Beijing, the capital city of China, is the heart of the country’s economy and culture.
Its vast mix of the past and present makes it the perfect place to soak up all that China has to offer. The city has become one of the world’s top tourist destinations due to its great array of attractions. There are over 4.4 million tourists that visit the city each year.
Attractions in Beijing
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is an imperial palace that has been well-preserved over the eras. There are 9,999 rooms in the building and it is surrounded by a six metre deep moat and ten metre high wall. For five centuries, this palace was the administrative centre of the country. Now the palace has become a top tourist attraction due to the authentic Chinese architecture and its exquisite decor.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China has been named one of the Eight Wonders of the World. The wall was built to prevent invaders from raiding and destroying the city within.
The large wall spans across five provinces and snakes through both mountains and deserts. In the downtown areas of Beijing, you can climb the Badaling area of the Great Wall. Make sure you have adequate walking boots, water and insect repellent before you start your journey!
Parks and Gardens
There are numerous regal gardens within Beijing due to the many imperial palaces that are situated within the city. The Old Summer Palace, also known at the Ruins of the Yuanmingyuan, was built during 1709 and was once the emperor’s private garden.
This is a traditional Chinese landscape garden and has rivers, pond, pavilions and exotic flowers within its interior. The most scenic spots are the Grand Waterworks and the Throne as both offer expansive views across breathtaking areas within the garden.
Neihai Park
The Neihai Park is another traditional garden in Beijing; it was originally built in the Liao Dynasty and has been renewed and rebuilt over the eras. The park contains vast lakes and three mounds of land which represent the Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang Mountains found within the east. You can also enjoy walks through the Jade Flowery where there are many exotic flowers with unusual tones, scents and shapes.
Entertainment
There are plenty of ways to enjoy your evenings whilst you holiday in Beijing; you can see traditional pieces such as the Opera, acrobatic shows and tea-house performances. There are also urban events such as snack markets, pubs and clubs.
The Tianqiao Area contains such popular establishments as the Tianqiao Theatre and Tianqiaole Tea House; here people enjoy meals and drinks whilst watching such traditional performances as Acrobatics, Martial Arts and folk singing.
The Liyuan Theatre is another great place where tourists can delve into and listen to genuine Beijing Opera. There is a concert held each night at 7.30pm; the establishment provides subtitle boards for those who may not understand the language.
You may also want to visit the Huguang Huiguan Ancient Opera Building, the Beijing Concert Hall and Beijing People Art Theatre in order to get a deeper sense of the music that Beijing has to offer.
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