7 Must See Places in Beijing ...

At the top of everybody’s list of places to go in Beijing is Tiananmen Square – the largest public square in the world. It isn’t just a fabulous, huge open space in a massive city, some of the top Beijing attractions are around the square, namely, the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument to the Peoples’ Heroes and the Museum of History. Visit the museum to learn about the interesting history China, the Revolution and views fabulous artifacts. Visit the Square on National Day when it is lavishly decorated.

There are plenty of temples, but the Yonghe Temple is not only one of the best sights of Beijing, but also, one of the best examples of Buddhist architecture anywhere in China. It has a calm, peaceful atmosphere and you’d never know you’re right in the heart of a major city. The temple is beautifully constructed with multiple halls and magnificent statues of Buddha. Not for nothing is it also known as the Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple.

As if it’s not enough to have the world’s largest square, one of the top attractions of Beijing is the world’s oldest and largest palace, the Forbidden City. This most iconic symbol of all things Chinese is an absolute must for a good four or five hour visit. Wander the complex enjoying beauteous structured gardens and brilliant architecture and venture inside to see the sumptuous Royal apartments.

Although you see Giant Pandas elsewhere in the world, there’s something very poignant about seeing them in Beijing Zoo. They just seem more at home here. It’s a good day out, especially if you’re traveling with kids with plenty of animals to see, including the endangered Siberian Tiger. Everyone loves the sea lion and dolphin shows, and don’t forget to have your photograph taken with the massive rock-carved tiger.

For more than five centuries, Tiantan has been one of the most sacred Chinese sites and is today, one of the top attractions of Beijing. Located in the south part of Beijing, it is a compound of sacrificial buildings and temples, built for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visit in early morning and you can enjoy the site of the city’s residents doing a spot of Tai Chi, Kung fu and other exercises in and around the altars. Later in the day, you’ll see them playing chess, mahjong and cards. Tiantan is beautiful and is graced by some gorgeous rows of Cypress, juniper and scholar trees, some of which are more than 600 years old.

China’s capital has an absolute plethora of museums. Most visitors don’t have time to even contemplate getting round even a couple of them. If you choose the Capital Museum as one of your places to visit in Beijing, you won’t feel shortchanged. Some 2000,000 exhibits are housed in a specifically designed building that only opened in the late 1990s. Many of the artifacts where actually found in and around Beijing , and the collection includes objects from Chinese dynasties as well as from other Asian cultures.

Luilichang, known as Beijing’s Antique and Culture Street, is the oldest street in Beijing. If you have an interest in Chinese calligraphy, art and antiques, or just want to admire some, this is one of the best places in Beijing. The buildings have black doors, curved tile roofs and colored eaves, so you feel you’re back in Imperialist China, and the street is packed with shops selling objets d’art and all manner of curios. Buy some street snacks, amble in and out of the shops and through the stalls and simply enjoy. They’ll even find a Chinese name for you here or carve you a personal seal.

So much of the enjoyment of Beijing is the atmosphere and that feeling that, no matter what the country’s leaders do, they’ve never managed to diminish the influence the Imperial dynasties had on the city. Good job too – the imperial sites of Beijing are wondrous!

Top Image Source: 21region.or