Who can give a detailed introduction to the city of Berlin in Germany, including economy, politics, tourism, etc.

Berlin (German: Berlin), the capital of Germany, is also the largest city in Germany, with approximately 3.4 million residents. Berlin is located in northeastern Germany and is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. The Spree and Havel rivers flow through the city. Berlin is the transportation hub of Eastern and Western Europe. It is less than 200 kilometers from the Baltic Sea in the north and the Czech Republic in the south.

Basic Overview

Berlin is located in the heart of Europe and is the intersection of East and West. The city covers an area of ??883 square kilometers, of which parks, forests, lakes and rivers account for about a quarter of the city's total area. The entire city is surrounded by forests and grasslands, like a big green island. The population is approximately 3.39 million.

Since the Prussian dynasty in the 19th century, Berlin has been the capital of the "German Empire". Berlin had become a trading town as early as the 13th century, and developed into a local political, economic and cultural center in the 17th century. Before World War II it was the capital and largest city of Germany. After the war, East and West Berlin went their separate ways and developed independently. With the reunification of the two Germanys in 1990, Berlin ended the situation of one city with two systems and became the capital of Germany again. Berlin is located on the main transportation route between Eastern and Western Europe. It is less than 200 kilometers from the Baltic Sea to the north and the Czech Republic to the south.

Berlin’s economy and cultural undertakings are very developed. From a bird's eye view of Berlin, surrounded by forests, lakes, and rivers, the city seems to be immersed in a sea of ??green. The Spree River flows slowly through the city from the south. Alexander Square TV Tower is surrounded by modern hotels, shops, conference halls, teachers' halls and other large buildings. It is majestic and beautiful in appearance. The Kurfestendamm shopping street is 3 kilometers long, with shops, clothing stores, and galleries lined up in rows. The famous Rue des Linden is the most famous boulevard in Europe.

In addition, there are the Brandenburg Gate built of milky white granite, the 800-year-old Frauenkirche, the City Hall, the ancient buildings on Museum Island, the "Crystal Palace" and state officials, Humboldt University is also very famous. The ancient Charlotte Castle is surrounded by important cultural buildings such as the Egyptian Museum, the Antique Museum, the Early Prehistoric Museum and the Applied Art Museum, which contain many precious cultural relics and works of art. An octagonal new church was built on the straight side of the old Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The silver conference hall with a clamshell roof completed in 1957 is one of the masterpieces of modern architecture.

Berlin is also one of the world's important places for cultural and academic exchanges and has a modern international conference center. The biennial Berlin International Film Festival also attracts the attention of world-class movie stars and film lovers.

Natural climate

Berlin is located on the lowland plain in northeastern Germany, with an average altitude of less than 70 meters and a high latitude, so the temperature is low all year round, but even though Berlin is It can still be considered very beautiful when the ice is biting and the lake is frozen, but there is no doubt that this is a city suitable for summer travel. Since the harsh winter in Berlin begins to get warmer in May, and Berlin begins to enter the "severe winter" again after September, it is best to avoid traveling in winter when traveling to Berlin.

Berlin’s climate is a transitional type between temperate maritime climate and temperate continental climate, with an average annual temperature of 9.4°C. Winter is cold, with an average temperature of -1℃ in January; summer is cool, with an average temperature of 18℃ in July. The annual precipitation is 580 mm, which is evenly distributed throughout the year, except for slightly more rain in summer. Snowfall often occurs in winter, accounting for about 1/4 to 1/5 of the total annual precipitation. The annual average snow cover period is 50 days.

Geographical environment

It is located on the moraine plain of North Germany. The terrain is low and slightly undulating, with an average altitude of 35 meters. The highest natural point is located in Kreuzburg, 66 meters above sea level. The Spree River runs through the city and flows westward into the Havel River. The latter winds and twists, forming a string of Havel lakes. At the eastern end, there are lakes such as Miguel Lake. The large lakes have become the water source of the city, and there are several large forests scattered among them. Because of its many forests and lakes, it is known as the "City of Forests and Lakes".

