Entering Denmark, the Fairy-Tale Kingdom of Northern Europe (Photos)
The world-renowned Beijing Winter Olympics are in full swing. Perhaps due to their close connection with winter sports, some Nordic countries, benefiting from favorable natural conditions, have achieved impressive results. This reminds the journalist of an unforgettable journey visiting five Nordic countries—Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland—and the Baltic nation of Estonia. The 15-day trip was neither too long nor too short, but the wonderful memories have remained etched in the heart forever.
Heading to the Capital Airport (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Speaking of this unforgettable Nordic trip, it would not have been possible without the generous assistance of Mr. Shen Hui, manager of Ctrip Travel Network. When the journalist was choosing an itinerary, most options were 13-day tours of four Nordic countries. The journalist thought that since it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, it would be better to stay a few more days. After careful selection and recommendation by Shen Hui, the 15-day itinerary was confirmed, and the journalist signed up almost two months before departure.
Soaring into the Blue Sky (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 10:55 Beijing time on September 10, 2018, the journalist gathered with 13 fellow travelers from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Fujian, and other places—including Shang Huiyan, Shen Hong, Zeng Xiaodong, Lei Jingen, and Han Xiumin—at Terminal 3 of the Capital Airport. Under the guidance of Hou Liguang, the tour leader and guide from Youchuang International Travel Service, they boarded Finnair flight AY0086 and departed from the Capital Airport at 11:00 for the first stop, Helsinki. After an eight-hour flight, they landed smoothly at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport at 14:00 Finnish time.
Aerial View (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the group took their first group photo after departure. Then, at 18:00 Finnish time, the team boarded Finnair flight AY0959 again. After a 1-hour-20-minute flight, they arrived safely at Copenhagen Kastrup International Airport at 19:20 Danish time.
Group Photo (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 8:00 Danish time on September 11, 2018, after a night's rest at the Comfort Hotel Copenhagen Airport where they had stayed the previous night, the Nordic tour team set off under Hou Liguang's leadership from the hotel to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The first stop was entering the fairy-tale Denmark, marking the beginning of the Nordic tour.
Arriving in Denmark (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
On the way to the attractions, the young, enthusiastic, and handsome tour leader Hou Liguang, with his extensive knowledge, vividly introduced Denmark to the group: Denmark is a fairy-tale country in Northern Europe, so called because the world-famous fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen was born on this land.
Heading to the Scenic Spot (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Andersen's beloved fairy tales—including "The Little Match Girl," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Mermaid," and "Snow White"—have influenced generations around the world...
The Emperor's New Clothes (Archive Photo)
Geographically, Denmark is located at the outlet of the Baltic Sea to the North Sea in northern Europe. It is a land transport hub between Western and Northern Europe, often called the "Bridge of Northwestern Europe." It comprises most of the Jutland Peninsula and 406 islands, including Zealand, Funen, Lolland, Falster, and Bornholm, covering an area of 43,096 square kilometers (excluding Greenland and the Faroe Islands).
Street Sightseeing Vehicle (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Our destination for the day was Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and the largest city in the Nordic countries. Its name originally means "merchant's harbor," and it has a free port and an international airport, serving as a world transport hub. Since the longest-ruling royal family in Europe—the dynasty of Queen Margrethe II—resides here, it is also known as the "City of Queens." Because of its rich artistic and cultural heritage, it was designated the European Capital of Culture in 1996.
Street Poster (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Denmark has not only produced the fairy-tale writer Andersen but also world-renowned cultural figures and scientists such as composer Carl Nielsen, atomic physicist Niels Bohr, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, theologian Søren Kierkegaard, dancer August Bournonville, and architect Arne Jacobsen. In the 20th century, 12 Danes have won Nobel Prizes.
Street Architecture (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Denmark is also a world leader in fields such as astronomy, biology, environmental science, meteorology, anatomy, immunology, light-speed calculations, electromagnetism, serum research, and nuclear physics. The country pursues a cultural policy that allows every member of society to develop culturally and strongly encourages local cultural development.
