Six Chinese cities with best feng shui (2)

（People's Daily Online）  09:33, May 29, 2013  

Beijing

Beijing has always been considered an ideal selection for the nation's capital according to feng shui theories. It is a city surrounded by a series of mountains - the number one criterion for good feng shui.

A map of China shows Beijing sandwiched between two arms of Kunlun Mountain to the left and right. Not many other cities in the world are encircled with so many layers of hills. Feng shui theory believes that being surrounded by mountains symbolizes people all over the country supporting the city.

Beijing's water system also perfectly matches the standards of good feng shui, with the water in Yuquan Spring dubbed the "First Spring under Heaven" by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The emperor believed the two prime criteria for good water are "pleasant in taste," and "light in weight." He ordered a silver cup made to measure the weight and quality of springs all over China. The lightest and sweetest water turned out to be from Beijing's Yuquan Spring, which led the emperor to write an article titled First Spring under Heaven Made by the Order of His Majesty.