Finding Your Way In Beijing
May 29, 2010 by Travel Guide Greg
Filed under Travel Guides
A journey to Beijing will lead you to discover the legacy of a more than thousand year old culture – through its colossal monuments, lavish palaces and the proud heritage prevalent in this Land of the Rising Dragon.
As the capital of China, Beijing is the political and cultural center of the land, forcing it to catch up to the modernity while not forsaking the rich tradition of its birthright.
Why not start your tour of Beijing at the titanic and famous Tian’anmen Square, the biggest city square in the world. It is a place of great cultural significance in the long history of China and a silent witness to many of China’s major events. One such event is the pro-democracy protest in 1989 which ended in the tragic deaths of many protesters.
To gain better insight into Beijing’s culture, head to the nearby Forbidden City to witness the opulence and magnificence of China’s Imperial past. This complex of almost a thousand buildings, and close to 9,000 chambers, served as the home of several Emperors for almost 5 centuries.
It is called the Forbidden City because no person was allowed entry to the palace complex without the permission of the emperor. One day of exploration is not enough for the truly curious. The intricate designs of every building, the lavish décor and the countless imperial treasures housed in this palatial complex will keep you in awe and wanting more.
If you think the Forbidden City is massive, wait until you see the Temple of Heaven in southern Beijing. It is triple size, with an area of 273 hectares. Perhaps, the vastness and enormity of this complex is fitting considering it was built to serve as a sacrificial venue to worship Heaven.
After a tiring but enthralling tour of the city, satisfy your appetite for scrumptious Chinese cuisine at the famous gastronomic destination known as the Ghost Street. You can have your fill and more in this long street of more than a hundred restaurants. The best time to visit is at night when hundreds of red lanterns provoke an ethereal experience of this must-visit area.
A tour of Beijing is not complete without an expedition to the Great Wall of China. If you don’t have the time to visit all the famous Great Wall sections, the Mutianyu section is a great choice.
Although it doesn’t feature the complete military facilities highlighted in the Badaling section, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall offers a more spectacular panorama of the surrounding areas. However, if authenticity is your priority, Simatai and Gubeikou sections stand today in the same condition as centuries ago.
Finally, a rural experience of Beijing should not be missed. On your travel from the Great Wall back to the center of Beijing, make a detour to the quaint little village of Sancha on the border of Huairou and Yanqing counties. Sancha literary means “three crossings”, an apt name for a village located in the intersection of three mountain valleys and springs. Experience the hospitality of the villagers whose way of life has changed little in the passing of centuries.
