Ancient and Young City: Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and the former capital of Yugoslavia, where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, and where the ancient and modern converge. The city has a long history and numerous cultural and natural attractions. The following sites are a must-visit. *National Assembly: The National Assembly of Serbia is located in the central district of Belgrade. It is a landmark building in Belgrade, with a grand appearance and typical Baroque style. Figures 1-2. *Church of Saint Sava: The Church of Saint Sava is situated on a hill in the eastern part of the old town of Belgrade. It was built in 1935, and the decoration work is still ongoing. The main dome of the church is covered by a huge bronze dome, making it the second largest Orthodox church in the world, after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The interior of the church is luxuriously decorated with golden walls. Figures 3-5. Next to the Church of Saint Sava is a Moscow Orthodox Church, Figure 6. *Kalemegdan Fortress, also known as Belgrade Fortress, was an important fortress in medieval Belgrade. It consists of the old fortress at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and Kalemegdan Park. Figure 7 shows Kalemegdan Park, Figure 8 shows the Victory Monument commemorating the soldiers who died in World War I, Figures 9-10 show the old fortress, and Figures 11-12 show the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. *Tito's Mausoleum: When visiting Belgrade, Tito's Mausoleum is a must-see. For those born before the 1970s in China, Marshal Tito was a familiar foreign leader. Under Tito's leadership, Yugoslavia experienced its fastest and best period of development, with a prosperous nation and dignified people. He is a hero in the hearts of the Yugoslav people. Unfortunately, with Tito's death, Yugoslavia disintegrated. It is said that Marshal Tito loved flowers during his lifetime, and now his mausoleum is built on the site of his former office, surrounded by many flowers, making it look like a garden. Therefore, it is also known as the 'House of Flowers.' Tito and his third wife are buried here, and it also serves as a small history museum, displaying gifts with ethnic characteristics given to Tito by leaders from various countries and ethnic groups in Yugoslavia. Figures 13-14. *National Museum of Belgrade: The earliest comprehensive museum established in Yugoslavia, located in the center of Belgrade, completed in 1844. The museum has three floors, one underground and two above ground, covering an area of 5,000 square meters. It exhibits about 400,000 items from the Paleolithic era to the 20th century. It also features important works by Serbian artists and world-renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet. Figures 15-16. *Belgrade National Theatre: The National Theatre is diagonally opposite the main entrance of the National Museum. From the external structure, it exudes a strong artistic atmosphere. Figure 17. *Prince Mihailo Street: Turn left at the exit of the National Museum to reach Prince Mihailo Street. It is a major commercial pedestrian street in Belgrade, bustling with various shops, restaurants, and street performers. Figure 18. *Site of the Chinese Embassy in the Former Yugoslavia: This monument was built by the city of Belgrade to commemorate the martyrs. Behind the monument is the site of the former embassy, which is now the Chinese Cultural Center building. Figure 19. *Waterfront Tower: A landmark in the wealthy district of Belgrade, reportedly the most expensive real estate in the city. Figure 20. In Europe, the cost of living in Belgrade is not high, but it is slightly higher than in China. The city has many construction sites, indicating that Belgrade's economy is recovering and the city is developing, especially the tourism industry, which is growing rapidly. I believe it will get better and better. Recommended visiting time: 2-3 days.