travel to Beijing: overview

Beijing, the capital of China, being host of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, is the political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as China's most important center for international trade and communications. It is China's second largest city, after Shanghai. This week, we will explore the city and all that it has to offer.

Together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China. Beijing's long and illustrious history started some 500,000 years ago. It is here that the ancestors of modern Homo sapiens, Peking men, lived in caves. Records show that Beijing has been an inhabited city for more than three thousand years and has endured invasions by warlords and foreign powers, devastating fires, the rise and fall of powerful imperial dynasties and has emerged each time as a strong and vibrant city. For more than 800 years, Beijing was a capital city - from the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) to the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. Thirty-four emperors have lived and ruled the nation in Beijing. Throughout its long history, there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates. Such as the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, the home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, is a great building of human being; Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), also a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Summer Palace, displays a comprehensive collection of imperial gardens and palaces that functioned as the summer retreat for the Qing Dynasty emperors; Great Wall, as well as Tian'anmen Square, the biggest central square in the world, etc.

Besides the historical relics, tourists can experience authentic Beijing life and become acquainted with 'old Beijing' by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs, Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard and enjoy the Peking Opera. Add any or all of these to your Beijing tour and you will leave with a feeling of special appreciation in your heart for this ancient city that has truly seen it all and tells its story with matchless grace, charm and vigor.

But Beijing is more than an ancient city, tourists can also enjoy its exciting modern development. Strolling around Beijing, you'll find it has much in common with any other great metropolis elsewhere in today's world. There are towering skyscrapers; busy shopping malls and an endless stream of traffic that makes the city much the same as others. The most famous and popular commercial circles and commercial pedestrian streets are predominantly located near the Yansha Shopping Mall, Tiananmen and Wangfujing Street, Guomao Shopping Mall, Qianmen Street and Xidan Street, etc. However, although you will find multinational chains with their own brands to offer, nowhere else on earth will you find such a variety of gourmet Chinese restaurants offering the very best of the eight different styles of Chinese cuisine as well as western style dishes.

In addition, the Olympic Games has already brought huge change to Beijing. Besides the improved beijing air and a nice new subway system and sport facillities, some excellent Olympic buildings become Beijing’s new landmark, such as the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the bird's nest; and the Water Cube. They are also a must see!

Its art treasures and universities have long made the city a centre of culture and art in China. Beijing has the most and highest level universities, comparing with other cities in China. After a day's Beijing tours, nighttime can hold other surprises for you. These can vary from traditional performances such as the Beijing Opera, acrobatics and martial arts to modern ones including concerts, ballroom dancing, pubs and clubs. Each and every one has its individual enchantment for the tourist.