Travel Guides > Beijing, China

Beijing Travel

Many travelers are overwhelmed by the thought of visiting China. After all, who wouldn't be awed by a country that's nearly 4 million square miles in size, has a population of about 1.3 billion, and whose mountainous terrain is rugged and unforgiving.

Nonetheless, if the opportunity to visit this very foreign yet wonderful country arises, visitors should head for the most cultural and enticing city in China - Beijing. Once known as Peking, this city, in a country that is still strictly ruled by Communism, is more "Western" than the rest of the country, making it a comfortable place for many to begin to explore China.

Located in the northeast region of the country, Beijing is rich in man-made attractions like museums and stunning religious temples, as well as beautiful natural attractions, like the imperial parks which were once off limits to the common folk.

Many guests may want to start their trip with a visit to the Great Wall of China. Many sections of the wall are easily accessible from Beijing via taxi or as part of an organized, guided tour. Viewing this magnificent ancient wonder will probably take most of the day, so plan accordingly.

The man-made wonders never stop here in Beijing. Next, you'll want to make your way to The Forbidden City. Known in Chinese as Gu Gong, this is the largest and most ornate palace in all of China. Built in the early 1400s during the Ming Dynasty, this palace housed 24 emperors from both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The complex consists of 800 buildings and 10,000 rooms and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and deemed the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

If you've arrived at the Forbidden City, then you're also at Tiananmen Square. This 99-acre public square is best known to most as the site of the bloody 1989 riots between student protestors and the government. You'll find various monuments around the square though basically, it's just a gathering place for locals and an awesome site for visitors.

The Museum of Chinese History provides an excellent introduction to the city as well as the country in general. Full of historical artifacts, you'll want to spend at least a few hours here browsing the interesting exhibits.

Though many temples and other religious structures were destroyed by the Communist Party in the 1950s, several still stand in splendor. Take time to visit the grand Temple of Heaven near Tainanmen Square; the ornate Lama Temple, the center of Tibetan Buddhism and home to beautiful carved white sandalwood sculptures; and St. Joseph's Cathedral, built by the Jesuits in the mid 1600s.

If you need a bit of exercise and want to do something truly Chinese, travel to any of the city's pretty parks around daybreak and join those who gather there to practice Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial arts form. Some locals even gather to hone their ballroom dancing skills in the parks as well.