Historical evolution

The Duchy of Brandenburg

Berlin is a very old city. It was originally a swamp in the northeast of the Elbe River. There were two settlements of the West Slavic tribe, named Berlin and C?lln. It was not until the 12th century, after the Germans expelled the Slavs who settled here, that they established two villages and towns on the Spree River and adopted their Slavic names. Berlin was founded in 1237. It is located on the east bank of the Spree River and is a merchant settlement. Cohen is located on the west bank of the Spree River and is a fishing village.

In 1307, Berlin and Cohen merged into one city, named Berlin, and became an important commercial center under the rule of the Askar family. In the 14th century, Berlin joined the Hanseatic League, an important commercial alliance in the Baltics and Northern Europe. But Berlin at this time was just a barbaric town on the frontier of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1411, Frederick, a member of the Hohenzollern family from southwestern Germany, served as the Border Governor (Markgraf), quelled the war in the region, and became the Elector of Brandenburg. From 1415 onwards, Berlin became the capital of the Elector of Brandenburg.

From 1640 to 1688, Frederick William I (Elector) ushered in Berlin's cultural and artistic prosperity. He built a palace, an arsenal, a church and the Potsdam Palace, and won Berlin the "Spree Riverside". Athens" reputation.

The Kingdom of Prussia

In 1701, Elector Frederick I was crowned King of Prussia, and Berlin became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. Beginning with Frederick William I and Frederick the Great in the 18th century, Berlin built a large number of Baroque and Rococo buildings in the western part of the medieval old city, forming what is known as "Friedrichstadt" (Friedrichstadt). new town. Its western boundary is three squares and city gates: Pariser Platz und Brandenburger Tor; Leipzig Platz und Potsdam Tor; Meili Platz and Hallemen (Belle- Alliance Platz und Hallesches Tor).

Berlin was occupied by Austrian and Russian troops during the Seven Years' War, and by French troops in 1806. Although the city was not seriously damaged, Napoleon ordered the Victory carriage at the Brandenburg Gate to be dismantled and transported back to France, where it was returned in 1814.

Beginning in the early 19th century, Berlin once again underwent large-scale expansion. The architects Langhans and Schinkel built many neoclassical monuments, such as the National Theatre, the Ancient Museum, the National Gallery, the Brandenburg Gate, the Lindenstrasse, and the Museum Island. Numerous museum buildings: Old Museum, New Museum, National Gallery, Pergamon Museum, Emperor Friedrich Museum. Berlin earned the nickname "Athens on the Spree" for this reason.

On the other hand, Linnaeus, director of the Royal Prussian Gardens, made outstanding plans for urban greening in Berlin, building a large-scale urban green belt centered on the Berlin Zoo, and building a large green belt between the Linden Street and the Berlin's "East-West Axis" formed by Charlottenburg Strasse connects the government district in the east of Berlin with the commercial and garden district in the west.

In 1810, the University of Berlin was founded. Starting in 1837, Prussia began the process of industrialization and established factories such as Siemens in Berlin. During the revolution of 1848, there was also an uprising in Berlin.

German Empire Period

In 1862, William I appointed Bismarck as prime minister. In 1871, Berlin became the capital of the German Empire. In 1894, architect Vallott built the Capitol Building.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Berlin had reached the level of London, New York and Paris in industry, economy and urban construction, becoming another global political, economic and cultural center. During this period, Berlin built a large number of roads, bridges, subways and station buildings, as well as luxurious office buildings, commercial areas, and residential areas. In 1900, Berlin's population reached 2.7 million.

The Weimar Revolution

The First World War did not bring serious damage to Berlin, but in 1919 a workers' uprising and civil war broke out in Berlin. In 1920 the Kapp Riots occurred. On April 27 of the same year, Berlin and its surrounding eight towns and 59 villages were merged into "Greater Berlin". Berlin's population doubled overnight to 4 million. While suffering from the economic crisis of the 1920s, Berlin also entered a period when new trends of thought and new art emerged one after another. This period was called Berlin's "golden art age."

