Beijing

Beijing

As one of the world's great ancient capitals, and the capital city of the world's upcoming second superpower, Beijing is the most important and interesting Chinese city, both for tourism and for appreciating China.

Beijing is China's ancient AND modern capital
Beijing served as the capital of six ancient dynasties for more than 800 years in total, the most famous being the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).

It holds the greatest collection of the finest remnants of China's imperial past: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven…

Though it’s not a big tourist draw, there is more to Beijing than its past. If you have no time to see Shanghai, then Beijing still offers you a chance to appreciate modern China — its hi-tech infrastructure and super-modern buildings like the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium and Water Cube.

There is also a palpable prestige in Beijing, fitting for the capital of this proud and powerful nation. Sample it at Tian’anmen Square during the flag ceremonies at dawn and dusk, and at the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao.

 

 

• Top Things to Do in Beijing
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  * Visting the hutongs by rickshawDiscovering the hutongs the good old way.
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  * Walk the Great Wall: On Trip Advisor in 2018, the top #1 and #3 things to do in Beijing are visiting the Mutianyu and Badaling Great Wall sections.
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  * Explore the Forbidden City: the second most popular attraction in Beijing. It is hard to get an idea of the great size of the imperial palace until you are in it.
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  * Savor the Summer Palace — where one palace was forbidding, this one is inviting! Wander where the royals relaxed in the warmer months.
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  * Discover the enchanting hutongs. Sightsee, shop, and dine in ancient residential and shopping streets.
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  * Enjoy entertainment that's some of the best in the East;acrobatics and martial arts performances, Beijing opera, ...
  * Dine on duck, Peking style, and other tasty Beijing cuisine.
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Best Time to Visit Beijing

Beijing is approximately at the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. (but drier in winter and wetter in summer) and Madrid in Spain (though colder in winter). See Beijing Weather.

Although you could travel Beijing throughout the year, autumn (September and October) is the most recommended season to visit for the relatively comfortable temperatures and the scenic beauty.

Beijing's air quality is being tackled with improved public transport, restrictions on the use of vehicles, and the relocation of factories.

Breathing Beijing's air for six average days is the equivalent of smoking just one cigarette, which is not bad for a large developing world city.

 

Transportation

The subway is the cheapest way to get around. A private tour with a private vehicle is the best hassle-free option to avoid the traffic congestion and help you maximize your time.

From Beijing, it is easy to travel by plane or direct bullet train to most major China destinations, such as Xi’an and Shanghai.

 

Attractions in Beijing

1) The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the palatial heart of China. Constructed in 1420, during the early Ming Dynasty, it is China's best-preserved imperial palace, and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.

As one of the five most important palaces in the world, the grand halls and walls proudly display the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architecture, fitting for the capital city of the world’s largest nation.

Considered a divine place, it was certainly forbidden to ordinary people and that is why the Forbidden City is so named.

Originally it was called 'Purple Forbidden City' (紫禁城 Zijincheng /dzrr-jin-chng/).

Now, in China, it is usually called the 'Former Palace' (故宫 Gugong /goo-gong/).

It consists of more than 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and over 8,728 rooms. (A common myth states that there are 9,999.5 rooms, but it is not supported by survey evidence.)

 

2) The Great Wall 

Though the Great Wall is over 6,000 kilometers long the best 10 sections to visit are near Beijing: 1) the best-restored, Mutianyu, 2) the most beautiful, Jinshanling, 3) the wildest, Jiankou, 4) Simatai, 5) Huanghuacheng, 6) Gubeikou, 7) Juyongguan, 8) Huangyaguan, 9) Shanhai Pass, and by far the most crowded 10) Badaling.

The most popular sections of the Great Wall of China are around Beijing’s north and east. We list the top ten below in order of recommendation, followed by a listing of Great Wall sections throughout China that are open for tourism.

• * Mutianyu — the most magnificent fully-restored Great Wall section
  The Mutianyu section is the most popular among foreign travelers. This is the most child-friendly section.
• * Jinshanling — most popular Great Wall hiking route
• The Jinshanling section is part of a popular hiking route from Jinshanling to Simatai. The Great Wall at Jinshanling is half restored and half wild. It is also the most beautiful section of the Great Wall.

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• * Jiankou — totally wild; the most challenging/steep section
• The Jiankou section’s broken wildness and perilous steepness make it the most dangerous section of the Great Wall.
• * Simatai — the only section opened for a night tour
• The Simatai section incorporates different characteristics of each section of the Great Wall. And visitors can have a night tour on the Great Wall.
• * Huanghuacheng — unique wall and water scenery
• Huanghuacheng’s section of the Great Wall is noted for its perfect blend of lake scenery and ancient wall.
• * Gubeikou - Wild Wall, Ancient Battle Site
• * Juyongguan — one of the greatest Great Wall forts
• * Huangyaguan — an annual Great Wall marathon race site
• * Shanhai Pass — where the Great Wall meets the sea

 

3) Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven was the most important of Beijing's imperial temples. It was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (from 1420 to 1900) worshiped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests.

It has been described as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design".

The total area of Temple of Heaven Park is about 270 hectares (670 acres), but the main buildings are on a south-north line about 750 meters long in the middle of the park.

The most striking building of the Temple of Heaven is the tall, circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, in the north of the park. In the south of the park lie the Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar. The areas are connected by a 360-meter long, 4-meter wide walkway, called Danbi Qiao (‘Red Steps-to-the-Throne Bridge’).

 

4) Summer Palace

The Summer Palace , in northwest Beijing, is said to be the best preserved imperial garden in the world, and the largest of its kind still in existence in China. It is only a short drive (15 km) from central Beijing, but seems like another world.

Most people find they need to spend at least half a day there, as there’s so much to see and enjoy.

The Summer Palace was listed as World Heritage in 1998. UNESCO reported that the Summer Palace is "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design”.

It harmonizes plants and paths, water and land, architecture and horticulture, epitomizing the philosophy and practice of Chinese garden design, which played a key role in the development of this cultural form throughout the East. It is a potent symbol of one of the world’s major civilizations.

 

5) Tian'anmen Square

Tian'anmen Square has hosted momentous events like the declaration of the People's Republic of China by Chairman Mao in 1949, and is surrounded by a host of world class sights, from the Forbidden City to China's National Museum.

Tian'anmen Square is the largest famous world square, eclipsing Delhi's India Gate Complex and Warsaw's Parade Square, on its expansion in 1959. It fulfilled Mao's vision of being the largest square in the world for 17 years, until 1976, the year Mao died. It has been the second largest in a capital city, after Jakarta's, since then.

It's now the sixth largest city square in the world (and the fourth largest in China [Dec. 2015]), at 440,000 square meters, and can hold about one million people for public celebrations or gatherings.

 

6) Beijing Hutong Alleys

The Beijing Hutongs (old lanes) have a very special place in the rich history and culture of Beijing.

The alleys give a wonderful glimpse into yesterday’s world, the old way of life and traditional Beijing culture, and highlight the dramatic changes the rest of Beijing has undergone. Longer Beijing tours usually include a

 

7) Lama Temple

In the northeast of central Beijing, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing is a popular worship place for locals. With 300 years of history, Yonghe Lama Temple has three world-record masterpieces.

Yonghe Temple, also known as Harmony and Peace Palace Lamasery,

Yonghe Lamasery, or Yonghe Lama Temple, is located at the northeast corner of Beijing City, considered as the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in present day China.

Built initially in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, this building was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince. However, in 1744 the Qing Dynasty formally changed the status of the dwelling to that of a lamasery, and so it became the national centre of Lama administration.

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