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Beijing is not only the capital of the People's Republic of China, but pulls double duty as the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center. Located in northern China, Beijing, along with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, is one of the country's six ancient cities. Beijing's history dates back over half a million years, and has always played an important role in the development of cultural and economic communities in the region.
With its century-old history and unique cultural relics, there is plenty to keep you entertained in this city that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists. Beijing is home to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, which is the largest and best preserved imperial palace in the world. It also contains a section of the Great Wall and The Temple of Heaven. Beijing experiences four distinct and colorful seasons. The city is at its best in late spring and fall when the trees change the face of the bustling city from one color to another in a matter of weeks. Visiting Beijing during the months of May, September and October allows people to enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies. If you love winter, you will appreciate another attraction near Beijing --skiing in Beihai. After a day on the slopes, you can take in the snowy sights on West Hill and enjoy a steaming hotpot.
Although a modern and fashionable city today, visitors can experience authentic Beijing life by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs and Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard. For the quintessential Beijing experience, check out the Beijing Opera (also known as the Peking Opera.) A tour of old Beijing will leave you with a feeling of appreciation in your heart for this ancient city that has truly seen it all and tells its story with matchless grace, charm and vigor.
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The Beijing Opera
Attractions to check out when the sun go down include everything from traditional performances at the Beijing Opera to various acrobatics and martial arts performances to modern concerts, ballroom dancing, bars and clubs. The Beijing Opera itself was formed nearly 200 years ago. It originated from Hui Ju of Anhui Province, which later absorbed the best parts of Han Xi, Qing Qiang, Kun Qiu and other local operas. The Beijing Opera combines stylized acting with singing, dancing, musical dialogue, martial arts, facial makeup and attractive costumes. The vivid facial makeup and fanciful costumes make the Beijing Opera the quintessential Chinese experience for any visitor.
The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a must-see for visitors to Beijing. Situated in the southern part of the city, the structure is one of the largest surviving "sacrificial" temples in the world. The history of the temple dates back to ancient times when the Chinese believed that the emperor was the "Son of Heaven," who administered matters on the earth on behalf of the heavenly authority. To show respect to the heavens, sacrifices were an extremely important show of authority to the emperor. The ancient buildings to be explored include the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Pavilion of Double Ring Longevity, the Imperial Vaulted Heaven and the Circular Altar at the southern end of the compound. The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, called Gugong in Chinese, is situated in the center of Beijing. Probably the most famous of Beijing's local attractions, the "city" used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today it is known as the Palace Museum. The Forbidden City is based on a rectangular grid and is encircled in a 52 meter wide, six meter deep moat and a 10 meter high, 3,400 meter long city wall, which has one gate on each side. Dating back to 1407, the Forbidden City had been home to the royal families until 1924 when the last emperor in China was driven out. Prior to this time, 14 emperors of the Ming dynasty and 10 emperors of the Qing dynasty had reigned here. As the imperial palace for 500 years, it houses numerous rare treasures and curiosities. In 1987 it was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
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