For more than 800 years, Beijing has been the centre of Chinese politics, but it also has a considerable influence on the country's culture, economy, science, and intellectual life. Shanghai is the only city larger than Beijing. Beijing, which is still occasionally referred to as Peking, is an excellent starting place for visiting this dynamic country because to its extensive network of air, train, and road links with other major cities. In the northwest of the North China Plain, close to the western Yanshan mountain range, is where you'll find Beijing.
Beijing alone has numerous interesting places to see. It is the location of some of the most well-known tourist destinations in the nation, including the renowned Badaling Pass section of the Great Wall of China. The Imperial Palace, Beihai Park, Coal Hill Park, and the Heavenly Temple are just a some of the city's many historical and cultural sites. Most of these attractions are found in the ancient city centre, which has been painstakingly preserved.
Discover the enormous Tiananmen Square, a variety of significant temples, brand-new construction brought on by the city's rising economy, as well as significant events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After seeing all there is to see, treat yourself to some of the city's amazing food and shopping.
With the help of this list of Beijing's top tourist destinations, you can organise your vacation to the Far East.
1. The Forbidden City and the Palace Museum
The most visited tourist destination in China is the Imperial Palace, commonly known as the Forbidden City, which was constructed in the thirteenth century under the Yuan Dynasty. Extensions were erected after the capital was moved here from Nanking during the Ming Dynasty between 1406 and 1420, giving it its enormous size.
24 Ming and Qing Emperors resided in this stunning palace, often known as the Forbidden City since the general population was not let within. The complex, which covers an area of 720,000 square metres, is surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall with towers at each of its four corners and a moat that is 50 metres wide. The original private rooms that the Emperor and his concubines lived in have been partitioned into the area utilised for ceremonial and administrative functions.
The Meridian Gate, constructed in 1420, the Golden River Bridges, a system of five elaborately decorated white marble bridges, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which served as the Emperor's banquet hall, are a few of the highlights.
The Hall of Military Courage, the emperors' permanent residence and private audience hall, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the largest chamber in the Inner Court, are two other sights to view. The largest extant wooden structure in the nation is the stunning, 35-meter-high Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is renowned for its lavishly decorated golden imperial throne.
The prestigious Imperial College (Guozijian) is not far from The Palace Museum. The premier institution in the nation was founded here by Kublai Khan in 1287, and it remained operational until it was shut down in 1900. Many past emperors visit this place to continue their education and learning. The vast portion of the complex's 10,000 square metres is visible.
The Beijing location's address is 4 Jingshan Front Street.
2. The Chinese Great Wall
Beijing and the Great Wall of China, unquestionably one of the nation's most famous historical structures, are only one hour's drive apart. You may stroll along an amazing portion of the Great Wall that dates from the 16th century and is up to eight metres high here at Badaling Pass, the first section of the Wall to be available to tourists in the 1950s.
Along the way, there are various towers and parapets that you may use to gain great views of the breathtaking surroundings. You can take a relaxing cable car trip rather than making the challenging ascent to the wall.
If at all feasible, try to arrange your travel so that you get to this famous portion of the Great Wall early because it could get crowded. Even better, think about enrolling on a tour. A fantastic approach to learn about the history of this location is to take the Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour.
In Mutianyu, there are also sections of the Great Wall from the sixth century. Over the years, it has been rebuilt and expanded, and it is becoming more and more well-known for its stunning views, which are especially wonderful in the spring and autumn.
3. Tiananmen Square
The largest inner-city square in the entire globe is Tiananmen Square, also known as the Square of Heavenly Peace. A million seats were intended for it when it was completed in 1958 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Republic. The square—now referred to as the heart of communist China—gained symbolic significance when students protested against the Treaty of Versailles' Chinese articles on May 4, 1919.
