06 Underrated Places in Beijing – There’s more to them than meets the eye

Probably since the temple per se is small, this place is commonly referred to as the Ditan Park. Within the small acreage, there is a children’s park and some eateries. People who visit to worship the God of the Earth also engage in a spot of Tai – Chi under the winsome trees. The temple was built during the Ming Dynasty and continues to be the venue for temple fairs whenever there are local celebrations.

On either side of the Yongding River are numerous eateries, many a Beijing hotel, golf courses and parks. The Marco Polo Bridge is one of the oldest paths to have been created to move between the two river banks. It has also been a significant battlefield where the Chinese forces have been at war. The Venetian voyager, Marco Polo has admired the sturdy structure made of stone and the great lions carved out of stone that sit on along the length of the bridge in royal grandeur.

Located between the celebrated Military Museum and the heavily patronized Pan Pacific Beijing, the Capital Museum is an elegant multi-storeyed building to get your dose of art and culture. This is home to many Asian artefacts, paintings, calligraphy and statues with prominence given to local arts and culture. There is a section that is dedicated to interactively disclose the typical lifestyle and livelihood of ancient Beijing.

While hundreds or possibly thousands of people visit the Forbidden City every day, there are very few who stop by at Jingshan Park. Formerly, this was very much a part of the Forbidden City and was used as the private garden along with the manmade hill that lies within it. Today it seems that the hillock’s primary purpose is to offer awe-inspiring views, however, during ancient times it was probably a lookout for security purposes.

When one speaks of visiting China, one prepares a long list of things that should be bought while on tour. This does not include only trinkets, giveaways and souvenirs. It also includes household items, clothes, accessories, shoes and handbags as products are generally relatively inexpensive. Parkview Green isn’t your typical mall; it blends in art, culture and luxurious living into the shopping experience.

If you are a tea lover, this is one destination you should not miss. The Tea Street of Beijing may be slightly out of the way, but it hosts the largest possible number of varieties of tea. Stalls are run by tea growers from all over China and you get to taste some of them free of charge. Once you make up your mind about the flavour or kind that you wish to purchase, don’t hesitate to bargain. The prices are generally lower than other retail outlets and you can spend half a day meandering through the aromatic tea shops – a true treat for a tea spirit.