The Third Reich

On January 30, 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. On February 27 of the same year, the Capitol fire occurred. The 16th Olympic Games were held in Berlin in 1936, and Nazi Germany used it as a showcase to showcase itself. During the Kristallnacht incident in 1938, Jewish property was vandalized, smashed, and robbed in Berlin.

When World War II broke out in 1939, Hitler fantasized about building Berlin as the capital of his European empire after the war and renamed it "Germania". His royal architect Speer designed a huge sand table model for this purpose.

At the end of World War II, the city of Berlin suffered devastating damage due to Allied air raids and the offensive of the Soviet Red Army. On November 22, 1943, the British Royal Air Force dispatched 764 bombers to launch the "Battle of Berlin", a large-scale bombing of Berlin. They destroyed cities ranging from Tiergarten and Charlottenburg in the east to Spandau and Siemensstadt in the west. The whole area is special. From November 1943 to February 1944, the "Battle of Berlin" launched 13 large-scale air raids on Berlin, 9 of which involved more than 500 bombings, destroying 1/4 of Berlin's urban area and surrounding suburbs. and more than 150 electrical, arms, communication equipment and bearing factories in the city, killing more than 10,000 people and making 1.5 million people homeless. 90% of the buildings in the urban area were destroyed, all the trees were cut down, and the water and electricity systems were also damaged.

On April 16, 1945, the Soviet Red Army mobilized 22,000 artillery pieces and 10 armies of the Belarusian Front to begin a general attack on Berlin. On May 1, the flag of the Soviet Red Army was planted at the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Germany surrendered on May 8.

Cold War Period

With the Allied victory in World War II, not only Germany, but also Berlin was divided into two parts according to the pre-war Berlin administrative district lines - - East Berlin controlled by the Soviet Union (including 12 of the 23 pre-war districts), and West Berlin controlled by the United States, Britain, and France. Berlin became a rallying point for the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.

In 1948, in order to oppose the currency reforms implemented by the Allies in western Germany and force the Allies to withdraw from Berlin, the Soviet Union launched a blockade of Berlin for half a year. The Allies thwarted Soviet attempts via the Berlin Airlift.

On June 17, 1953, workers in East Berlin launched an uprising to protest against the decline in living standards. The uprising was soon suppressed by the Soviet army. On November 10, 1958, Khrushchev declared that the occupation of Berlin by the four major powers was outdated, demanded that the United States, Britain and France withdraw their troops from West Berlin, and said that within six months West Berlin should become a "free city" where Soviet troops could enter and exit freely. .

As a large number of East German residents poured into West Berlin and West Germany through the undefended Berlin dividing line, East Germany built the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. On October 25, American tanks drove to Checkpoint Charlie south of Friedrichstrasse, trying to enter East Berlin, and faced off with Soviet tanks 90 meters away for 16 hours. Since then, Berlin has become the forefront of ideological confrontation between East and West.

Due to various historical problems and institutional flaws, in 1989, people in Eastern European countries launched general protests against socialism and communist regimes. Late at night on November 9, 1989, East Germany was forced to announce the opening of the Berlin Wall. On October 3, 1990, Germany was reunified, and a grand celebration was held in Berlin. The Berlin Wall was dismantled.

In 1991, the German parliament voted to move the capital from Bonn back to Berlin before 2000. Since then, Berlin has embarked on a large-scale reconstruction work. A new parliament and prime minister's office were built to the north of the parliament building. Potsdamer Platz, formerly a landmine-strewn cordon at the foot of the Berlin Wall, has re-emerged as Berlin's commercial center. Germany has restored its position as the cultural and economic center of Europe.