Street Theater (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Copenhagen is located on the eastern coast of Zealand, Denmark, facing the Swedish third-largest city, Malmö, across the Øresund Strait. Copenhagen has been selected by UN-Habitat as one of the "most livable cities in the world" and has been praised as a "best design city." It is also one of the happiest cities in the world.
Street Shop (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Our itinerary for the day included visiting the Little Mermaid statue, the Victory Goddess statue, the Gefion Fountain, the City Hall, the oldest hotel in Denmark, the Hans Christian Andersen statue, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, the Marble Church, St. Annæ Square, Kongens Nytorv, and the Nyhavn bar street.
Group Photo by the Sea in Denmark (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Soon, the team arrived at the first attraction of the day: the Little Mermaid statue. Getting off the bus, what greeted their eyes was a seaside dotted with many white-sailed yachts. Strolling to the water's edge, the mermaid statue was right there. Hou Liguang said that the Little Mermaid is a symbol of Denmark.
Little Mermaid Statue (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
We saw her sitting on that huge granite rock, serene and graceful, leisurely and carefree. But when you approach the bronze statue, you see a girl with a melancholy, pensive expression. The Little Mermaid statue was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid."
Photo in Front of the Statue (Photo by Lei Lei)
The story behind the statue goes roughly like this: In 1909, Carl Jacobsen, president of the Carlsberg Brewery, was deeply moved after watching a ballet adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" and was inspired to create a statue of the Little Mermaid. He approached the young sculptor Edvard Eriksen.
Yachts by the Sea (Photo by Wang Jue)
Eriksen originally intended to use the ballerina Ellen Price, who played the Little Mermaid, as the model. However, Price only provided a still from the ballet and refused to pose nude. The task ultimately fell to Eriksen's wife, Eline Eriksen. Thus, the statue's face was modeled after Price, while the body was modeled after Eline.
A Corner of the City (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Since 1913, the Little Mermaid bronze statue has been sitting on the water's edge along the Langelinie promenade. A pile of stones supports a 1.8-meter-high granite boulder, on which the bronze Little Mermaid sits sideways. Her back is curved, and she looks down blankly at the sea before her, her expression one of melancholy born of nearly hopeless longing. Her long, slender legs trail into fish fins—her eternal destiny that hinders her pursuit of love and a soul. The statue is only 1.5 meters tall, dwarfed by the magnificent Gefion Fountain ensemble, and passersby can easily miss her. Someone tried three times to approach her at different times, but her face was always shrouded in shadow, making her sorrow seem even more unfathomable.
Victory Goddess Statue (Photo by Limin)
It is said that only before six o'clock on summer mornings can her face be clearly seen. The success of the Little Mermaid statue is not easily judged on its own merits; rather, it lies in its intertextuality with the original fairy tale. The statue meets the needs of modern tourists, who are always searching for a city's or a country's uniqueness and symbols. They seem to have found a familiar shortcut to understanding and imagining Denmark. Not far from the Little Mermaid statue, on the land, stands a Victory Goddess statue. This statue starkly contrasts with the Little Mermaid, with its majestic birdlike wings standing imposingly on the shore.
Gefion Fountain (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Leaving the Little Mermaid statue and driving a short distance, they arrived at another famous Danish attraction: the Gefion Fountain, located next to a church. This is a masterpiece of Danish traditional culture. The statue depicts a beautiful girl, holding a plow in her left hand and a whip in her right, driving four divine oxen working hard in the fields. Water spurts from the oxen's noses and the plow, creating a powerful visual impact.
