Discover Beijing on your own, on a tour, and using everything in between. From day trips and art walks to bike tours and rickshaw adventures, Beijing offers it all. Just beware of the seemingly nice “art students” approaching you to take you to tea or an art exhibition...you may end up paying for something you never asked for!
Beijing Sights
Forbidden City
Once the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City was the home of the Emperor and his household as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government. As the world's largest surviving palace complex, the Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO. It remains as the geographical center of Beijing.
Drum and Bell Towers
Bells and drums were musical instruments in ancient China. Built in 1272, the Bell and Drum Towers were later they were used to tell time and became watches for the officials and common people as well. The Bell and Drum towers were the center of time telling during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Although the Bell and Drum Towers have lost their function of telling time, you can still hear the rings of these ancient timepieces even now.
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. Serving as a refuge from the infamous Beijing heat, the Imperial Family often retreated to the Summer Palace. In December 1998, UNESCO declared the Summer Palace a World Heritage Site. Today it is not only a popular tourist destination, but it is also an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the Temple of Heaven was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. Most notable structures include the Temple of Sun, the Temple of Earth, the Temple of Moon, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Circular Mound Altar.
Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
The Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Temple, is one of the largest and most important working Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The building and the artworks of the temple combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. Built in 1694, the Lama Temple contains five main halls that are separated by courtyards.
Beihai Park
Initially built in the tenth century, Beihai Park covers an area of more than 700,000 sqm with a lake covering more than half of the entire park. During the summertime, visitors can take paddle or electric boats out onto the lake.
Chaoyang Park
With construction beginning in 1984, Chaoyang Park covers approximately 289 hectacres. The park attracts visitors with its flower gardens, fairground rides including a roller coaster, basketball courts, cycles, boats, and its annual Beijing Pop Festival held each September. Construction on its observation wheel (208 m tall) is scheduled to finish in 2009.
Ritan Park
Located in the middle of CBD, Ritan Park features a climbing wall, table tennis tables, mini golf, and fishing ponds. One of the city's free parks, Ritan Park is the ancient location of the Altar of the Sun.
Day trip
Fragrant Hills
A public park at the foot of the western mountains, Fragrant Hills Park consists of a natural pine and cypress forest, hills with maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees, as well as landscaped areas with traditional architecture and cultural relics. When autumn arrives, the natural scenery in the park turns spectacular, with fiery red smoke tree leaves covering the mountain side.
The Great Wall at Badaling
The most visited section of the Great Wall of China, Badaling is approximately 50 miles northwest of Beijing. When used by the Chinese to protect their land, this section of the wall has had many guards to defend China’s capital.
The Great Wall at Simatai
Originally built during the Northern Qi dynasty (550-577), the Great Wall at Simatai is one of the few sections of the wall to retain the original features of the Ming dynasty Great Wall. Hanging precariously onto the Yanshan Mountain, Simatai Great Wall is known for its steepness, ingenuity and uniqueness. UNESCO has designated Simatai Great Wall as one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Ming Dynasty Tombs
The Ming tombs is the site where thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty are buried. At present, three tombs are open to the public, Chang Ling, Ding Ling, and Zhao Ling. The site of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs was carefully chosen according to feng shui principles. In August 2003, UNESCO listed the Ming Tombs on their list of World Heritage Sites.
LIVING IN BEIJING -
