S?o Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the third largest city in the world. It is called the New York of Latin America. It is located in the southeastern part of Brazil on the edge of the large cliffs of the Mar Mountains, on a plateau with an altitude of more than 800 meters. It is 63 kilometers away from the city of Sando in the southeast. It has a continental climate, but because of its high terrain, the climate is cool and rainy in summer. The winter is dry and slightly cold, with no severe cold or heat. The trees are lush, the flowers are blooming, and the green lawns cover the ground. It is a city with beautiful scenery and pleasant temperature. It is not only the largest industrial center in the country, but also the largest industrial and commercial center in Latin America.
Sao Paulo was an Indian village in its early years. On January 25, 1554, the Portuguese colonists came to this virgin land and found that its geographical location was ideal, so they carried out large-scale construction to open up wasteland and build the city. One day was the day when Catholics commemorated the saint Saint Paul, so the city was named Saint Paul. And built a small church in the city center, which has a history of more than 400 years. It is the predecessor of today's St. Paul's Cathedral. It has become the largest church in South America and is known as the five largest and most magnificent Gothic churches in the world. style church. Sao Paulo was established as a city in 1711, and Brazil declared its independence in 1822. By 1880, Sao Paulo was still a small city with an area of ??two square kilometers and a population of 40,000. However, by the 19th century, due to the large-scale coffee cultivation in nearby areas and the large number of foreign immigrants, this city After four hundred years of continuous renewal and development, the small city has developed rapidly with each passing day and has become a world-famous metropolis.
Today’s Sao Paulo has a total area of ??1,693 square kilometers and a population of 17.4 million. The citizens are of mixed race and are known as the melting pot of the world’s races. Rows of high-rise buildings rise from the ground, the streets are wide and criss-crossed, and there is a lot of traffic. Many buildings in the urban area are 30 or 40 stories high, such as the Sao Paulo State Bank, which is 32 stories high, and the Italian Building, which is 41 stories high. There are restaurants and observation decks on the top. Standing on the railings and overlooking the city, you can have a panoramic view of the city.
In addition to the prosperity of industry and commerce in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil is a Catholic country. Most of the people believe in Catholicism, but there are also many sects in Sao Paulo. It can be said to be a very religious city. The St. Bindo Monastery, which was built from 1911 to 1922, is located at one end of St. Bindo Square and St. Daeffenia Bridge in the city center. The monastery is large in scale. In addition to pictures and statues, there is also a A Baroque cross from 1777, a statue of Our Lady of Casbeca brought to Brazil by Russian refugees in 1893, and the knight-explorer Fernangias and his wife are buried in the monastery. Every Sunday morning, you can see the monks saying mass and singing hymns. The prosperous business district is concentrated in November 15th Street, S?o Bento Street, Atrio Custo, Lado Square and *** and square area. In the gardens of *** and square, there is a handicraft market selling gems and antiques, wood carvings, stone carvings, leather goods, famous paintings and other stalls. Every Sunday, foreign tourists and local citizens come to shop one after another. There is a large market in the city center, covering an area of ??27,000 square meters. It specializes in food for people's livelihood, including meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. It is crowded with people from morning to night. However, in recent years, with the continuous growth of new supermarkets and shopping malls, the business on these streets has declined greatly. Except for the cheap goods on 25th Street, which is very prosperous and can compete with major shopping malls, most of the other commercial streets in the past have been transformed into other industries. (This 25th Street is a paradise for new immigrants in our country to make a living). But not far from the train station, there is a street that specializes in bridal gowns, and the business is still booming. The shops here are filled with all kinds of bridal gowns and new house supplies. The whole street is full of the joyful atmosphere of the wedding. Everyone who travels to Sao Paulo must visit it.
PAULISTA Avenue, known as the Financial Street, is an artery of S?o Paulo and a big showcase for the country. On both sides of the street stand tall buildings with beautiful shapes and different architectural styles, but only one or two can be seen. The ancient buildings with Portuguese color are specially preserved by the city government. The streets are wide and clean. There are many banks here and many office buildings of large companies are located here. In addition, there are also cultural institutions, theaters, cinemas and TV stations. It is also a place for demonstrations and celebrations. Every Sunday, there are also There is an antique market and a miscellaneous handicraft market, which are very lively with people coming and going. On December 31st every year, the entire street is closed to hold the Sao siluestre long-distance running competition, which is the most lively annual sports event in Brazil. The shops on both sides are magnificently decorated.