Church Beside the Fountain (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
This statue is said to depict a mythological story about the formation of Zealand, the island on which Copenhagen stands. Legend has it that the goddess Gefion was granted permission by King Gylfi of Sweden to dig a piece of land from his territory. But the king only gave her one day and one night, and whatever she dug would be hers. So, Gefion turned her four sons into four divine oxen and dug a large piece of land from Sweden, which she then filled into the sea. Thus, Lake Vänern was left in Sweden, and the dug-up land became Zealand, where Copenhagen now lies. Therefore, some regard the goddess Gefion as the creator goddess of Denmark.
Surrounding View of the Fountain (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The statues are vivid and lifelike, with the bronze oxen's nostrils spraying water that forms a mist. Behind the plow, the fountain surges like a waterfall. At the base, following the slope of the road, granite stones extend to form a pool where all the spring water gathers. On each side of the pool, there is a coiled bronze giant python, with two streams of water directly spraying the bronze oxen. In 1959, when Guo Moruo visited Denmark, he wrote a poem praising Copenhagen, which includes the line "On the island of Sirens (Zealand), oxen plow, spring water spouts like clouds, the sea is level," describing the Gefion Fountain.
City Hall Square (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
From the Gefion Fountain, they continued their Danish tour to the City Hall Square. This is the heart of Copenhagen and the nerve center of the country. The square features the zero-kilometer point, from which all distances to Copenhagen are measured.
Copenhagen Street Scene (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The current City Hall was built in 1905, designed by architect Martin Nyrop. The magnificent City Hall hall covers an area of 1,500 square meters and is mainly used for wedding ceremonies and official receptions. It combines ancient Danish architecture with Italian Renaissance architectural styles.
City Hall Clock Tower (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
City Hall Square is also Copenhagen's largest gathering square. The City Hall is the main building on the square, built between 1892 and 1905. Above the main entrance hangs a bronze statue of Absalon, the archbishop who founded Copenhagen. Climbing the 110-meter-high clock tower, one can enjoy a panoramic view of Copenhagen. Above the clock tower door, visitors can see the famous "World Clock" designed by Jens Olsen. The clock has 13 mechanical devices running simultaneously, displaying the time around the world and various astronomical times.
A Corner Inside the City Hall (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Exiting the City Hall, on one side of its exterior wall, stands the bronze statue of the famous fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen. Approaching this approximately 3-meter-tall statue, which Danes are proud of, one sees him dressed in a formal suit and top hat, holding a book in one hand and a cane in the other, gazing upward to the left—toward Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard, the main street in Copenhagen.
Hans Christian Andersen Statue (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Andersen was born in a small Danish town, the son of a poor shoemaker. He lost his father at a young age and was never formally educated. He never married and eventually died in his home in Copenhagen. Despite a life of poverty and hardship, Andersen wrote timeless masterpieces such as "The Little Match Girl" and "The Little Mermaid," becoming a world-class fairy-tale master. Every day, many tourists pass by him, looking up at his face or placing their hands on his knee for photos.
Rosenborg Castle (Photo by Wang Jue)
The team left the City Hall and arrived at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. This is one of the most worthwhile historical sites to visit in Copenhagen. King Christian IV specially built this summer palace to escape the heat. Rosenborg Castle is essentially the Danish Summer Palace. With bronze eaves and red brick walls, it was designed in the Dutch Renaissance style. Several generations of Danish kings lived here. Later, King Frederik found it too small and converted it into a royal treasure museum.
Exhibits at Rosenborg Castle (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Rosenborg Castle houses many precious artifacts, including exquisite jewelry, ornate costumes, paintings, and ceramics. Although Denmark abolished absolute monarchy long ago and other palaces and castles have been nationalized, the treasures in Rosenborg Castle still belong to the royal family. Because of the countless rare treasures inside, Rosenborg Castle is heavily guarded with tight security.
Guard at Rosenborg Castle (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Words cannot describe the opulent splendor of the treasure museum inside Rosenborg Castle. Seeing pictures, reading books, or watching videos cannot compare to the impression and memory of an in-person visit! Moreover, Rosenborg Castle, along with the Crystal Palace and Hamlet's Castle (Kronborg), is considered one of the three major ancient castles and palaces in Denmark.
