WHAT: Beijing's Big City Plans: A guided visit to the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall by Jack Allen

WHEN: Sunday November 17th, meeting at 1.30 PM near the museum. (The trip will begin/end at a cafe near Qianmen 前门; registrants will be notified of the address)

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: During the 1950s, more than forty Soviet advisors in urban planning and architecture took to building the ancient city of Beijing anew. The impact can still be widely seen today. This visit to the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall will look at how Stalinist notions of urbanism and architecture could be felt at three crucial points – the 1950s, when Soviet advisors were given almost free rein over the design of the city; the 1990s and 2000s, when monumental architecture topped the agenda once again in Beijing; and the modern day. Brought to life by the museum's 300 sqm diorama of the city, as well as a visit to the museum's various exhibitions on the central axis, city's history, and more, the visit will delve into an important yet often overlooked side of Beijing's urban planning, whose relevance can still be felt today. Following the Planning Exhibition Hall, an optional audio guide tour of Tiananmen Square allows for an up-close study of some of China's best-known Soviet-inspired buildings and monuments. Attendees will receive some slides illustrating details.

MORE ABOUT THE GUIDE: Jack Allen is the Events and Communications Executive at the British Chamber of Commerce in China. Before joining the British Chamber, Jack graduated from Princeton University with an AB degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures, and from the Yenching Academy of Peking University with an MA in China Studies (Literature and Culture). His master's thesis investigated the influence of Soviet urban planners on Beijing's architecture and city design in the 1950s, as well as its reverberating impacts in the modern day.

HOW MUCH: Cost is RMB 100 for members and RMB 200 for non-members. Places are limited to 8 and will be allocated in order of receipt of payment, so early booking is advised. Payment by Alipay may be easier than by WeChat. Credit cards are also accepted. Interested in becoming an RASBJ member? Please sign up at https://rasbj.org/membership​

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: Please click "Register" or "I Will Attend", no later than November 15th, and follow the instructions, which will include providing your WeChat ID so that we can reach you with any last-minute information and updates – very important! After successful registration, you will receive a confirmation email. If you seem not to have received it, please check your spam folder. Please remember to bring your full ID or passport number for admittance to the exhibition hall.

REFUND POLICY: If the event is cancelled or postponed by RASBJ, all registrants will receive refunds in full. Registrants wishing to cancel for their own reasons will be refunded if cancellation is received via email to communications@rasbj.org by November 15th, so that your place can be offered to those on the waiting list.