Beijing Attractions
As a renowned tourist destination in China, Beijing is blessed with rich tourism resources. Below is a short introduction to the major places of interest of Beijing.
Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China, one of the Eight Wonders in the world, is included on the World Heritage List. It is the symbol of China and a great and magnificent construction of the world. It was first built in the Qin Dynasty around 221 BC to keep out invaders. The Great Wall extends about 2,414 km across northern China, spanning from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west. The famous sections in Beijing are Badaling Great Wall and Mutianyu Great Wall.
As the Chinese saying goes like “those who do not make it the Great Wall can not be considered a true man”. Sure, please do not miss the sight when travelling Beijing China.
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, also known as Zijincheng or Gugong, is the world’s largest and best-preserved royal palatial complex, with an area of 720,000 square meters and 9999 rooms and halls. Situated in the center of Beijing, it is home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With the traditional Chinese palatial architecture, the complex was listed as a World Heritage Site In 1987. Nowadays, it houses the Palace Museum.
Tiananmen Square
The solemn Tiananmen Square is the largest open-air city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters. Located in the center of Beijing, it could accommodate about 1,000,000 people at one time. Tiananmen Square serves not only the landmark of Beijing, but also the symbol of whole China. It is also home to the tomb of Chairman Mao. A sprawling and spacious area, Tiananmen Square is an excellent place to experience the look and feel of Communist China.
Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven, located in south of Beijing, is the largest extant complex of ancient sacrificial buildings in China, covering an area of 273 hectares. With a formal and solemn environment, this grand and magnificent masterpiece of architecture was built in 1420 for emperors to worship Heaven, which mainly includes the buildings like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Hall of Heavenly Emperor, the Circular Mound, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, etc. Temple of Heaven was declared as “one of the human heritages of the world” by the UNESCO in 1998.
Summer Palace
Summer Palace is one of the finest royal garden architectures in China, situated in the northwestern part of Beijing. As a masterpiece of Chinese landscaping, this garden harmoniously integrates the natural landscape of hills and water with man-made features, consisting of pavilions, terraces, pagodas, temples, covered corridors, stone bridges, and renowned marble boat. The Summer Palace, served only the imperial family in ancient times, has now become a famous tourist attraction for travelers from both home and abroad.
Hutong
Hutong refers to a small alleyway or lane in Beijing which can be dated back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It is a unique Beijing architectural structure where visitors can experience the daily life of ordinary old Beijing people and enjoy the local culture and customs. Take a traditional pedicab, an ancient Chinese transportation tool, to visit the featuring Hutongs.
More Attractions in Beijing
The other famous attractions in Beijing also include Ming Tombs, Fragrant Hills Park, National Museum of China, Shichahai, Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), National Aquatics Center, Beijing 798 Art Zone, Beijing Happy Valley, Beijing Zone, Grand View Garden, Fragrant Hills of Park, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Confucius, Tanzhe Temple, Yunju Temple, Prince Gong’s Mansion, Shichahai, Qianmen Street, etc.