Wednesday, December 19, 2012

What to SEE in BEIJING

You can travel by yourself easily in Beijing where most of the tourism spots are link by their subway. The following are the tourism spots suggested for your visit:

1. Great Wall of China
"He who has never been to Great Wall is not a true man" is a phrase derived from Chairman Mao to describe those who can't overcome obstacle and achieve their goal is not a hero. Now I can understand why Great Wall is used in the phrase. Because to climb up to the Great Wall is not an easy job, the stair is steep and the stone step is small.  

The Great Wall has history around 2700 years and it was build to prevent China against the invaders from the North. You can visit Great Wall at Badaling which is easy to reach by train and bus.


2. Forbidden City
Build 1406-1420 by million laborers. Home of the emperor and his household until 1924. Located in the heart of Beijing. Read more...


3. Tiananmen Square
The world largest square, surrounding by Mao's Mausoluem, History Musuem, Great Hall of the People, Forbidden City and Qianmen St. Near National Grand Theater.



4. Qianmen Street
2km long street located just South of Tiananmen square, now meticulously restored to reflect Qianmen's 600-year traditional shopping history and architecture.


5. Summer Palace
This imperial Chinese garden was included in world heritage list under UNESCO, year 1998. It is an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole (UNESCO). The main garden is dominated by Kuming lake and longevity hills, you can also see the 728 meter elaborately painted long corridor and Empress Cixi's marble boat here.


6. Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
It was the residence of the Prince Yong of Qing Dynasty (Emperor Yong Zheng) before it was converted to Lama Temple in 1744. The three things you must not missed seeing here are: the Niche of Buddham which was carved out of nanmu with three layers filigree; the Five-Hundred-Arhat Mountain carved out of red sandalwood; and an 18 meter hight Buddha which was carved out of one grand piece of white sandalwood.


7. National Stadium
The "hemispherical dome" (天圆地方 doctrine) is used in the architecture design in Beijing's National Stadium where the "Bird's Nest" shape is round and the National Aquatics Centre's shape is square. In between, there is a dragon venture. This signified the important of Feng Shui in Chinese architecture and living.


8. Houhai Bar Street
A happening night life place where you can stroll, drink and eats a long the banks of the picturesque Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai lakes. There even have boat services to ride and enjoy the sightseeing. It is close to Bell and Drum towers.


9. Bell & Drum Towers
The Bell & Drum towers were once the time-announcing center of the capital during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. But unfortunately, there are only one remaining watchman's drum out of 25 previously.


10. Beijing Hutongs
The word "hutong" refers to alley which is almost disappearing. You can tour on foot, bicycle or pedicab to visit atmospheric alleys and courtyards.

 

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