This film is part of Free
Visit to Great Wall and Temple of Heaven, Peking c.1934
You can’t see it from space after all, so you’ll get a better view in this amateur film from the 1930s, with Beijing’s Temple of Heaven thrown in too.
Overview
Few make the trip to China without visiting the Great Wall, and this amateur footage from the 1930s captures a good impression of what a remarkable structure it is. The shots are framed to emphasise that it's not just its length that's impressive, but also how it zig-zags up and down peaks and troughs. Shots of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven mark an altogether more sedate tourist experience.
Related
Beijing c.1932 Beijing c.1932
Amateur film 1932 11 mins Silent Location: Beihai Park
This home movie from the Eng family's collection includes scenes of Beihai Park and Forbidden City.
Beijing Extract 1 c.1932 Beijing Extract 1 c.1932
Amateur film 1932 2 mins Silent Location: Beijing
This amateur film from the Eng family's collection includes views of the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
Peking March/April 1937 Peking March/April 1937
Amateur film 1937 14 mins Silent Location: Tiantan (Temple of Heaven)
Indulge in a spot of time-travel with this 1930s sightseeing tour of ancient Chinese monuments.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.