Joanna James
Smaller only to Shanghai in terms of metropolises in China, Beijing has long been the political centre of the country with a rich economic, cultural, academic and historical lifestyle that has spanned over 800 years. There are so many amazing places to see in Beijing so here are our top five.
The Imperial Palace also goes by the name of the Forbidden City and is one of China's most well-known attractions. It was established back in the 13th century by the Yuan Dynasty and was the royal palace since. It was from this throne that 24 Ming and Qing Emperors ruled over Imperial China. The reason that the Forbidden City is called that is due to it being forbidden for normal citizens to enter the palace during the times of the emperors. The entire complex is 720, 000 sq metres and it would take quite some time exploring it but there's just so much inside to see.
If you are looking to book hotels in Beijing China, you would want to go check out the Great Wall. It is only an hour away from city hotels the likes of Pan Pacific Beijing to Badaling Pass which was the first bit of the wall to have been opened to tourists in the 1950s. This part of the wall dates back to the 16th century and while you take a walk you can look over the spectacular views of the countryside. But this particular part of the wall gets so much traffic you should plan and either ask your hotel to organise a tour for you to join or book one online before you set off for Beijing.
The Square of Heavenly Peace is what this place is called in Chinese. It is the largest inner-city square in the world and can hold up to a million people. It was built in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Republic of China which was in 1958. It is a symbol of China and Beijing and the politics of the country. The highlights within the square that you should see are the Tiananmen Gate, Zhengyangmen and the Monument of the People's Heroes. You could also check out the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Located a short distance away from the Imperial Palace is the oldest surviving imperial gardens known as Beihai Park. It is said to have been laid out in the 10th century and takes its name from the beautiful Beihai Lake. There's so much history in the park that you can trace to various times in the empire. So be sure to have some guide or guidebook with you.
Tiantan is the temple that was established in 1420 also known as the Temple of Heaven. It is considered one of Beijing's most sacred buildings. It was built out of wood in the traditional Chinese manner without the use of a single nail. You must visit to witness its sheer beauty.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
