Saturday, August 13, 2011

Beijing - The Great Yet Delightful Capital Of China

By Ben Pate


As the capital of the most populated city on Earth, Beijing is a unique mix of culture, history, and innovation and one of the world's most influential cities. Rich in historical sites, cultural activities, and traditional as well as modern buildings, Beijing is one of the most visited cities in China. If a vacation is taking you there any time soon, you will need a passport. If you already have a passport but it's expired, you can easily get a pasports renewal online.

Online passport services make addressing any sort of passport need quick and convenient. All it takes is a few minutes online. The information is straight-forward, and there is a whole variety of passport services available, from renewals and replacements to additional passport pages and expedited U S passport card service.

The city is located very close to the monumental Great Wall of China, so while you're in Beijing, you'll definitely want to walk along it's famous walls. The landscapes visible from atop the wall is out of this world, and you can expect an unforgettable hike. There are various points along the wall from which you can start your walk, but there are a few with smaller crowds, and it's recommended to a go for those.

Tienanmen Square is the largest public square in the world, as well as a famous landmark. The iconic picture of the man standing in front of the tank was taken in this square, where the Tienanmen Square Protests of 1989 took place. Several very important buildings are located in this square,the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Museum of Chinese History being among them. Be sure to also visit some hutongs, traditional Chinese neighborhoods. Jiudaowan Hutong is a cultural exchange center where you can take cooking classes, experience an authentic Chinese tea tasting, and more.

The most historically and culturally important attraction in China is the Forbidden City, an imperial palace where almost five hundred year's worth of emperors lived. The Forbidden City is an officially declared UNESCO World Heritage Site for being the largest collection of ancient wooden structures in the world. It is also home to the Palace Museum, where you'll find a huge collection of art and items from the Ming and Qing dynasties that occupied the Forbidden City. It is the largest surviving palace complex with 980 buildings altogether.

If you fancy a break from the busy city and would like to spend a little time relaxing, head to the beautiful Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gorgeous park. 290 acres of beautiful landscaping, stunning temples, mansions, palaces, tea houses, and much more provide the perfect escape from the hectic city. Similarly to the Forbidden City, there is a vast amount of places to explore in this park, so be sure to put aside plenty of time.




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3 comments:

Rick Sanchez said...

Would you consider these as reasonable vacation rentals around China? looks expensive if you ask me

Saxton Hale said...

It's not that expensive if you find the right China vacation rentals in there.

Unknown said...

I agree, you'll want to stay in Beijing if you want cheaper
China vacation rentals
.