Beijing, the capitol of China, is a city renowned for its glorious history and amazing culture. There is no capital in the world quite like Beijing because it has so many features of historical significance. Beijing has been China’s capital for over 800 years and is not only the country’s political center, but also the cultural, scientific and educational hub of the country.
Located in northeastern China, Beijing’s city limits extend some 80 km (50 miles). This sprawling metropolis of over 12 million people was the capitol for four Dynasties before the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing has many great places where tourists get a unique perspective of what China has to offer to the world. From world famous attractions such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace to beautiful gardens and museums, Beijing tour has something for everyone.
Places to Visit
There are over 200 places of interest to visit in Beijing and visiting all of them would require more than two weeks on vacation. In 1986, sixteen famous locations were named the “must-sees” of this beautiful and diverse capitol. The sites are:
Tiananmen Square
the Forbidden City
Badaling Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
Beihai Park
Lama Temple
Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
Fragrant Hill
Shidu Scenic Spot
Relics of Primitive at Zhoukoudian, Longqing Gorge
Big Bell Temple
White Dragon Pond
Ming Tombs
Lugou Bridge
Grand View Garden
The Great Wall of China is one of the most unique landmarks in the world and it is the only man made object visible from space. It was built by the Qing dynasty 2000 years ago as a barrier against neighboring kingdoms. The Great Wall has gone through many restorations. It is about 6,700 kilometers (4,154 miles) long and passes through five Chinese provinces, from the Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west. The best preserved sections of the Great Wall in Beijing are the Badaling Great Wall and the Mutianyu Great Wall. The Great Wall is a major tourist attraction and it tends to be a very busy and crowded place.
The Forbidden City was off-limits to most of the world for over 500 years and it is the best place to get a glimpse into China’s amazing past. It has ancient buildings, lush gardens, courtyards, pavilions and great halls in the palace. Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum or Gugong, the Forbidden City has housed 24 emperors during a span of 491 years (including two dynasties) ending with the last emperor in 1925. It is the world’s largest and most well preserved imperial palace complex.
Surrounded by a moat that is 6 meters (20 foot) deep and a 10 meter (33 foot) high wall, there are 9,999 rooms in the palace. The Forbidden City was once an administrative center of the country, now this palace provides fascinating insight into the customs, architecture and history of imperial China. A thorough tour of the Forbidden City usually takes an hour and a half and is best started at the main entrance on Changan Avenue.
Tiananmen Square is the largest city central square in the world. Considered the center of Beijing, this square thought of as the symbol of China because it has been the site of many historic events. The square was created by Chairman Mao and major rallies took place here during the Cultural Revolution, with parades of up to a million people. A daily flag ceremony is performed at sunrise and sunset every day at Tiananmen Square which is definitely worth viewing during a Beijing tour. Surrounding the square is a variety of places with historical significance like:
Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen)
Museum of Chinese History
Museum of the Chinese Revolution
Great Hall of the People
Front Gate (Qianmen)
Chairman Mao Mausoleum
Monument to the People's Heroes
The Lama Temple is Beijing's largest temple and is filled with many intriguing statues, stunning frescoes, tapestries, incredible carpentry and an impressive 18 meter (59 feet) high sandalwood statue of the Maitreya Buddha carved from a single tree. A working monastery, it is closed early in the mornings for prayers, so make sure you time your visit for the afternoon.
The Temple of Heaven was built between 1606 and 1420 BC. It is a complex of buildings that covers 273 hectares and represents the pinnacle of Ming and Qing architecture. Originally built as the stage for solemn rituals, the Temple of Heaven has been converted into a beautiful park. All of the buildings in the park (including the Round Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) have been carefully built and are largely viewed as symbolic. The entire temple complex is a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural design and art. The park is an important meeting place for many city dwellers before they start their day and is one of the best places to observe everyday Chinese life when touring Beijing.
The Summer Palace(Yiheyuan) isthe largest and best preserved of the imperial gardens in China. Consisting of palace temples, lush gardens, pavilions, lakes and corridors, the Summer Palace was once a playground for the imperial court. You can visit a fantastic corridor that is over 700 meters (2,310 feet) long and filled with mythical paintings and scenes.
The Ming Tombs are located in Changping County. There are 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), their empresses and their concubines buried here. TheMingtombs are situated at the southern foot of Tianshou Mountain, 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Beijing China. You can schedule a visit to the Ming Tombs along with a tour to the Great Wall because these two are situated nearby.
