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Call now to book: 0800 082 2170
2
Visit Tiananmen Square and the
Forbidden City:
Lying in the city centre, the Forbidden
City (known as Gu Gong to locals) has
been home to 24 emperors during
the Ming and Qing dynasties. It took
14 years to build during the reign of
Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty
in the late 14th Century. To the south,
and separated by Tiananmen Gate, is
the world famous Tiananmen Square.
Both of these sites are UNESCO World
Heritage Sites and should be on all
tourists' lists of things to see.
3
Walk along the
Great Wall of China:
No visit to Beijing, or indeed China,
would be complete without taking a
walk along the Great Wall of China.
One of the Seven Wonders of the
Medieval World and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, it is truly a sight
to behold (one you can even see from
space!).
4
Enjoy a Peking roast duck
dinner:
Peking roast duck is a must-try for
visitors to Beijing. With a history of
more than 600 years, Peking roast duck
is the most famous gourmet cuisine of
Beijing and one of the most popular
foods in China. It has also received
worldwide recognition for its tempting
shining colour, crispy skin and tender
meat. Try the Shangri-La hotel for
some of the best Peking duck in the
city.
5
Experience the Imperial
extravagance of the Summer Palace:
Situated in the Haidan District, 9 miles
northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace
is the largest and best preserved royal
park in China and is a must for the
photographers out there. Construction
started in 1750 with the idea that it
would be one of the most luxurious
royal gardens in the country, if not
the World. Included on the UNESCO
World Heritage Site lists in 1998, it was
declared «a masterpiece of Chinese
landscape garden design. The natural
landscape of hills and open water is
combined with artificial features such
as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and
bridges to form a harmonious ensemble
of outstanding aesthetic value.
7
Marvel at the beautiful
Temple of Heaven:
The Temple of Heaven is a medieval
complex of religious buildings situated in
the south-eastern part of central Beijing.
The complex was visited by the
Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties
for annual ceremonies of prayer
to Heaven for good harvest. It has been
regarded as a Daoist temple, although
Chinese heaven worship, especially by
the reigning monarch of the day, predates
Daoism. As beautiful on the outside as it
is on the inside, the Temple of Heaven is
not a place to forget your camera.
8
Try your hand at bargaining at
the famous silk market:
Offering a lot more than just silk,
this fabulous market gives you the
opportunity to buy clothes, bags,
wallets and much more. On the first
and second floor you will find mostly
designer clothes, the third floor is
reserved for the silk products as well
as tailors and the fourth and fifth floors
contain jewellery, Chinese crafts and
electronics etc. By the time you have
been through all of this, you will be
ready for a nice lunch which you can
get on either the fifth or sixth floor.
9
Visit the hip and trendy
798 Art District:
798 Art District is located in the Dashanzi
area, to the northeast of central Beijing.
It is the site of state-owned factories
including Factory 798, which originally
produced electronics. Beginning in
2002, artists and cultural organizations
began to divide, rent out, and re-make
the factory spaces, gradually developing
them into galleries, art centres, artists'
studios, design companies, restaurants,
and bars. See world famous artistic
pieces by world famous artists, such as
Ai Wei Wei.
10
Dine in an Imperial Cuisine
restaurant:
Chinese imperial cuisine originated
from the imperial kitchens, where food
was cooked for the emperors and
empresses. There are many restaurants
in Beijing serving this style of cuisine.
One that we would highly recommend
is Bai Jia Da Yuan, rated number 52
out of 9,273 restaurants in Beijing. With
exquisite food and staff dressed in
traditional Chinese costume, you will
feel like one of the famous emperors
of ancient times.
1
Take a shopping trip to the
Hutong of Nanluoguxiang:
For anyone who loves a bit shopping
a visit to the famous Hutongs of
Beijing (narrow alleyways like The
Lanes of Brighton) is a must. One in
particular is in Nanluoguxiang in the
Gulou district, which is lined for miles
with cafes, bars and boutique shops.
You can also take a tour of a Hutong
via a rickshaw.
6
Cycle down one of Beijing's
famous Hutongs:
You have shopped down them, now
it is time to ride down them. For the
adventurous of you out there, this is a
must do!
