Beijing China
Beijing is a large city in China which is found in the northern part of the country. It is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is also the site of the 2008 Olympic Games and a hugely popular tourist destination due to its culture and historic significance.
There are many sites to see and places to visit in Beijing so I recommend spending at least a week here to take in as much as you can without rushing.
Here are some great ideas for where to visit when you are in Beijing:
- Tiananmen Square
- Forbidden City
- Beijing Ancient Observatory
- Eight Mile Bridge
- Geological Museum of China
- National Museum of China
- Great Wall of China (Badaling section)
- Summer Palace
- Temple of Heaven
- Ruins of the Old Summer Palace
- Miaoying Temple
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral
- Tanzhe Temple
In addition to the above points of interest, I recommend taking a day trip to Wangfujing. This is a shopping mecca which can get busy but who goes to China without going shopping? For those more inclined to purchase designers and luxury brands and items then Silk Street is a fantastic location with many high priced stores.
The Beijing Zoo is a popular attraction although some concerns have been raised about the animal enclosures there. The photos advertised seem acceptable so hopefully the zoo have upgraded all of their enclosures.
Beijing is of course a spiritual center and as such you can visit a number of cathedrals and temples. Some of the most beautiful are White Cloud Temple, Temple of Azure Clouds and Fa Yuan Temple. There are over 20 other temples, mosques and cathedrals to visit as well.
Beijing is a place you can easily get lost in, so make sure you plan your trip well and figure out where you want to go so that you don't waste time trying to sort through the plethora of choices available.