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Top Trips for Beijing, China See all Trips»
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The Great Wall has now become a major tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors every day. There are three sections near Beijing open to tourists: Ba Da Ling, Mu Tian Yu and Si Ma Tai. The majority of visitors see Ba Da Ling, which is relatively close (70 kilometres) to the city. Restored in 1957, Ba Da Ling is the most commercial section of the Wall and comes with such modern conveniences as restaurants and a cinema. You can buy an "I climbed the Great Wall" T-shirt from hawkers, regardless of whether you made it under your own steam or took the cable car! Mu Tian Yu, 90 kilometres from Beijing, is the second site of the wall open to tourists and is also fairly commercial.
For those who want to see the Great Wall in an unspoiled state, Si Mi Tai is the place to go. You can spend an enjoyable day hiking there and the site is quieter and less crowded than Ba Da Ling or Mu Tian Yu. Although both peaceful and beautiful, Si Ma Tai is also a physical challenge. Some parts of the wall are very steep and can be dangerous so it is best not to go alone. Wear sturdy shoes and take a knapsack to keep your hands free. Si Ma Tai is currently undergoing renovations, with a cable car installed to increase convenience.
The Temple Tour: (Gu Gong), Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan), Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), Lama Temple (Yong He Gong)
It is unlikely you will have time to tackle all four of these attractions in one day. The Forbidden City alone takes at least half a day to cover thoroughly. Therefore, any two or three sites per day is a reasonable pace.
Forbidden City (Gu Gong) Home to two dynasties, the Ming and the Qing, the Forbidden City is the grandaddy of preserved ancient buildings in China. It was built during the Ming Dynasty, under the reign of Yong Le, and required the effort of a million laborers. Most of the buildings have been rebuilt or restored as the originals were destroyed during the tumultuous events of recent Chinese history.
The palace is massive with a lot of ground to cover. It is probably best to go with a tour group so that you do not miss anything, but an audiotape tour is also available. You will see various grand temples and halls but the main highlights are the Three Great Halls, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The latter hall was traditionally the most important structure used for imperial ceremonies such as the Emperor's birthday. Purchase maps at the front gate with admission.
Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan) Built during the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace comprises a large park with beautiful imperial architecture. Used as a summer residence by the imperial family, the estate boasts rolling hills, a lake (Kun Ming Lake) and gardens. Like the Forbidden City, there is much to see at the Summer Palace, and you can easily wile away an entire day exploring the grounds. Major sites to visit include the Precious Clouds Pavilion and the Buddhist Temple of the Sea of Wisdom. Do not miss the 17-arch bridge and the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. Purchase maps at the front gate with admission.
Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) The Temple of Heaven was built during the Ming Dynasty and was considered sacred until the end of the dynastic era. The Emperor would perform ceremonial rites to the gods here, to ensure a good harvest. But this place is also remarkable for its outstanding architecture. The upper parts of the temples are circular while the bases are square (reflecting the traditional Chinese belief that heaven is round and the earth square).
Lama Temple (Yong He Gong) The most significant Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet itself, the Lama Temple is a beautiful structure containing a massive statue of Buddha carved from sandalwood (the largest such statue in the world). This temple has a rich and turbulent history, having survived wars, uprisings and rebellions. Declared as a historical relic in 1949, the building escaped the Cultural Revolution without a scratch. There are five "must see" halls in total: Lokapala, Yong He Dian, Yong You Dian, the Hall of the Wheel of Law, and Wan Fu Pavilion. Do not miss a single one!
Beijing's Hutongs Several districts of historical architecture were preserved in the preperations for Beijing's Olympics. Located at the city center, these intricate alleyways wind around classic courtyard houses, called siheyuan in Mandarin. The most visited of these neighborhoods lies between Hou Hai and the Lama Temple. While exploring on foot can lead to exciting discoveries, bicycle rickshaw tours are also available. The Former Residences of Soong Ching Ling, wife of Sun Yat-sen, Twentieth Century writers Mao Dun and Lao She have all been preserved for visitors. The former residence of Mei Lanfang, most recognized Peking Opera singer in the west, has been turned into a decadent restaurant worth a visit. Tiny shops, beautiful embellishments at gates and many other surprises await the traveler to these tiny lanes too small to fit a car through.
Outside Beijing Myths and Mountains offers a guided tour of the heritage of China departing from Beijing.
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