According to Andy Education, the capital of the People’s Republic of China is located in the north of the country. The densely populated city of Beijing is one of the four ancient capitals of China. It is known for its opulent palaces, temples, walls and gates. In particular, the Forbidden City, Great Wall of China and the Temple of Heaven attract millions of tourists every year. The modernization is well reflected in buildings such as the Olympic Stadium, National Center for the Performing Arts and the Central Business District, which is full of high-rise modern buildings. The city also has many museums to offer in which you can find a lot about the history and culture of the country. Nevertheless, the city can also be compared to our country in one respect. The similarity lies mainly in the number of bicycles you see there. Because it is fairly flat, this is an excellent means of transport in the chaos that sometimes reigns.
Beijing ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. Purple Forbidden City
Not very long, this former imperial residence of about 24 emperors has been opened to the public. For China, this is considered the most distinguished and most important monument in the country. The complex was built around 1410 by order of Emperor Yongle. The whole consists of an inner courtyard containing the palaces Qian Qing Gong and Kun Ning Gong and some smaller palaces and pavilions. The outer court mainly consists of the Bao He, Tai He and Zhong He pavilions. Access to the main complex, Supreme Harmony, is via a long staircase. However, the middle part which is decorated could only be entered by the emperor. The Palace Museum was opened in 1925. Everything has been completely open to the public since 1949. The various pavilions are used to present exhibitions. To give an idea of how big the whole is: 750 by 960 meters, which is filled with 980 large and small buildings.
#2. Great Wall
of China Whoever travels to Beijing really can not ignore it. A visit to this ancient building should not be missed. The wall, which stretches thousands of kilometers, is one of the eight wonders of the world. About two hundred years before Christ, the construction of this wall was started, which was mainly to serve as a defense against attacks from outside. At that time the wall consisted mainly of loam and clay. A few centuries later, during the Ming Dynasty, it was built and completed as we know it today. The many towers offer an exceptional view over China. The most popular part of the wall can be found at Dadaling and Mutianyu.Excursion to the Great Wall of China
You can book a day trip to the Great Wall of China via Ticketbar Beijing. You will be picked up from your hotel in Beijing in the morning and then, accompanied by an experienced guide, you will visit the Imperial Tombs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, The Great Wall of China and drink Chinese tea in the traditional way. You can book this interesting day trip here.
#3. Beihai Park
Like the Forbidden City, this adjacent park has been open to the public since 1925. The beginning of the construction of this imperial garden dates back to the 10th century. All kinds of special and scenic spots from all over China have inspired this park and an attempt has been made to display them here. It is not for nothing that people talk about masterpieces in garden art.
#4. Wangfujing Street
The best shopping and market area in the city is on this street and its side streets. It is also the busiest street. Many large department stores and small boutiques supply the most sought-after products here. The markets, especially the night market, have many local delicacies and other regional products to offer. In the large shopping center Sun Dongan Plaza you can shop indoors. Don’t forget to take a look at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Church on Wangfujing Street.
#5. Tian’an Men
Square This Tiananmen Square is said to be the largest in the world. It has an area of 440,000 m². Centrally located is the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the face of the People’s Republic of China. There is also a monument to folk heroes, the old stadium, the parliament building and a museum of Chinese history and revolution.
#6. Temple of Heaven
Shortly after the construction of the Forbidden City, this largest temple complex in China was started. It has approximately 273 hectares. It was not until the 16th century that it was modified and renamed the Temple of Heaven. During this Ming and Qing dynasty, the emperor came here to make sacrifices to hasten a good harvest. At that time it was definitely not accessible to the common people. It is said that the round shape is very suitable for transferring a whisper to the other side without difficulty. The decoration on the inside is excellent.
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#7. The Summer Palace
On the very large Kunming Lake is another special palace site. This complex was built by Emperor Qianlong who reigned there from 1736 to 1795. It became his summer residence. Later it was expanded and adapted by Empress Cixi who was known as one of the most powerful women in China. The extensive grounds are full of special buildings, temples and a boat. Fortunately, the most special ones are within walking distance of each other. This is, for example, the Hall of Charity and Longevity, Temple of the Sea of Wisdom, The Bronze Pavilion, Hall of the Parting Clouds and Tower of the Sweet Fragrance of Buddha.
#8. Natural History Museum Beijing
In this museum you will find a very extensive collection consisting of zoology, paleontology and botany. A special selection of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals can be found in the Paleontology Room. Some are even a million years old. Furthermore, human evolution is treated and there are very special exhibitions in the basement.
#9. National Stadium
This very beautiful and somewhat futuristic building is popularly called ‘bird’s nest’. The stadium was designed by the Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron and assisted by the highly respected Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. It was designed and installed for the 2008 Olympic Games.
#10. Zhoukoudian
Many archaeological finds have been found in a cave system of Zhoudoudian. This village is about fifty kilometers from Beijing. For example, Peking Man, a hominid species from nearly two million years ago, was found here. Animal remains and tools dating back to about 750,000 years were also found. This is all reflected in the Peking Man Site. There is also an exhibition area and several areas where fossils and other objects are exhibited.
