Beijing is not only an ancient city with a long history, but also a classic book that shows the elegance of Chinese culture. When you come here, you can look for traces of history in the ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, enjoy the magnificence of nature in the royal gardens, and at the same time appreciate the charm of the megametropolis in the modern buildings. For those visiting Beijing for the first time, we recommend the four attractions that are definitely not to be missed. A trip to Beijing is a wonderful experience with the vitality of a modern city, where every photo is a time stamp. A trip to Beijing is not only a visual feast, but also a spiritual baptism.
Best Attractions in Beijing
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is the heart of Beijing, the largest central square in the world. As a symbol of the new China, the construction of the square is planned according to the urban plan made of the city of Beijing from the year of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The floor of the square is all paved with light coloured granite stone. It measures 880 meters long from north to south and 500 meters wide from east to west, and occupies an area of 440,000 square meters, with capacity for a million people in large concentrations. Inside the square, along Beijing's central axis from north to south, successively rise the national flagpole, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Zhengyangmen Tower. While on both sides of Tiananmen Square are the People's Culture Palace and Zhongshan Park, all buildings form part of the square. In 1986, it was named one of the "Sixteen Beijing Scenarios".
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was built in 1420 and has a history of nearly 600 years. It is the most important and complete architectural complex of palaces that is preserved today in the world. A total of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties resided in this palace. It covers an area of 72 hectares and is said to have 9,999 rooms. It is a World Heritage Site and represented the power center of China’s feudal society and witness to modern history. One of the characteristics of the Imperial Palace is the perfect conservation of its buildings and decorated, which keep full harmony with the relics and jewelry that are on display. In addition, they retain their original taste, which gives them added value and a unique and incomparable aesthetic to tourists.
Great Wall of Mutianyu
It is said that man is not a true hero until he reaches the Great Wall. Undoubtedly, it is the symbol of China’s splendid history and the crystallization of the wisdom of ancient workers. Mutianyu is the essence of the Great Wall of China of the Ming Dynasty, which is connected to Gubeikou in the east and the Juyong Pass in the west, and has been the military key since antiquity, with profound historical and cultural value. It is 73 kilometers from the center of Beijing and enjoys the reputation of "the most peculiar wall of China". With a total length of 5,400 meters, it is the longest wall in China and one of the sixteen landscapes of Beijing. In 1987, the Great Wall of Mutianyu was inscribed on the list of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven, as the largest ancient architectural ensemble in the world for the worship of heaven, is an impressive place for its magnificence and singular beauty. It is located south of the Forbidden City, and is the most important of the temples of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. It covers an area of 273 hectares, almost four times the size of the Imperial Palace. Since ancient times, it was the place where Chinese emperors presided over rituals in honor of heaven, to which they invoked a good harvest. As it is located within the urban area, with fully populated area of trees and lawn, it is a green lung of Beijing. There tourists have the opportunity to see many locals practising sports and other recreational activities. At the same time, they can perceive the cosmological conception full of symbols and traditional Chinese culture.
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Beijing, an eastern metropolis where ancient and modern intertwine, exudes a unique charm. Tourists have the opportunity to feel the weight of history and the vitality of modernity, experience the taste of traditional culture and the innovation of modern culture. Whether you are a tourist who loves historical relics or an artist who loves modern architecture, in Beijing you will find your own surprise. This ancient but young city awaits your exploration and discovery.
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