The beautiful Tiananmen Gate, also known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace, and the 38-meter-tall Monument to the People's Heroes (Rénmn Yingxióng Jnià nbei), an obelisk constructed of 17,000 pieces of granite and marble, are must-see attractions in Beijing. It served as the principal gateway to the Imperial City up to its completion in 1417.
Zhengyangmen, commonly known as Qianmen, is another significant gateway. It is the southernmost entrance of Tiananmen Square. This large building, which was originally built in the early 15th century and renovated in the early 1900s, is one of the city's most significant landmarks.
Two more noteworthy attractions are the Mao Zedong Mausoleum, where the late leader's body is kept in a crystal coffin, and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, which houses exhibits that trace the development of the Communist Party and the various phases of the Chinese revolution beginning in 1919.
Address: Beijing, Dongcheng
4. Beihai Park.
One of Beijing's oldest imperial gardens still in use is found in Beihai Park, which is near to the Imperial Palace. The adjacent Lake Beihai (North Lake), which was built at the beginning of the eleventh century and is full of attractions, gave its name to this wonderful open space.
The Round Fort and the majestic Hall of Enlightenment are two of the park's most notable structures. Both were constructed during the Yuan era (1271–1368). The gigantic black jade vase from the early 12th century and the 1.5-meter-tall Buddha, both carved from a single block of white jade, are shown in the 1690-built hall.
Another interesting site is the opulent Song Qingling house, which Sun Yat-sen's widow lived in for 18 years before she passed away and is now a museum. Visit Mei Lanfang's (Mei Lanfang Guju) home as well. Mei Lanfang was a well-known male Peking Opera actor who excelled in playing feminine roles.
Additionally, make an effort to include Guo Moruo's house on your Beijing itinerary. From 1963 until his death in 1978, the renowned novelist and historian lived in this home, which was built in the style of a traditional Chinese courtyard. The magnificent White Pagoda from the 17th century, which is situated on the Island of Exquisite Jade, should be added to your list.
Address for Beijing: 1 Wenjin St.
5. The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven (Tiantán), one of Beijing's most famous buildings, was built in 1420. The two sections of these stunning old temples and shrines—one rectangular and the other semicircular—represent Heaven and Earth, respectively. They are encircled by lush vegetation.
On the day of the winter solstice, the Emperor would perform sombre ritual sacrifices and climb the Heavenly Altar in the vividly painted Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qinian Dian). The hall was built in the traditional Chinese manner in 1420 using just wood and no nails at all. It has a 50,000 blue glazed tile ceiling and a three-tiered marble terrace with balustrades. The emperor's emblem, the dragon, and the phoenix stone are depicted on a marble tablet that is lying on the ground.
Another well-known location is the Hall of the Vault of Heaven (Huangqiong Yu). It was constructed in 153, had a conical roof made of blue tiles, and was used to store the ceremonial plaques for Heaven and the Officials. Visit the temple's Echo Wall as well, where three extraordinary echoing stones allow even the softest sounds to be heard resonating.
Beijing's Dongcheng neighbourhood, 1 Tiantan E Road.
6. The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace (Yhé Yuán) in the city is a must-see and is conveniently located 30 minutes by car, bus, or taxi from the centre of Beijing. Over 700 acres of this picture-perfect landscape, which originates to the 12th century, are involved. It has beautiful gardens and a sizable lake that was created by humans more than 700 years ago.
The prominent sites here are frequently included in planned visits, including the western-styled "Marble Ship" (Shifang), the Hall of Happiness and Longevity (Renshou Dian) with its beautiful throne, and the gorgeous courtyard adjacent to it (Leshou Tang Hall). You may also check out the magnificent Great Theatre from the 19th century, where you can see Chinese opera and music performances.
If there is time, one of the most popular activities is to stroll along Suzhou Market Street and ride the miniature pleasure boats (children love the ones with dragon themes) that take tourists to one of the palace's temples.
Address for Beijing is 19 Xinjiangongmen Road in the Haidian District.