Group Photo at the Royal Square (Photo by Wang Jue)
After visiting Rosenborg Castle, the team drove to Amalienborg Palace, located on the Øresund Strait in eastern Copenhagen. This is the main residence of the Danish royal family. The Queen and her consort spend most of the year here. The group took another group photo here.
Equestrian Statue of the King (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Speaking of the palace's history, Hou Liguang explained: In the mid-18th century, the royal palace was at Christiansborg. When planning the district where Amalienborg Palace now stands, King Frederik V decided to build a new center there. He donated the land to four Danish noble families, requiring them to each build a palace of identical exterior design. The palaces were designed by the most famous architect, Nicolai Eigtved, and an equestrian bronze statue of the king was to be made. After intense construction, the four palaces were completed between 1754 and 1760.
Royal Square (Photo by Lei Jingen)
According to the design, the four palaces formed an octagonal square in front. In 1768, an equestrian bronze statue of King Frederik V, made by French sculptor Jacques Saly, was placed in the center of the square. At the time, the Danish East India Company (ØK) funded the statue's railing with profits from trade with China. The four palaces changed hands several times but were always owned by nobles. In 1794, Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire, and the royal family decided to move to the four palaces at Amalienborg.
Royal Guards (Photo by Wang Jue)
Since then, this has been the royal residence. Whenever Queen Margrethe II is in residence, the Danish flag is raised on the building she occupies. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the luxury, elegance, furnishings, and arrangement of the private rooms. One can see royal guards in uniform at the palace entrance. Their solemn pacing and the changing of the guard ceremony have become popular subjects for tourists' photos. Today, Amalienborg Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in Copenhagen.
Distant View of the Marble Church (Photo by Wang Jue)
The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) is directly opposite the royal palace square in Copenhagen. Its official name is Frederik's Church. It is the largest domed church in Denmark, so called because it was built largely with marble from Denmark and Norway. Construction began in 1749 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Oldenburg dynasty's rule over Denmark, but due to funding issues, it was not completed until 1894, over a hundred years later.
Interior View of the Church (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The Marble Church has the largest dome in Scandinavia. Stepping inside and looking up at the dome, one marvels at its immense size—30 meters in diameter—painted with images of Jesus' twelve apostles. The design may have been inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Marble Church and Amalienborg Palace blend together, complementing each other and greatly enhancing Copenhagen's charm. At the top of the building's exterior, there are many large statues of figures, adding solemnity and elegance to the church, giving the architecture a sense of beauty and historical vicissitude. The symmetrical and harmonious layout of the church and the palace imbues the entire area with a royal atmosphere.
St. Annæ Square (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
A short walk from the Marble Church brings you to St. Annæ Square. The square features many statues of famous figures, with a statue of Roosevelt at its center, as well as a statue of Tietgen, one of Denmark's greatest industrialists of the 19th century. The square underwent urban renovation in 2016, costing 130 million Danish kroner, with green spaces and rainwater management systems, making it a classic example of Danish design.
Statue of Christian X (Photo by Limin)
Between St. Annæ Square and the broad street (Bredgade) stands another famous statue: that of King Christian X. Christian X, full name Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm, was King of Denmark and the only king of Iceland, a legendary figure. He was the grandfather of the current Queen Margrethe II. The statue was erected in 1954. During the German occupation in World War II, the king did not flee. Even though the country was conquered, he rode his horse here every day to survey and insisted on staying with his people, which is why the Danish people deeply loved him.
Kongens Nytorv (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Walking out of St. Annæ Square and following the road, the team arrived at Kongens Nytorv (King's New Square). Strictly speaking, this is a roundabout, and it is the entrance to the famous Strøget pedestrian street. This ancient square was built in the 17th century. In the center stands an equestrian statue of King Christian V, erected in 1688, known as the "King's Horse." The square is surrounded by Baroque-style buildings.
