Lebanon was under the colonial rule of France between the two world wars. Its capital, Beirut, is regarded as “Paris in the Middle East”. Beirut has a great cultural atmosphere, integrating both Eastern and Western cultures. Since its independence, Lebanon has undergone social unrests, civil disorder and even a 15-year civil war, in which Beirut was the primary arena. After the civil war ended in 1990, the vibrancy and inclusiveness of the Lebanese have helped rebuilt Beirut into a more pluralistic city than ever. Since then, Beirut has become a model of post-war reconstruction.

In Beirut, people of different religions coexist peacefully. They include Christian, Muslims from different branches and even the non-religious people. You can see Muslim women wearing hijab walking around the streets and alleys, but you can also find women wearing bikinis and enjoying a sunbath by the Mediterranean Sea. Similarly, you can see Muslims having salahs (daily prayer/worship) few times a day, and also Christians praying in the church. At night, people will also be enjoying nice wines and shisha at the bars, immersing oneself fully in the voluptuous nightlife of Beirut– the “party capital of the Middle East”.

Beirut has endeavoured to reconstruct itself in the post-civil war period. Its primary focus was to rebuild the cultural and tourist areas that feature European, Turkish and Mediterranean characteristics. Despite that many vacant buildings are still dilapidated and full of gun holes; they are integrated into the reconstructed areas. These have created a unique crossover of new and old Beirut.

Extended reading: (Chinese only)

記者來鴻：「老外」面對的一個永恆問題