The bustling streets are bustling with people and traffic. Just on this street, there is the famous Sao Paulo Contemporary Art Museum, which was built in 1963. It contains more than 5,000 pieces of art, including oil paintings, sketches, prints, ceramics, etc. It is a very valuable masterpiece and is the largest Western museum in Latin America. Museum of artistic creation. The biennial Biennale is held here. In 1953, Picasso's most famous "Guernica", together with more than 50 of his works, appeared at the Biennale in this art museum. From then on, the S?o Paulo Biennale The annual exhibition has become as famous as the Venice Biennale and is the world's largest art exhibition event. Modern art has been deeply localized in Brazil.
Directly opposite the art museum is the Forest Park in the city center. The towering trees in the park are dense and dense, blocking out the sun. It is a lush green place. Take a walk here and listen to the rustling of the treetops, and look around. The mottled fragments shot down from the cracks in the trees, like the sunlight like small stars, shimmering on one's body, it is really intoxicating. There is no pollution or dust and smoke here. You can enjoy the fresh air and quiet environment here. It is a good place for citizens to relax and retreat.
Brazil only has a history of more than 500 years. There are really no places of interest and scenery to see. The only ones worth seeing are the "Ibirapuera" Park and the Ibilanca Palace Museum. Ibirapuera Park, this vast area of ??several kilometers, was originally a swamp and an Indian village. In 1954, it was converted into a park and opened to the public to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Sao Paulo. The main body of the park is a large lake of more than 100 acres. The lake is surrounded by green grassland, thick eucalyptus trees, and tall palms, pines, and cypresses. The bougainvillea in bloom, the hibiscus in full bloom, the phoenix tree with fiery flowers, and the many unknown flowers and trees are all dazzling. Looking from a distance by the lake, you can see the revolutionary monument reaching into the sky. The revolutionary monument is also known as the "Seven-Nine" Revolution Monument. "The monument was built to commemorate the democratic constitutional protection movement that took place in Sao Paulo on July 9, 1931. The monument is 82 meters high and was built in the style of an Egyptian obelisk. The majestic state parliament building, the gymnasium with a dome like an umbrella, and modern buildings of high and low heights can be seen at a glance. There are also more than ten public buildings, museums, astrology halls, biennial exhibition halls and gymnasiums in the park. There is a Japanese-style courtyard in particular, and even the offices of the Sao Paulo City Government are partially located in the park. Looking down at the lakeside, I saw the fish swimming lively in the lake, and the waves sparkling in the breeze. Tourists around the lake sit, stand or lie on the grass, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, enjoying the rare moment of tranquility in the city. There were active teenagers running or riding bicycles on the paths by the lake, and there were also couples strolling leisurely and chirping. After seeing enough of the tourists, they walked out of the park and saw an open green space with a stone statue there.
This sculpture group of stone statues called "Brazilian Pioneers" is one of the famous attractions in Sao Paulo. It was built to commemorate the history of Brazilian reclamation and development. Let us appreciate the significance of this group of sculptures: the stone statue is headed by two tall horses in the shape of a galloping horse. One of the horses holds his chest and head high to lead the crowd forward, while the other looks back at the team, as if to ask them to move forward hard and not to fall behind. Behind the horse are a group of pioneers armed with various tools. There are old and young, men and women, and people of various skin colors. The first row is Asian faces, and behind are Europeans, with white and black faces, and some Middle Eastern Arabs wearing white hats, and women holding babies in their arms. The women were wearing plain labor clothes, and the men were mostly naked. They all worked together to pull the ropes tied to the big rocks and move forward in unison. The lifelike figures throughout the group of sculptures fully demonstrated the perseverance of the pioneers, the spirit of unity and cooperation, which was so vivid that I was moved and silently bowed to pay tribute to these pioneer heroes.
More than ten kilometers west of here is the Ibiranka Palace Museum, also known as the Independent History Museum, or the S?o Paulo Museum. Formerly known as the Museum of Natural Sciences, it was originally a royal palace. The palace was built in 1885 and completed in 1890. It was designed by Italian architect Tommaso Bess. It was built into a palace with a steady and elegant style in the European Renaissance. The appearance of the palace The khaki rectangular three-story palace garden covers an area of ??15,000 square meters. It imitates the style of the Bagac period in France and is similar to the garden of the Palace of Versailles in Paris. The palace was converted into the current Ibilanca Palace Museum in 1895. When you walk into the museum, you will immediately see the largest meteorite in the world on display in the hall.
