Six Things Beijing is Famous for – Fascinating Facts of China

Sprawling over for more than 6000 kilometres in Huairou District, a municipality of Beijing, the Great Wall of China inspires wonder and amazement for many tourists from near and far. It has been named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The walls of this gigantic, human-made miracle speak of a history that goes beyond the 7th century BC. The Great Wall was built for many purposes, which included border control and the security of the country. It is even believed that this humongous structure, which towers over for most of China, can be seen from outer space, which remains a controversial topic.

A classic form of Chinese performance art, Peking Opera combines the music of Chinese instruments, singing, miming, dancing, and the rich history of the country. The 18th century blew life into this fascinating form of art, which became quite popular in the 19th century throughout the country. An utter feast to one's senses, nowadays Peking opera is regarded as a cultural treasure in China. The masks adorned by the actors of the opera represent the various characteristics of the personas on the stage. It is interesting to know that all Peking Opera actors have to start training from quite an early age, as they have to master almost all the performing arts such as singing, dancing, acting, and even martial arts!

Located in the heart of Beijing adjacent to many a Beijing service apartment the likes of Ascott Raffles City Beijing, the Forbidden City is China's largest and the most-conserved heritage site. It is also the world's largest imperial palace and covers more than 72 hectares. It was built over fourteen years with an estimated number of one million labourers working day and night to complete this majestic complex. The Forbidden City is the epitome of ancient China's palatial architecture, and it's also the best-preserved collection of ancient wooden structures across the globe. In the olden days, none were admitted into the palace without the prior approval of the emperor, hence its name, the Forbidden City.

The best and the most popular dish in Beijing, the Roast Duck is much-loved among the locals and tourists alike. Even the members of the Bush family that includes two of the former presidents are known to be real lovers of this dish. Also known as the Peking Duck, it has been a favourite dish since the imperial times, with its first mention dating back to the Yuan Dynasty between the 13th and the 14th century. The manner in which this dish is served is particularly special; either the chef showcases the whole duck to the guests before taking it away for slicing, or it may be sliced in front of the guests. The Peking Duck is usually served with pancakes, shallots, plum sauce, fresh cucumber alongside other side dishes.

A kind of copper craftwork, cloisonné is a beautiful artware, which combines a variety of techniques such as Chinese bronze-casting, water and ink painting, ceramic making, and engraving with western filigree enamel techniques. With a history of nearly 1000 years, cloisonné takes six steps to achieve its fascinating beauty, which are design, mould making, wire-weaving, colour-filling, polishing, and gilding.