In the Northeast of China lies the capital, Beijing. Known for the rich cultural, political, and industrial elements, the face of this rapidly changing city is ever evolving. Careful measures protecting this ancient city allow a delicate balance to exist between the past, present and future. A popular hub to China’s traditional flare, itineraries can quickly fill for both night and day activities in Beijing. Transportation throughout the city is well marked for getting around and walking is recommended whenever possible.
Easily accessible within the city, The Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, and The Summer Palace are definite places to visit on your journey through Beijing. The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 AD by Chinese Emperors who desired a place to worship and conduct sacrifices for the Gods. Intricate details engulf this magnificent structure and the other main buildings onsite including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound. Also worth noting, the Echo Wall is a perplexing communication feature you have to see to believe.
Serving as the Emperor’s Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasty’s, the Forbidden City has managed to maintain a window into the past. 980 buildings remain in tact inside the city making this site the largest ancient wooden structure preservation project in the world. In addition to the already existing prestige, expansive artifacts and artwork collections drape the interior of this magnificent view into traditional Chinese culture.
Several miles away, the Summer Palace proves to be a stunning place to gather with friends and relax. Enticing visitors to stroll through the lavish gardens and exotic waterways of this palatial atmosphere, treasures and alcoves await discovery. Some 3,000 systematic buildings including towers, bridges, and pavilions weave through the waterways of Kunming Lake.
On the outskirts of town towards the suburbs you’ll find the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Great Wall. Spectacular homage to Chinese Emperors is laid in perfection at the Ming Tombs where 13 Emperors were buried here from 1409 to 1644 AD. While only 3 of the 13 tombs are accessible by the public, rumors are flying more excavation and research will soon increase that number. Nevertheless, this delicately chosen location showcases the impressive tradition of the Chinese and well worth the visit.
One of the most visited placed in the World, the Great Wall has dazzled both friend and foe with its impressive demeanor for centuries. Construction began as early as the 5th century BC (although the better known sections were built between 200 and 220 BC) and continued for centuries leaving the final Wall stretching just over 4,106 miles. If you would prefer to encounter sections of the Great Wall in their original conditions, traveling a further away from a commercialized Beijing will do the trick.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 6:03 am and is filed under Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
