Modernized Beijing: Traditions, Culture and Modernized Lifestyle

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My hometown is Beijing, a city of extreme diversity. I grew up here and was raised by my grandmother, who spent most of her life in a traditional Beijing community. However, I became familiar with all kinds of culture in our city. For the past few years, I have seen Beijing grow and watched how traditions developed and adapted to new ideas as it became more tolerant of the differences between people.

The general lifestyle became modernized. I remember when I was young, people would ride bicycles around, speak with a distinct Beijing accent, and ate mostly food from Beijing. However, as the country develops, Beijing is influenced by international values. Being the capital city, it was one of the first places in China to be more “modern”. Imported products started being sold, and technology and inventions such as smartphones and cars became common. As transportation improved, people from around the country started coming to Beijing in search of better opportunities, and as we have more people from outside the city, the old residents slowly became the minority.

Aside from our daily life, some local traditions have changed as well. Out of all the changes, the most significant difference would be our celebrations of festivals. Several years ago, every family I knew would stay in Beijing and spend their holidays the traditional way, especially during Chinese New Year. However, with the developed technology, people can visit their families easier and more often, and festivals stopped being the only chances for a family reunion. Due to this development, people nowadays are adapting to new ways of celebrating. Families no longer spend every holiday at home, and most people would choose to use the time to travel and explore someplace new. Even those who choose to stay in Beijing are opting to celebrate the holiday in fancy restaurants instead of staying at home for a traditional family dinner.

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Sometimes it seems like we’re in the process of losing our culture, but that can’t be further from the truth. The younger generation is very appreciative of the traditions and is incorporating new ideas to the traditions – making it our own. Examples can be how people started wearing traditional Chinese clothing and are sharing their thoughts on fashion through the internet. Famous sites in Beijing, such as the Forbidden City, have also developed new ways to raise awareness by creating TV shows about ancient artifacts or developing products that apply to daily life but are also symbols of the old culture. People are also willing to share their cultures through social media on platforms like TikTok. The new technology and social media have helped spread the appreciation of our traditions.

Overall, Beijing is a highly developed city where new technology and ideas are common. On the other hand, Beijing is also one of the oldest cities in China and has significant traditions and cultures. Even though the old and new values might clash with each other, Beijing, being highly tolerant of diversity, managed to balance both kinds of lifestyles and kept traditions while accepting new thoughts. The city has shown us how one does not have to blindly follow all traditions or only adapt to modernized things, and how finding a place in between will result in more diversity and open-mindedness.

This article is part of beijingkids’ Teen Correspondents program. If you or a teen you know want to write for us, email [e-mail].

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