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Top 10 must dos in Beijing
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The Great Wall of China. Photo by S.Sherrill
Beijing, the capital city of China, has many attractions to keep you busy for at least a week. Below are the top 10 must do activities and sites if your time is limited.
1. Great Wall – A symbol of China, this amazing wall is at the top of every top 10 lists. There are several locations near Beijing to choose from depending upon your level of fitness, time allotted, level of fitness (adventurous spirit) and desired crowd size.
2. Forbidden City – Also called the Palace Museum it was completed in 1420. The huge palace is an amazing, well-preserved example of imperial architecture. Twenty-four emperors lived here for almost 500 years.
3. Tiananmen Square – This square, the biggest in the world, is located in the heart of Beijing. Mao’s Mausoleum is the focal point.
4. Peking Duck – Every trip to Beijing must include one meal of the famous Peking Duck. The recipe originates from the Ming dynasty and was a vital dish on the imperial menu.
5. Summer Palace – During the Qing dynasty the emperor retreated to these beautiful grounds during the summer. The palace combines nature and beautiful structures in a beautiful harmony encompassing feng shui principles.
6. Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) – This is beautiful Ming dynasty temple is where Ming and Qing emperors would pray and make sacrifices four times a year to the gods on the behalf of his people.
7. Lama Temple (Yonghegong) – This Buddhist temple was converted into a Tibetan lamasery in 1744. The complex contains a nice mix of Han, Mongol, and Tibetan motifs. The highlight is a 55ft (17m) Future Buddha carved from a single block of wood and listed in Guinness Book of World Records.
8. Ming Tombs – The resting grounds of 13 of the 16 Ming emperors are spread over 15 square miles (40sqm). It is a great example of imperial tomb architecture.
9. Hutongs – This historic quarter of narrow alleyways reveals a charming older Beijing where many residents still live. A rickshaw tour of the area is a must do. For a greater cultural experience, stay in one of the hutong homes, which has been renovated into a guesthouse to get an idea of olden China (but with modern day conveniences of indoor plumbing).
10. Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium – Drive by and view one of China’s newest national symbols. The 2008 Olympic Games were held here under the world’s largest steel structure.
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