Administrative divisions

Berlin was originally divided into 23 districts. In January 2001, Berlin implemented administrative reforms and merged 23 districts into 12 districts (Bezirke). Each district is subdivided into subdistricts (Stadtteile), which represent traditional urban areas. After the administrative reform, reorganization among local governments continued. Currently, there are 96 local governments in Berlin's 12 districts, and each local government is composed of several streets (Kiez).

The 12 districts of Berlin each have their own district council (Bezirksamt), with five councilors (Bezirksstadtr?te) and one district mayor (Bezirksbürgermeister). District Council members are elected by the District Assembly (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung). However, the districts of Berlin are not independent cities because the district governments have limited powers and are subordinate to the Berlin Senate. The district mayors of each district combine to form the District Mayors' Council, which is led by the mayor of Berlin and provides advice to the Berlin Senate.

Districts do not have their own governments.

Population status

Total population (2006/11) 3,405,000

Population density 3,818/km? (9,889/mi?)

Urban area 3,700,000

Metropolitan area 4,262,480

Economic overview

Berlin is a major industrial area in Germany. The most developed industries are electrical machinery, electronics, instruments and instruments, followed by machinery, metallurgy, chemical industry, clothing, food processing, printing and other sectors. Industry is mostly distributed in industrial areas such as Spandau District, Charlottenburg District, Kreuzberg District, Tempelhof District, Kopenik District, and Treptow District on the edge of the city. Agricultural land accounts for a considerable proportion of Berlin's area, providing it with vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc. It is a distribution center for wheat, oats and other agricultural products produced in nearby areas, especially in the eastern hinterland. The transportation is well developed, with major transportation arteries such as circular railways and highways intersecting with many railways. In addition, air corridors can easily connect with major cities across the country and other European countries.

Transportation network

Berlin is an internationally renowned large city with a dense population and a tourist city. But there's no traffic jam at all, because private cars don't usually leave. People either take subways, light rails, buses, or ride bicycles. Berlin has 10 subways and 15 light rails, some of which are circular and a large number of which pass through and radiate outwards, forming a large network that extends in all directions, forming one of the largest transportation networks in Europe. The time between vehicles is very short, and there are electronic reminders at any time which vehicle has how many minutes to arrive. Most people who go to Berlin take the train in and out. Instead of taking a taxi, they take the subway directly or change to the light rail, which is very convenient. Therefore, Berlin’s environment and sky are relatively clear.

Sightseeing

Berlin’s economy and cultural undertakings are very developed. A bird's eye view of Berlin, surrounded by forests, lakes, and rivers, makes the city seem to be immersed in a sea of ??green, with the Spree River slowly flowing through the city from the south.

Alexander Square TV Tower is surrounded by modern hotels, shops, conference halls, teachers' halls and other large buildings. It is majestic and beautiful in appearance. The Kurfestendamm shopping street is 3 kilometers long and is lined with shops, clothing stores and galleries. The famous Rue des Linden is the most famous boulevard in Europe. In addition, the Brandenburg Gate built of milky white granite, the 800-year-old Frauenkirche, the City Hall, the ancient buildings on Museum Island, the "Crystal Palace" and the National Palace, Humboldt University, etc. are also very famous. . The ancient Charlotte Castle is surrounded by important cultural buildings such as the Egyptian Museum, the Antique Museum, the Early Prehistoric Museum and the Applied Art Museum, which contain many precious cultural relics and works of art. An octagonal new church was built on the straight side of the old Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The silver conference hall with a clamshell roof completed in 1957 is one of the masterpieces of modern architecture.