7. Beijing National Stadium
The National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest or Guójia Tiyùchang, is well-known around the world for its participation in the beautiful Summer Olympics held in Beijing in 2008. It is definitely worthwhile to visit.
Traditional Chinese ceramics, which carried a large price tag when it was erected, had an impact on the unique structure's unusual style. Since the Olympics, it has been utilised to host important cultural events like opera, concerts, and football games. It transforms into the biggest artificial indoor ski slope in the world during the winter. English-language self-guided tours are offered.
The National Aquatics Centre is another well-liked tourist destination nearby. Due to its captivating nightly display, in which it is illuminated and looks to be a big ice cube, it is also known as the Water Cube. A part of the structure has been transformed into the thrilling Watercube Waterpark, which hosts Olympic swimming competitions.
Don't forget to stroll around the lovely Olympic Green afterward. Several of the most important Olympic buildings may be seen as you stroll through these wonderful parks and green areas.
Near S Road for the 1 National Stadium in Chaoyang.
8. Temple of the Yonghe Lama
The Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Temple, is one of Beijing's most beautiful and well-maintained temples. By constructing an official home for Lamaism, the religion of the recently annexed Tibet, the structure fulfilled a political function. In 1745, it was completed. It was constructed with large dimensions and was furnished with numerous priceless items of art.
The Hall of the Kings of Heaven (Tian Wang Dian), which houses a statue of Buddha surrounded by the four kings, each of whom is given a toad, sword, snake, and shield, is the building's most noticeable feature. It's also fascinating to see Weituo, the protector of the Buddhist faith, holding an iron staff.
The Hall of the Buddhist Wheel (Falun Dian), which includes a six-meter-tall statue, two thrones, and several sacred scrolls, is one of the monastery's other notable structures. The Pavilion of the Four-tongued Stele (Yubi Ting) houses another stele from 1792 that describes the development of the Lama religion in Chinese, Manchurian, Tibetan, and Mongolian.
See the massive 18-meter-tall sandalwood statue at the Lama Temple's largest structure, the Pavilion of Four Thousand Fortunes (Wangfu Ge).
Location: Dongcheng, Beijing, 12 Yonghegong Street
9. The National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Capital Museum
Beijing offers fantastic assistance to individuals who value the arts and culture. One of the top art museums in the nation, the magnificent Beijing Capital Museum, is particularly appealing. The museum, which first welcomed visitors in 1981, now houses a sizable collection of artefacts, including spectacular statues from Chinese and other Asian cultures, antiquated bronze and porcelain items, and traditional calligraphy pieces.
The enormous stele of Emperor Qian Long, which weighs more than 40 tonnes, is over seven metres tall, and bears ancient characters and calligraphy, is another highlight of the collection's more than 200,000 significant cultural relics, many of which originate from in and around Beijing.
The National Centre for Performing Arts (Guójia dà jùyuà n), often known as the Giant Egg, is a noteworthy contemporary building in Beijing. The structure, which debuted in 2001 and is regarded as one of Asia's best opera houses, has since welcomed some of the world's top opera singers. If you can, try to catch a performance while you're there.
10. Beijing location address: 16 Fuxingmen Outer St.
10. Old Observatory in Beijing In the city's easternmost region, not far from the station, is the fortress-like Beijing Ancient Observatory (Beijing Gu Guanxià ngtái), which was finished in 1442 and was constantly used until 1929. This observatory is regarded by many as being among the oldest of its kind.
An armillary globe from the 18th century that depicts the planets (at least those that were known at the time) and a celestial globe from 1673 are two of the many fascinating historical pre-telescopic objects kept in the 10,000 square metre building. Additionally, there are numerous large-scale bronze instruments that Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit missionary, built. Incredibly detailed information about the stars and planets at the time is revealed in this enormous brick tower, which was once a part of the old city walls and is now a museum.
In Jian Wai Da Jie, Beijing, China, at 2 Dongbiaobei Hutong.
No comments:
Post a Comment