Beijing is a huge city and has so many important historical & cultural attractions that deciding what to see and how to allocate precious time is a major concern. This guide may be tool which helps to maximize your time.
The Forbidden City is one of Beijing's must-see places. Called Gu Gong in Chinese, it witnessed the rise and decline of both the Ming and Qing Dynasties and was home to 24 emperors over about 600 years. A symbol of Beijing and China, the Forbidden City attracts millions of visitors each year to trace the history of China’s ancient imperial past.
The Forbidden City is one of the best-preserved, biggest and most complete ancient wooden-structure building complexes in the world. The yellow glazed roof tiles, greenish white marble base and the magnificent colored paintings speak of it’s royal past. Built in an axle wire design the buildings stand on both sides of the axle wire.
The Forbidden City is divided into 2 parts, the outer palace court and inner court and both are built in totally different styles. There are 4 gates to Gu Gong. The front gate is called Wu Men, and is the most popular gate place to enter the Forbidden. 3-4 hours will provide enough time for a good visit. The Forbidden City has so many special points because of its history, so we recommend you hire a guide or rent an audio guiding device which cost 40 Yuan to ensure you have better understanding of the imperial palace.
The Forbidden City visiting is often combined with Tian'anmen Square because they are adjacent. The largest city square in the world at 108.7 acres (44 hectares), 1 million people can assembly within its bounds and it has seen many important events. Its name comes from the Tian'anmen Rostrum at the north of the square. Around the square there are notable places such as the Great Hall of the People, The Museum of Chinese Revolution, Chinese Historical Museum, Zhengyang Gate and the Qian Gate of Jian Tower.
Chairman Mao Zengdong announced the establishment of the People' Republic of China (PRC) on October 1st, 1949 and the Five-starred Red Flag was first raised there by Chairman Mao. Since this event Tian'anmen Square has become the symbol of China for many people. Wander around the square to feel the sense of history and then walk across the street to visit the Forbidden City.
The Great Wall is one of the greatest achievements in human history. This 21196.18 km (13 170.7 miles) long for defensive system was built to prevent the intrusions of Northern nomadic tribes. Built in the spring and autumn and Warring States Period over 2000 years ago, it was rebuilt in the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. Like a sleeping dragon stretching mountains over mountains, the Great Wall has several famous sections.
Badaling Great Wall is the most popular and nearest to Beijing. It has beautiful scenery but is also the most crowded section. It take 1 1/2 hours to drive there from Beijing city. Mutianyu and Simatai are a bit further away and take over 2 hours driving time but are less-crowded and also have stunning scenery. Simatai has not been open to the public since 2010.
Jinshanling and Jiankou are sections with less human intervention and have not been restored. The steps are steep and the Wall is broken in some places. It is a good choice for hiking adventures.
Huanghuacheng Great Wall is famous for the combination sightseeing of a reservoir and the ancient Great Wall.
Admission fee of each section:
The Temple of Heaven is the biggest preserved ancient building complex which was built for worship and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site. It is built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty. Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed there to heaven to ask for a good harvest in the spring. It now serves as a great attraction and a place which local Beijing people use for recreation. See and experience local culture like flying kites, playing cards and practicing Taichi.
There are many beautiful buildings in the park surrounding the circular altar which is where the worship ceremony was focused each winter. The most famous one of all these buildings is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest on the north of the park, which is believed as the nearest place to the Heaven.
The building complex is famous not only for its unique style and design but also has for its use of theories for acoustics, mechanics and geometry. The Echo Wall is one of these. It is a 0.8-meter-thick wall where the sounds from the other side of the wall can be clearly heard by putting one ear against the wall. Kids love to try this. 2-3 hours is ok for visit this big park.
The Forbidden City showcases ancient imperial family life while the Hutong tells the story of ordinary locals. Making this more vivid is the fact that while the Forbidden City is now a museum the Hutong is still alive with locals living there.
Hutong refers to narrow alleys between local residences. There are numerous Hutongs and most surround the Forbidden City. Hutongs are often located between courtyards which are center of house or group of houses. This is also a representative of Beijing. Unlike the decoration of imperial palace, most courtyards are grey colors with grey tiles and grey walls. Some are big with elegant decoration but many are small for poor families.
The most famous Hutongs are situated in Dongcheng District and Xicheng District near the Forbidden City. Visiting a family in a Hutong is a special way to get to know more of the Hutong life. Hutongs like Nanluoguxiang, Yandaixiejie, Dongjiaominxiang and Xijiaominxiang are well-known. Hutongs in Dongcheng District are still quite original while Hutongs in the Xicheng District are modern with bars and more night activities.
Summer Palace was built for the imperial families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties to survive the summer heat. They worked and live there every summer. It is representative of Northern gardens style.
As the best-preserved imperial garden in China, it boasts some stunning scenery like Kunming Lake and Wanshou Hill (Longevity Hill) and elegant buildings like the famous corridors and pavilions. The Summer Palace now has become a great summer retreat even for jaded travelers. In other seasons this garden also shows its unique beauty so it is worth visiting at anytime. 3-4 hours is recommended.
Located on Tianshou Mountain in Changping District and about 50 km from Beijing, the Ming Tombs were built for 13 emperors and their empresses and concubines during the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall Badaling is usually combined a visit to the Ming Tombs because they are close. Construction was over 230 years from Chang Tomb to the tomb for last emperor Chongzheng in the Ming Dynasty. The Chang Tomb, Ding Tomb and Zhao Tomb are the most visited.
Ancient people believed the Fengshui in the area was very good so that it was favored by the imperial families at that time. Visiting the tombs allows visitors to see many valuable relics and articles on display which were unearthed and get a glimpse of the splendid imperial days. The visit often includes the Sacred Way near the Tomb which is about 1 km long and lined with different stone animal sculptures called as Sacred Animals. 2 hours is enough for the visit.
Beijing Olympic Park was built for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and is now a free park in which the Bird Nest and Water Cube are located. Officially called the National Stadium and The National Swimming Center, these 2 iconic buildings, with their unique design, are especially beautiful at night when they are adorned with colorful lights.
Though the park itself is free, the Bird Nest and Water Cube have an entrance fee. 1 hour is enough to wander around the park and take some good photos. It is on the way to the city center from the Great Wall.
Peking Opera is the most famous opera in China. During the Qing Dynasty, 4 major opera troupes from Southern China went to Beijing and cooperated with their counterparts from Hubei Province. Styles mixed and the Peking Opera was the result. It is acknowledged as an icon of Chinese Culture and something that many people must see when they visit Beijing.
The best place to see Peking Opera Show is in Hu Guang Hui Guan Opera Theater which boasts one of the oldest opera theaters in Beijing and also serves as a museum. Visitors can experience the show and also learn about the history of Peking opera at the same time. The Peking Opera operates nightly.
A trip to Beijing is not complete without having Peking Roast Duck! It is probably one of Beijing’s most famous exports but the opportunity to eat this dish in the place of its birth should not be missed.
The duck used is a special breed cooked by hanging and roasting or in a stew furnace. Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant represents cooking by hanging and Pianyi Fang is well-known for the stew furnace method.
86-773-2865632(Int'l)
service@chinatravel.com