Berlin, the capital of Germany, combines modern technology with historical culture
Of the large cities in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne have populations over one million), Berlin is the largest with a population of over three million. It is also the capital of Germany. Berlin is a city that combines modern technology with historical culture. On the streets of Berlin, you can always see traces of World War II and the Cold War, as well as buildings of historical and religious significance. On the other hand, as Europe's number one technology center, it is not difficult to find modern devices everywhere on the streets of Berlin. Even something as simple as a traffic light or street lamp is full of technological elements.
As the capital of Germany, Berlin also incorporates the tolerance of an international metropolis. The historic art galleries/museums/palaces, coupled with the lively nightlife and numerous clubs/bars/cafés, are not at all abrupt, but rather a perfect match. In addition to its rich political history, Berlin is also a city at the forefront of fashion. The former wall has become a tourist attraction today. The dilapidated walls are covered with graffiti art, and the fragments of the wall have also been made into exquisite handicrafts or decorations, which are particularly meaningful.
Berlin has a lot to offer and to get around you can make use of the city's convenient public transport network, including buses, trams, trains and subways. Among the many attractions, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), Museum Island (Museumsinsel), Memorial to the Murdered Jews (Holocaust-Mahnmal), Parliament Building (Reichstag) and Checkpoint Charlie Museum (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie) are particularly worth recommending (see another article for details).
The Brandenburg Gate is the only remaining gate in Berlin and the national symbol of Germany. The new buildings on both sides of the gate have completely different styles, which confirms the division between East and West Germany and symbolizes today's unity and freedom. The Brandenburg Gate was designed based on the gate of the Acropolis in Athens. On top of the gate stands a bronze statue of the goddess of victory with outstretched wings driving a four-horse chariot. The goddess holds high the scepter in her hand, symbolizing victory in war. Today, the Brandenburg Gate is not only a tourist attraction, but also a popular gathering place for Berliners. Large-scale events such as countdowns, live broadcasts of games, concerts, etc. are often held in front of the gate.
Museum Island is a concentration of museums. There are five museums on the island, namely the Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Pergamonmuseum and the Bode Museum. Due to its historical value and unique location, Museum Island was selected as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1999. The exhibits in each museum on the island are different and span different periods. For example, the oldest Berlin Altes Museum exhibits ancient Roman and Greek artifacts, the New Museum exhibits ancient Egyptian artifacts, the Pergamon Museum exhibits Middle Eastern artifacts, and the newest exhibits are in the Bode Museum, which displays 19th-century Byzantine art, sculptures, paintings, etc.
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews is another attraction well worth visiting, covering an area of 19,000 square meters and containing 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights arranged in a grid pattern on a slope. The length and width of the concrete are unified at 2.38 meters and 0.95 meters, and the height ranges from 0.2 meters to 4.8 meters, creating the panic mood of the people during the Holocaust.
The Capitol is another attraction worth visiting. The most special feature of its appearance is the glass dome in the middle, which allows maximum sunlight to directly shine onto the spiral walkway inside. Outside the Capitol is a huge lawn for citizens to relax or unwind. If you want to visit the interior of the Capitol, you must book a 90-minute free guided tour through the official website. For details, please visit the following website.