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1. Forbidden City (Gu Gong)
- Located in the heart of Beijing near Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City is the most vivid reminder of China's Imperial past. Constructed from... read more
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- Landmarks
- Nile Expert Tip: The main draw of Forbidden City is the impressive Imperial architecture and the sheer scale of the palace....
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2. Tiananmen Square
- The centre of both glory and controversy in China's modern history, Tiananmen Square is a vast space located next to Forbidden City. Although the... read more
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- Landmarks
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3. Great Wall (The)
- China's Great Wall stretches east-west for more than 5,000 kilometers. Its origins can be traced to the seventh century BC, when independent kingdoms... read more
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4. Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan)
- Located in the South-eastern area of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is a stunning set of buildings completed in 1420 for prayer and worship. The... read more
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- Religious Sights
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5. Panjiayuan
- This classic flea market in the south-eastern part of Beijing has thousands of individual shops and offers a brilliant selection of antiques for... read more
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- Markets
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6. Nanluoguxiang
- Nanluoguxiang is one of the best preserved historical areas of downtown Beijing, as well as being one of the most chic and trendy places to hang... read more
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- Attractions
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7. Hou Hai Lake
- Hou Hai Lake is in the north-west of the central part of the city, directly north of another, smaller lake Qian Hai. Hou Hai is surrounded in bars,... read more
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- Lakes and Rivers
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8. Summer Palace (The)
- The Summer Palace was the royal summer residence during the Qing Dynasty. The palace grounds cover an area of 290 hectares, three quarters of which... read more
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9. qianmen market street
- Qianmen Market Street is a great place to go to snap a few pictures of what Qianmen Market Street apparently used to look like. Recreated prior... read more
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- Shopping
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10. Bell Tower
- Close to the Drum Tower, the Bell Tower was also used to tell the time. The bronze casted bell was rung every evening until the last emperor left... read more
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- Attractions
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The Best of NileGuide
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Beijing is China's cultural and artistic capital and filled to the brim with history, spirituality and stunning beauty. Start your trip off with a tour of traditional Beijing.
The Forbidden City is arguably the grandest structure of Beijing, and is truly a symbol of imperial power at the height of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Known as the "Former Palace" in Chinese, this was the imperial seat of Chinese emperors for a span of over 500 years. Over this time, the palace was ransacked a number of times, so most of the structure you see today was built during the Qing dynasty. The original structure was said to contain 9,999 rooms, but there are now 980, only half of which are open to the public. Make sure you get there early (gates open at 8:30) to wander peacefully without the afternoon crowds.
The world's largest square, and Beijing's most unavoidable tourist attraction is Tienanmen Square. Although infamous due to the 1989 student rally incident, this square continues to attract hordes of tourists, due to its sheer size and cultural centers. In the center of the square is the Monument to the People's Heroes, which was erected in 1958 by Chairman Mao as a symbol of the Communist Revolution. To the north of the Square lies the Forbidden City, and to the east are the museums of Chinese History and Chinese Revolution.
There are many points of entry for the Great Wall of China, which stretches over 5000 meters. The least touristy access point is Jiankou. The hike from here takes about five hours, and is quite a trek that is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for those afraid of heights.
The Temple of Heaven, located in the Chongwen District, was originally built as an altar to Heaven. This was the site for important rituals carried out by the Ming and Qing emperors, who came here during the winter months to pray for the health of the empire.
The Summer Palace was where the Emperor and his court retreated in the hot summer months to keep cool by the lake, and is well worth a visit. Likewise, Hou Hai Lake, in the center of the city, is a glorious place for a stroll year round, and especially at night.
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in China, where you can get traditional silks, jade, and antiques. The most famous area is the antique market of Panjiayuan. You can also find boutique shopping on Nanluoguxiang Alley, and some of the best shopping for souvenirs on Qianmen Market Street.
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