Forbidden city

The Forbidden city was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing 

dynasty. It is located in the center of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.

Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 m².The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial structure,and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. 

I think that the forbidden city is one place that is mystic and of prestige to the people.Now  that it is open to the public I would really want to visit this place as it is the most private of palaces in Chinese history

Jordan(25)

Beijing National Stadium

Image taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_National_Stadium

Affectionately known as Bird's Nest, it is situated in Olympic Green Village, Chaoyang District. It was designed as the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Olympic events of track and field, football, gavelock, weight throw and discus were held there. Since October, 2008, after the Olympics ended, it has been opened as a tourist attraction. Now, it's the center of international or domestic sports competition and recreation activities

To me, it means the comfort of returning home. The sense of belonging to the place I grew up in. The form of the stadium looks like a big nest which embraces and nurses human beings. Also it looks rather like a cradle bearing human beings'  hope of the future.

In my opinion, it means the national pride of being a citizen of china to the Chinese. The symbol that they embrace their nationality. Furthermore, it was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which is recognizability of their homeland's strength. It is also a memory of china having the honor of hosting the Olympics. In addition, the circular shape of the stadium represents heaven, but has been described as a bird's nest, with its pattern inspired by Chinese-style crazed pottery. A series of cantilevered trusses has been designed to support the roof, shading the seats.

-Ong Gee Hun (14) 2E

The Great Wall of china

To me, the Great Wall of china is a form of security to them. It's a protection to keep invaders from china in the past. But to china, the Great Wall is a symbol of determination. It shows that Chinese are able to achieve anything as long as they are committed. It is not only merely a wall to them, but as a strength of their people personified. The Great Wall of china also tell us that they do not trust stranger, and thus they built it to keep them away from their country. They only believe in their own people, and not foreigners. 

From this, we can learn that nothing is impossible, as long as we are determined, we can succeed and achieve our goal; the Chinese did not have any machine to help them in building the wall, but they didn't give up, and they slowly build up the wall using their bare hands.

-yida :)

Terracotta Army

This is the famous Bing Ma Yong, the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It was built based in the orders of the Emperor, who still wanted to be the Emperor even after his death. These soldiers are to protect Emperor Qin in his afterlife. I feel that this means that in China, they believe that the Emperor is very majestic and mighty, and has to be protected at all times, even after death. The Emperor is so important and must be protected, that he actually has over 8000 soldiers protecting him after death!

-Bei Xuan (8)

Thoughts on one-party rule

Advantage:

Implement change with much less resistance/opposition

There would be only internal struggles for power,no external strife in the country,so more peace

People would be selected based more on meritocracy rather than charisma,so better people would be heading the nation.

Party would be able to get things done to benefit the country without having to appease the people at the same time.

Disadvantage:

If party is corrupt the country would never come out of the pit as it's leaders cannot be overthrown.

People may not be receiving proper treatment in China according to the human rights act as the government does not need the support of the common people

If the party decides to pass their positions to their children it would become like a monarchy and nobody can stop them.

I think it would not have been able to progress as they were very backwards in many aspects,without the one party system changes would not be as swift and quick to be implemented and today it would be a third world country. This is so because of its political instability at that period and people were hungry for power.The majority are uneducated people who would just support the person that appeals to them more and would not consider how he could contribute to the country not just to themselves.

I think it will still benefit china

It is similar to Singapore's system 

Singapore has everything to learn from China but not the other way

Reflection on One Party Rule

Advantages:

- There would be no objection to all the policies

- Proposals would be able to pass through quickly, with efficiency

- The country would be able to progress with beneficial policies adopted in the long term

Disadvantages:

- Without objection, poor policies be resistant to change, would not be improved and not be adopted in the short term

- With absolute power, poor policies would have a negative impact on a lot more people

Ong Gee  Hun (14) 2 E

Thoughts on one party ruling system

China has a one party ruling system, meaning that only one government party exist. I'm going to start with the pros and cons of this system

Pros: 

1) Government can make tough decision if it is a one party nation such as rise in good and reducing Tax contribution. One party rule means more control and less time to make a decision in this rapidly changing world. This will then lead to the second pros-

2) more focus on developing country. Since there's only one party and no competition, the party don't have to waste time fighting over power with the other party, which mean that they will have more time in developing the country.

3) common goal in the government. This allow them to work together without competition, and have more

Success in working towards their goal.

Cons:

1) less alternative view. There is no other party to step up and give alternate views, and thus, the government will only go with their decision.

2) wrong decision. If they only party made the wrong decision for the country, that is it. Mistake will be covered up and made unknown to public.

3) Feeling of being suppressed by single party Gov. Action toward opposition make citizen fearful of repercussion of speaking against Gov freely. This restrict the freedom of their people as they have totally no say to the decision to their country. 

4) corruption. As there's no other party, the only existing party will be in their comfort zone, and lead to a lack in growth of the country. Furthermore, corruption will happen as there is no threat to negative consequent. 

All in all, since there is more cons than pros, I felt that this one party ruling system is not as good, and singapore should not use it. Corruption, lack of idea and restrict of freedom will occur in this system and these will affect the growth of one country negatively. Having several parties will provide competition, which drives the government to become better and serve the country better. 

-yida :)

One Party Ruling

Last Monday Mr Wong told us more about China (because we're going there for OELP YAY.) and I found out that China has a one party ruler system. We were told to find out more on the pros and cons of this system so here's my answer!! :D

PROS

1. More control and consumes less time to make a decision.

CONS

1. Mistakes made by the Government can be covered up and make unknown to public. 

2. Single party Government listens to  lesser to alternative views.

3. If 2 political parties are present, more intellectual conflict and exchange could take place. A strong and positive development may result from such action.

4. No objections to the decisions made hence there is no improvement.

-Bei Xuan (8)

Chingay 2014