Beijing Attractions
Beijing, the heart of China, is always the first choice of travellers who are willing to know a time-honored and developed city of China. It has been the political, economic and cultural center of China for over 800 years from the Yuan Dynasty.
The numerous royal buildings with long history endow it with incomparable charm, not only the ‘Nation’s Best’ but also the ‘World’s Best’. On the other hand, as the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games, this oriental ancient city presented her best fashion fascination to the world.
Forbidden City
An imperial palace for over 500 years Forbidden City
The magnificent Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world.
It has 9,999 rooms in flourishing period with just a single room short of the number that ancient Chinese belief represents ‘Divine Perfection’ and surrounded by a moat six meters deep and ten-meter high wall. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative center of the country.
Great Wall
One of the world”s seven wonders Great Wall in Beijing
The Great Wall of China is one of the ‘Eight Wonders of the World’ and is enlisted in the World Heritage Directory. This immense wall was built to keep out invaders as well as to retain the inhabitants.
It spans five provinces from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, looking like a gigantic dragon across deserts, grasslands and mountains. In the downtown area, it is possible to climb Badaling Great Wall.
Tiananmen Square
The center of Beijing Tiananmen Square
The solemn and respectful Tiananmen Square is the largest central city square in the world, which serves not only the city’s symbol but also the whole of China. This immense courtyard is surrounded by a variety of significant edifices such as the Tiananmen Tower, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Monument to the People’s Heroes and National Museum.
Summer Palace
Is the capital city of several Dynasties. Therefore, besides the spectacular imperial palaces, it also possesses the most luxurious royal gardens—the well-preserved Summer Palace with an area of 727 acres, the elegant Beihai Park and the destroyed Old Summer Palace.
The holy Temple of Heaven
Due to religion was always related with the supreme imperial power, it at one time served as the focus of religious life with lots of beautiful temples. The Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors paid homage to the glory of heaven, is the largest group of structures in the country dedicated to rituals. To be opposite, the Altar of Earth was used to worship the God of the Earth. The Great Bell Temple, where the Emperor prayed for rainfall in the Qing Dynasty.
Beijing Hutong
You would like to experience the local life and have a different vacation in Beijing, there is a great deal of Hutongs and Courtyards distributed for your choice.
The Prince Gong’s Mansion should be the most magnificent courtyard, which was the residence of an official and then a prince. Other famous historical sites include the Bell and Drum Towers, the Colored Glaze Factory (Liulichang) Street for people interested in Chinese calligraphy, painting or other artwork, the Lugou Bridge carved with marvelous stone lions.
Beijing National Stadium
Namely the Bird’s NestThanks for the 29th Summer Olympics, the city has been well-known for travelers all over the world.
This hospitable metropolis has been mixed with lots of modern elements, which is also a new part for its mysterious orient civilization. Your Beijing vacation should not miss the representative buildings displaying this international metropolis, such as the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center for 2008 Olympics.
Jingshan Park
For a peaceful and interesting stroll, please visit the beautiful parks. Located at the back of the Forbidden City, the Jingshan Park is an ideal place for an overview of the city, which was also an imperial garden in ancient time.
The Fragrant Hills Park has the most beautiful red maple leaves in every autumn. The Taoranting Park is a wonderful workmanship of Chinese ancient and modern architectural skills. The Stone Flower Cave is an astonishing karst park.
Getting There:
Beijing Capital International Airport is the main international airport serving Beijing.
It is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Beijing’s city center, in an enclave of Chaoyang District and the surroundings of that enclave in suburban Shunyi District.
The airport is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled company. The airport’s IATA Airport code, PEK, is based on the city’s former romanized name, Peking.[note 1]
Beijing Capital International Airport is the main hub for Air China, the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China, which flies to around 120 destinations (excluding cargo) from Beijing. Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines also use the airport as their hub.
Beijing Capital added Terminal 3 in 2008 in time for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, and the sixth largest building in the world by area. Beijing Capital International Airport covers 1,480 hectares (3,700 acres) of land.