The Brandenburg Gate stands on the southwest edge of the Mitte district of the city. It was a triumphal arch that once served as a symbol of Berlin. It was built in 1791 and is entirely made of milky white granite. On the gate tower stands a bronze statue of Victory. . On the east side of the Brandenburg Gate extends Unter den Linden, a 1.2-kilometer-long and 60-meter-wide boulevard lined with palaces and modern buildings. Wilhelmstra?e runs through Unter den Linden from north to south and was once the center of Hitler's government activities. To the east is Alexanderplatz, where there are newly built office buildings and was the seat of the former East Berlin city government. Next to it is the magnificent Palace of the People's Republic of China and the State Palace, whose exterior is entirely inlaid with giant special glass. It was the building where the People's Assembly of the former Democratic Republic of Germany held meetings. On the west side of the Brandenburg Gate is the former Empire State Building, which has been partially restored. To the west in the Tiergarten district stands the Parliament Building, completed in 1957. It is one of the masterpieces of modern architecture and has hosted hundreds of international conferences. At the western end of the area is the Berlin Zoo, which was founded in 1841 and houses many rare animals. It is one of the largest zoos in the world. To the south-west of the Tiergarten district stretches the Kurfürstendamm boulevard, lined with modern shops. The Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum was built in the 17th century as a royal garden and was rebuilt after World War II. There are large lakes and forests along the Havel River in the west of the city. To the north is the Olympic Stadium, which was specially built in 1936 for the 11th Olympic Games. Surrounding the stadium are swimming pools, ice hockey rinks, tennis courts and more than 100 hectares. racetrack. The city also has cultural facilities such as Humboldt University (founded in 1809), Free University, Academy of Arts and Sciences, museums, libraries and opera houses, and the cultural undertakings are developed. Tourism is developed due to its special history and pleasant landscape.

Famous attractions: Berlin Central Station, Museum Island, German Chancellery, German Science and Technology Museum, German National Museum, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, June 17th Street, Unter den Linden Street, Charles Checkpoint, Berlin TV Tower, Potsdamer Platz, Gendarmenmarkt, St. Hedwig's Cathedral, Berlin Cathedral, Nikolai Quarter, Alexanderplatz, Berlin Zoo, Kurfürstendamm, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin Jews Museums, East Berlin, West Berlin, Notre-Dame Teaching, City Hall, *** and National Palace, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Renyi Hall, etc.

Literature and Sports Education

Berlin is located in the transportation center of Eastern and Western Europe thoroughfare. The city of Berlin seems to be immersed in a sea of ??green. The Spree River flows slowly through the city from the south. Prussian-style ancient buildings and modern commercial skyscrapers complement each other. Berlin is rebuilding as a "cultural capital" with three opera houses, entire major orchestras and dozens of theaters, as well as countless world-class museums. Berlin's architecture is colorful and spectacular. There are the splendid Friedrichplatz in the Baroque style and the Schinkel Theater in the neoclassical style, as well as magnificent palaces and world-famous works of the modern architectural genre. Berlin is a cultural city with cultural festivals almost throughout the year.

Culture

Berlin has many opera houses, theaters and orchestras. There are also a large number of cinemas, nightclubs and dance halls.

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Deutsche Staatsoper

Komische Oper

Berliner Ensemble

Schauspielhaus Berlin

Berliner Philharmoniker

Sports

Berlin Sports team list: Berlin (Bundesliga Football League)

Berlin successfully hosted the Olympic Games in 1936.

Education

Berlin has four well-known universities:

Free University of Berlin

Humboldt University

Technische Universit?t Berlin

University of the Arts Berlin

Famous Figures

Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Johann Go Johann Gottfried Schadow

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt

Kurt T. Hofsky

Malena Dietrich

Berto Brecht

Erich Misam

Walter Gropius

Adolf Hitler

Sister City

Los Angeles, USA (1967)

Paris, France ( 1987)

Madrid, Spain (1988)

Istanbul, Turkey (1989)

Moscow, Russia (1990)

Warsaw, Poland (1991)

Budapest, Hungary (1991)

Brussels, Belgium (1992)

Jakarta, Indonesia (1993)

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1993) < /p>

Mexico City, Mexico (1993)

Beijing, China (1994)

Tokyo, Japan (1994)

Buenos Airi, Argentina St. Petersburg (1994)

Prague, Czech Republic (1995)

Windhoek, Namibia (2000)

London, UK (2000)