| Best Time to Visit: |
April, May, September and
October (with either bitter winters or humid summers during rest of
the months) |
| Major Attractions: |
Forbidden City, Lama Temple (Yonghegong),
Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Drum Tower
and Bell Tower, Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard, Beijing Underground
City & Yuanmingyuan |
| Major Entertainment Centers: |
Museum of Chinese Revolution, Museum of
Chinese History, Paleozoological Museum of China, Chinese Art
Gallery, Yiheyuan - Garden of Cultivating Peace, Chinese Ethnic
Cultural Park, Yuanming Garden & Beijing Zoo |
| Shopper's Paradise: |
Wangfujing, Silk Street, Xizhi Men, Pan Jia
Yuan, Xisi & Qianmen |
| Near by Places (Excursions): |
Great Wall, Zhoukoudian Cave, Fragrant Hills
& Ming Tombs |
| Famous Food & Beverages (Gourmet's
Delight |
Roast Duck, Hotpot, Lamb Kabobs, Qingdao
Beer, Bai Jiu (white liquor) & Mao Tai (Chinese hard liquor)
|
| Foreign Embassies & Consulates: |
Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritius,
Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Switzerland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,
UAE, UK, USA & Zimbabwe |
History & Evolution
Some 5000 years ago, settlements were thriving on basic agriculture and
animal husbandry to the southwest of Beijing. The Story has it that the
legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) battled against the tribal leader
Chiyou in Zhuolu, a town perhaps the site of the first metropolis in the
area.
Previously known, the region has always remained the political capital
of all the emperors and leaders. The first Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi
Huang) in early 3rd century BC set about conquering six states and
unifying China and named the city as administrative center of Guangyang
Commandery. For next 10 centuries, through to the end of Tang Dynasty
(618-907), Ji remained a strategic trading and military center and the
object of frequent power struggles. The Qidans (Khitans) followed the
Tangs and moved south to occupy Ji and make it their second capital.
They called the city Nanjing (Southern Capital) or Yanjing. Then came
the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) that carried out reconstruction projects and
built palaces, which were used as strongholds.
Emperors and dynasties came and went, each giving the city a new name
like Yanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu, Khanbaliq, Beiping, and of course Beijing.
First brought to the forefront of Chinese history by Genghis Khan, the
Ming Dynasty secured its place in history with the building of the
famous Forbidden City.
After a long period of imperial rule came the foreign invaders in 1860
like Great Britain and France who captured the region and forced Chinese
government to concede the Legation Quarter for foreign settlements. This
intrusion gave air to the Boxer Uprising in 1900.
Then came the civil wars during which the city exchanged hands
repeatedly and eventually gave way to the establishment of Chinese
Republic in 191112. Japan occupied the city after the famous Marco
Polo Bridge incident in 1937 who made the city the capital of a puppet
state.
The end of World War II also brought end to foreign concessions in 1946
and Beijing was entirely restored to Chinese sovereignty. Eventually the
on Jan. 1949, the city fell to the Communists who designated it the
capital of the newly founded People's Republic of China and restored the
name Beijing.
Since then this capital city has spread well dotted with hundreds of
new buildings, hotels, and cultural centers.
Site-Seeing
Categorized as one of the most famous historical and cultural cities in
the world, Beijing has ample for attractions to lure.
The city is known for its beautiful and ancient temples whereas, sites
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square tell about the history of Beijing
which is as old as 1000 years.
Its a symbolic city of China, housing most of the famous sites of
the country and plenty to occupy yourself. Either shop for silk and
painted ceramics, relax in a tea house with a soothing cup of Chinese
tea, get educated in the arts at a performance of elegant Chinese opera
or let your hair down at a sleek disco.
Forbidden City (the Palace Museum):
Also called as Gu Gong in Chinese, the forbidden City lies exactly at
the center of Beijing. It is an imperial palace of the Ming and Qing
dynasties whose construction was started in 1407. For around 500 years
this huge sanctum was off-limits to most of the world and thats
why it is named The Forbidden City. Today this Forbidden
City and its centerpiece- the magnificent palace is open to all
visitors.
Comprising of total 800 buildings & 9,999 rooms, the complex is the
biggest and best preserved complex of ancient buildings in China and the
largest palace complex in the world.
Location: Chongwen
Tiananmen Square:
Tiananmen Square not only serves as a symbol for Beijing but to the
whole of China. Besides being the largest central city square in the
world, this solemn courtyard is also famous for being witness to
innumerable historical events.
Further, the square is surrounded by a variety of significant erections
like Chinese Revolution History Museum, the Mao Mausoleum, Great Hall of
the People, Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace Gate) Tower and the Qianmen (Front
Gate).
Another exceptional experience of Tiananmen complex is the daily flag
ceremonies performed during sunrise and sunset.
Location: Tiananmen Square
The Summer Palace:
Built on Kunming Lake, this magnificent Palace was built in 1750 by the
Emperor Qianlong and continued to be an imperial residence until 1908.
Recognized today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex
surrounding the palace contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a
marble boat that was once a teahouse.
Along with beautiful palace are the stunning gardens that are open to
visitors, who enter through the East Palace gate, pass through a grand
courtyard into the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, the Hall of Jade
Ripples and the Hall of Joyful Longevity.
Another must see is the Empress Cixis private theatre in the
Garden of Moral Harmony with the Temple of Azure Clouds and Temple of
the Sleeping Buddha in the vicinity. Better known as the Garden of
Cultivating Peace and constructed by the Qing emperors, The Summer
Palace is surely not to miss site of Beijing.
Location: Northwest Suburbs
Temple of Heaven:
Located at the south of Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven located
within Temple of Heaven Park is China's largest temple complex. Built in
15th century by the Ming emperors to ask for good harvests, the temple
has exquisite architecture with roofs that are covered with blue glazed
tiles.
The grounds of the temple also include an Echo Wall.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site has area smaller than The
Forbidden City as Chinese emperors called themselves 'The Son of
Heaven; they dared not to build their own dwelling bigger than a
dwelling for Heaven.
Location: Tian Tan Lu
Lama Temple (Yonghegong or Palace of Peace):
Situated in the northeast of the city and constructed in 17th century,
The Lama Temple was built by Chinese emperors who harbored a deep
fascination for the Tibetan (Tantric) version of Buddhism.
The temple was used to be the palace in which the son and successor of
the Kangxi Emperor lived, but today it resides the monks (or lamas) who
not only worships but also maintains the place.
The temple consists of series of five halls and contains an impressive
18m (59ft) Maitreya which is carved from a single sandalwood tree.
Location: Yonghe Gong Dajie