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City Attractions
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 | | Ancient Observatory | Over the course of the Ming and Qing dynasty, much time was spent observing the phenomena of the skies. One of the world’s oldest and functioning observatories can be found in the city of Beijing.
More» | | | | | |  | | Bei Hai Park | Bei Hai Park is a magnificent imperial garden in China's capital Beijing. Originally built in the 10th century, it ranks with the vastest of Chinese gardens, and features a multitude of historically significant temples, palaces and other structures. Spanning a total of more than 69 hectares, more than half of the park's area is covered by lake waters. At the centre of the waters can be seen the island known as Qionghua. The compound of buildings adjoining the southern side of the gardens serves as the residence of China's supreme leaders.
More» | | | | | |  | | Beijing Underground City | As a relic of the Soviet-Sino border conflict the Beijing Underground City was built to sustain 40% of the population in the event of nuclear war or aerial attack to the city. What started in 1969 took 10 years to complete, and was done mainly by the local citizens. Using crude tools to carve out this vast network of tunnels, it was under the direction of Chairman Mao that this amazing feat was accomplished. Today, the Beijing Underground City has become popular among Beijing tourist attractions and is a unique look at a Chinese defense mechanism.
More» | | | | | |  | | Hutong Square | The hutong is a unique feature of Chinese cities, being essentially a quadrangle of dwellings encircling a central courtyard, an architectural feature that carries great traditional significance in old-world Chinese communal values. This complex is walled off from adjoining hutongs and connected by a winding network of alleyways which create a bewildering labyrinth. Although in olden times citizens of all statuses and affluences lived in hutongs, the Maoist regime saw many of these dwelling places transformed into congested shanties before finally emerging in the new economy as a form of protected close-knit heritage community which is undergoing a gradual gentrification.
More» | | | | | |  | | Li River | Originating from Maoer Shan Mountain located in the North of Guilin, the Li River is a majestic body of water that flows through the Yangshou countryside giving life to everything it touches. Before meeting with the Xi River, the Li River winds its way through many cities including Jishou, Jinshi, Lixian, Zhangjiajie, Shimen and Changde attracting many tourists to these destinations from various corners of the world.
More» | | | | | |  | | National Grand Theatre | The National Grand Theatre or the National Centre for the Performing Arts is one of the most futuristic architectural creations in historic Beijing. This facility spreads across 12000sqm and is surrounded by a beautiful artificial lake. Completed at an approximated 300 million Euros by French architect Paul Andreu, this fascinating structure shares its neighbourhood with some of the richest historic sites in Beijing such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
More» | | | | | |  | | Panjiayuan Antique Market | Beijing is a true ancient citadel of the world, and an aspiring and confident city that is blanketed in history and weaves a spell on the beholder. Iconic tourist attractions in Beijing include the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, a part of the Great Wall and the Lama Temple. Whilst many age old relics can be found, today, Beijing boasts some of the most modern architecture in the world, making it a seamless blend of yesterday and tomorrow.
More» | | | | | |  | | Peking (Beijing) Opera House | The Peking Opera House is well known as a focal point of traditional Chinese operatic tradition. Peking Opera, also known as the Beijing Opera, is a complex and intricate form of authentic Chinese theatre, featuring a combination of vocal performance, music, dance, miming and acrobatics. This form of opera initially developed in the latter part of the 18th century, and achieved maturity in the 19th century. This art form was hugely popular during the Qing dynasty, and has been recognized as one of the cultural treasures of China.
More» | | | | | |  | | Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi Huang | Gaining global recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the collection of Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi Huang became one of the most significant archeological finds ever discovered in China. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, is credited as the first ruler of the Chinese empire to have unified the country.
More» | | | | | |  | | Tianmen Square | Tiananmen Square is the immense plaza located close to the centre of China's capital Beijing, named for the Tiananmen ('Gate of Heavenly Peace') which stands to its north. The square, one of the largest such plaza's in the world, has great cultural and historical importance for the Chinese nation as it was the location for a number of significant incidents in the history of the nation.
More» | | | | | |  | | The Temple of Heaven | The Temple of Heaven comprises of a compound of structures of the Taoist faith, located in central Beijing. The temple was frequented by the Qing and Ming Emperors for annual supplications to Heaven requesting a good harvest. In imperial times the Emperor of China was considered to be the Son of Heaven, who regulated worldly matters on behalf of the heavenly powers. Therefore it was imperative for the Emperor to show due respect for the supreme divine forces by performing sacrifices and rites honouring them and showing his devotion.
More» | | | | | |  | | The Forbidden City | The Forbidden City located at the center of Beijing served as the imperial palace of the Chinese Emperor during a span of nearly 500 years, from the era of the Ming dynasty up to the final period of the Qing dynasty. In this period the compound, with its majestic buildings, was used as the emperor's residence as well as the political and ceremonial seat of the Chinese government. No less than 24 consecutive emperors resided at the site.
More» | | | | | |  | | The Lama Temple | The monikers of the Yonghe Temple are many; locals call it the Lama Temple while it also retains its more lyrical name of the "Palace of Peace and Harmony", indisputably the largest major lamasery which still endures in a perfect state of preservation. It is one of the crown jewels of Beijing’s imperial architecture; a 17th century princely abode of the Qing Dynasty turned one of the most prominent centres of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. This historic monument of the Dongcheng District narrowly escaped the purges of the Cultural Revolution and today boasts several footnotes in the Guinness Book of World Records.
More» | | | | | |  | | Wangfujing Street | Beijing is a city that glories in being both one of the greatest historic citadels of the nation's imperial past as well as being a fully industrialized modern metropolis befitting its crown as the present-day capital. Three million cars speeding over a myriad of flyovers against a backdrop of sprawling neon-lit plazas and the majestic spires of imperial temples represents a snapshot of the oddly-harmonious dichotomy of Beijing. This incongruence is heightened upon closer inspection; streets which appear to be Asia's answer to the Champs-Elysees are peopled with Beijing denizens who appear to have eschewed the incredible pace of their peers in Hong Kong and Shanghai in favour of embracing a more laid-back lifestyle.
More» | | | | | |  | | Yuan Ming Yuan (Old Summer Palace) | Yuan Ming Yuan, initially known as the Imperial Gardens and sometimes called the Old Summer Palace, was formerly a mammoth compound of gardens and palaces, some of which can be seen even today. It is located in close proximity to the famed Summer Palace.
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