| Beijing is the capital of China and has undergone many name
changes throughout its history and is also known by many people as
Peking. It’s a city of 22 million that’s situated in the north of
the country. And is regarded as one of the Four Great Ancient
Capitals of China. The city’s quite large and is separated into
two rural counties and 16 districts. It’s generally regarded as the
political, cultural and educational heart of the country. It became
well known around the world in 2008 as it hosted the Olympic Games.
The centre has been an important part of the nation’s history for
centuries and just about every major building there has an
historical story behind it. You’ll find an ample supply of temples,
palaces, stone walls and gates here as well as a never ending series
of art treasures.
The history of the city can be traced back about 250,000 years
and since then it has witnessed many dynasties and historical
periods. It’s surrounded by scenic mountains and is the agricultural
heartland of the country. The Great Wall of China stretches across
the northern area of Beijing and there are several major rivers that
flow through the area as well as the Grand Canal of china.
It’s an excellent place to explore and it would take days to see
everything of interest. If you need to take a break from walking the
transportation system can get you around as it’s top notch, with
subways, railways and a fine network of roads. Remember, there are
four seasons in Beijing, so dress for the occasion. The temperature
can reach extremes during the summer and winter and July and August
make up the rainy season.
The scenery and architecture can be breathtaking throughout the
city. There are three main types of architecture. These are the
traditional buildings of imperial China, such as Tiananmen, the
Temple of Heaven, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, as well as the
Sino-Sov architectural style of the 1950s to 1970s, and the modern
skyscrapers. The old and new mix very well together and this can be
seen in the business and financial areas.
Some of the most popular places to visit include the Forbidden
City, which is a huge palace compound from the Ming and Qing
dynasties; the Palace Museum, imperial gardens and parks, Tiananmen
Square, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China,
the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Summer Palace, the Temple
of Heaven, Temple of Sun, Temple of the Earth, Temple of the Moon,
Tanzhe Temple, White Cloud Temple, and the Confucius Temple. You can
also visit the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and the
Niujie Mosque, which is over a thousand years old.
There are also numerous pagodas and stone bridges to see. The
Beijing Botanical Garden is extremely popular as it’s the home to
more than 6,000 species of plants and the Beijing Zoo is ideal for
children. There are hundreds of museums to keep you busy as well as
tombs, theatres, art galleries, and the opera.
Many dialects of language are spoken here and although not
everybody can speak English, they sure give it a try to be helpful.
Restaurants, hotels, and shops can be found in just about all areas
of the city and these are made to fit all budgets. The most popular
style of cooking in the city is mandarin cuisine, which features the
famous Peking duck. There are many traditional foods available as
well as teas to drink.
If you’re a sports lover, you’ll fit right in as Beijing is home
to tons of professional teams. These include soccer, rugby,
basketball, baseball, and ice hockey.
Beijing is just overflowing with things to do, places to see, and
foods to eat. It’s one of the most fascinating cities on the planet
and is an ideal location for people of all ages to spend at least a
few days. |