The museum contains many exquisite items from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, including royal supplies from the Brazilian Empire, artworks owned by Brazilian historical celebrities such as knight explorers and emperors, antique furniture and daily necessities, etc. There are a dazzling array of Brazilian historical relics, such as statues, oil paintings, tableware, jewelry and weapons, religious utensils and artifacts, an old car, and the daily utensils of indigenous people. Opposite the Royal Palace is Independence Square. This is because on September 7, 1822, the Brazilian Regent Pietro I returned to Sao Paulo from Sando City and rested in the Ibilanca creek. After receiving a decree from the Portuguese Emperor asking him to return to Portugal, the guards around him encouraged him not to go back. , stayed in Brazil as emperor, Pedro followed the popular will, pointed his sword to the sky and swore "not to be independent or to die" and immediately declared independence. After Brazil gained independence from Portugal, it designated this day as its National Day, and built a palace beside the river, which was later changed to today's Ibiranka Palace Museum. In the Independence Square in front of the museum, there is an Independence Monument, which is ten meters high. The statues on the monument commemorate King Pietro I and other heroes and celebrities who contributed to the independence of Brazil.
On both sides of the Independence Monument are statues of heroes of the War of Independence. The top of the monument is engraved with the image of Pedro I riding a war horse, holding a long sword and commanding to march to Rio to declare independence. officer. In front of the monument, there is a bronze brazier shaped like an ancient Chinese sacrificial tripod. The sacred fire in the basin will never go out, symbolizing peace and freedom. There is a basement under the base where the tombs of King Pietro I and Queen are placed.
The Butantan Venomous Snake Research Institute in Sao Paulo, founded in 1901, is the most famous place in the world. It is a place that specializes in studying the life of snakes and manufacturing anti-venomous snake serum. There are tens of thousands of more than 2,000 species raised in the park. A venomous snake. Over the past 100 years, it has developed into the world's largest vaccine and serum production center. There are three exhibition halls available for visit. The first hall displays live specimens of more than 100 species of snakes. The second hall displays the process of extracting snake venom to study and produce serum. The third hall exhibits the development of the research institute. In addition to the situation, there is a venomous snake breeding farm built next to the ticket booth. The breeding farm is about 50 meters long and 30 meters wide. A red brick enclosure with a one-meter glass enclosure to prevent venomous snakes from escaping. Visitors can watch snakes moving around inside the wall from outside the wall. It is said that there were more than 20,000 snakes of more than 2,000 species here in the past. The small trees on the grass were covered with snakes of various sizes and colors, which was a spectacle. However, the author made a special trip to visit it in the winter two years ago. The place was completely empty and there was no trace of snakes. For some reason, no one knew about it even after asking. At the same time, we saw five or six dome mounds with holes in the front and back and about half a meter high on the grassy slope. These were nests for feeding a kind of snake called "misulona". This kind of venomous snake is very special and specializes in eating snakes. It is said that although it is small, it can swallow three venomous snakes at one time, which is amazing. However, what we saw were just a few mounds of soil and no trace of snakes.
This institute has more than 20 buildings and more than 200 employees. The grand vaccine factory covers an area of ??25,000 square meters, with an annual output of 285 million serums and 25 million doses of various vaccines. The best in the world. The staff extracts venomous snakes every day and sends them to the laboratory for examination. After filtering and evaporating them, they are made into injections and injected into the horse's body. Then the horse's blood is extracted and refined to produce various antivenoms specifically used to treat venomous snake bites. This serum also treats smallpox and diphtheria. , plague, whooping cough, and tetanus. In addition to raising snakes, this research institute also raises various poisonous spiders and poisonous toads. The institute has tens of thousands of books on venomous snakes and is also equipped with a small hospital with multiple beds.
In addition to being the industrial and commercial center of Brazil, Sao Paulo is also the center of education and culture in Brazil. Brazil's famous University of Sao Paulo and Catholic University, as well as various scientific and technological institutions are located in Sao Paulo. There are many cultural and entertainment venues in the city, including nearly 500 libraries and more than 70 art galleries. Furthermore, there are more than 30,000 varieties of orchids in St. Paul’s Park, which are world-famous. When the flowers bloom, the orchids compete with each other. The fragrance overflows. There is also the annual Dutch Village flower show, which attracts an endless stream of people. It is the busiest season in St. Paul.
However, although S?o Paulo is beautiful, Brazil is still struggling on the poverty line. There are slums everywhere, the corruption of public security, the incompetent medical insurance system, the lack of popularization of education, and the greed and malfeasance of bureaucrats. Although governance reforms have begun, I think Brazil still has many problems. A long way to go.