Photo at Nyhavn (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Not far from Kongens Nytorv is the famous Nyhavn bar street. On clear days, the warm sun shines on Nyhavn in Copenhagen, sparkling brightly like the local amber specialty. Nyhavn is an artificial canal dug between 1669 and 1673. This canal brings seawater into the city center at Kongens Nytorv. The primary motive was economic development, but it objectively achieved poetic charm for the city. In a waterside city, the most beautiful part is always its harbor, and this is especially true for fairy-tale Copenhagen.
Riverside Scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Here, one can still see one of the first houses built along the canal. Today's Nyhavn has a completely new look. The sunny side has become a pedestrian street. The old sailors' bars have been replaced by pleasant restaurants. The shimmering water surface and the various wooden boats with masts in the canal make Nyhavn the best place to experience Copenhagen's charm. The breathtaking scenery is one of the places where people scramble to take photos.
Love Locks on the Bridge (Photo by Wang Jue)
Most of the houses in Nyhavn were built 300 years ago, with Charlottenborg Palace being the oldest. One can still see one of the first houses built along the canal, at No. 9 opposite Charlottenborg Palace, built in 1681. It was once known as the "Beach Inn for World Travelers" and is now the Hotel Leonard Christina and the home of the Isfjorden shipping company. Interestingly, the owner of this building is the 11th-generation descendant of Baron, the builder of the Nyhavn canal.
Sailboats on the Harbor (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
From the very beginning, Nyhavn developed as intended. Ships loaded and unloaded goods here, and the houses became shops, bars, and residences. Almost all of the houses along both sides of Nyhavn were built in the first half of the 18th century. Until recently, Nyhavn was only well-known among sailors worldwide. At that time, Nyhavn was synonymous with restaurants and bars, where people spent money on beer, and drunken sailors often fought, with the sound of breaking bottles echoing through the night.
A Corner of the Bar Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Fortunately, Nyhavn has also been home to peace-loving citizens, the most famous of whom is the great fairy-tale master Hans Christian Andersen. From 1834 to 1838, Andersen lived in an apartment at No. 20 on the right side of the canal. There, in 1835, he wrote his first world-famous fairy tale. In his final years, from 1873 to 1875, Andersen lived in Nyhavn once again. By then, he had become a world-renowned figure, staying at No. 18 on the same side as Charlottenborg Palace.
Photo by the Harbor (Photo by Lei Lei)
During their visit to Copenhagen, the group also sampled local specialties: Danish roasted crispy pork belly. Denmark is one of the countries that consumes the most pork in the world. Locals' pursuit of crispy and aromatic cooking is worth observing for food lovers. Flaeskesteg is a classic Danish traditional dish. The pork is marinated with four spices for two days, making it very flavorful. The skin, after roasting, is covered with golden bubbles, crispy and crumbly. The lean meat, bound to lock in moisture, remains tender and juicy despite the long roasting time. It is a rare delicacy beloved by the people of this fairy-tale kingdom. But perhaps it's a matter of local tastes: for the journalist, who doesn't like pork, watching other group members savor it with gusto did not spark much appetite.
Fairy-Tale Colored Houses (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
On June 14, 1985, in the small town of Schengen, Luxembourg, five countries—France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg—signed an agreement on mutual border opening. Later, 15 countries, including Denmark, as well as Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland, joined successively. Since the signing took place in Schengen, it is called the Schengen Accord.
Copenhagen Street Scene (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Today, even more countries have joined the Schengen Area. As a signatory country, holding a Danish visa allows free travel without additional visas among the many countries that have joined the Schengen Agreement. In particular, this one-day trip into the fairy-tale kingdom of Denmark in Copenhagen, with all its sights and experiences, left a deep impression and endless afterthoughts... (Text and photos by Feng Ganyong)
