products are household utensils, currently there are a wide variety of products, ranging from screens to desks and chairs, from chopsticks to earrings, all gracefully designed and colorfully glazed.

Artistic handicraft of a strong Chinese flavor, Jingtailan products can be used for artistic appreciation or for daily use. They are also a good choice as gifts for friends and relatives.