Beijing, capital of China

Beijing is more than the capital of China. It is a living historical city that is not to be missed.

A trip to Beijing can be as short as a few days.

Must see attractions like:

• Tiananmen Square
• Summer Palace
• Great Wall
• Forbidden City

However, a proper trip will take (4) days to a lifetime. This city has that much too offer travelers. Beijing is 1 of the 6 ancient cities in China. It has a history of more than 3,000 years

Made famous by its delicious Beijing Roast Duck, along with being the China's modern political center. Its modern airport built for the 2008 Summer Olympics serves as one of the major entries for international travelers.

Added attractions in Beijing for an extended stay include:

• Temple of Heaven
• Ming Tombs
• The hutongs in Shichahai Area

Brief Introduction of the Top Attractions in Beijing

As the saying goes, one who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a true hero. Without visiting the Great Wall, no trip to Beijing or the country is complete.

The Great Wall of China is definitely a must in Beijing. It is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built, rebuilt and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders from Xiongnu attacks during various successive dynasties.

At the heart of Beijing is the Forbidden City, home to the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, is another must see in Beijing. This place is the largest palace complex of the nation and the world. The Forbidden City also hosts the Palace Museum with imperial collections of Chinese art. The Forbidden City is, by any measure, a must-see site in Beijing. Other highlights in Beijing such as the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace also represent the dignity of the ancient imperial court. 

Hutongs and The Old Beijing

Siheyuan (Courtyard houses) and hutong (alleys) only grow in charm as they decrease in size. Courtyard houses are typical of houses of northern China, a full embodiment of the Chinese philosophy of "the unity of man and nature." Courtyards visitors can see today were mainly built from the Qing Dynasty to 1930s. Hutong is the most typical type of old lanes. More than 7,000 alleys are scattered throughout the city, each has a story to tell. Those narrow lanes twist through older sections and form an open-air museum where you can happily wander aimlessly for hours. To experience the old cultures, a Hutong tour is a must see in Beijing.

The New Beijing

Old Beijing is wonderful and amazing while New Beijing is fantastic and exciting. Economic reform and the preparation of the 29th Olympic Games have accelerated the pace and scale of change and outfitted the city with a sense of modernity. Present-day Beijing offers an endless mixture of theatres, bars, business centers, all kinds of restaurants and shopping malls that will delight visitors.

Seven hundred yeas ago, amazed by his unbelievable description of China, people asked Marco Polo whether his stories were true. He answered: What I have told you was not even half of what I saw. Actually, what was mentioned above is only a fraction of Beijing that awaits visitors from all over the world.