Beijing

Wandering in the Forbidden City, you can imagine what the lives of the Qing’s Emperors and their beloved concubines were like. Climbing up the Great Wall, you will realize why the Chinese are so proud of their culture and history. Stepping into a Hutong, take a deep breath, and you will sense the imperial capital’s glorious past.

Tiananmen Square – As the world’s largest public square representing the heart of Imperial and ‘Tourist’ Beijing, the historical tragedies may initially make many western travelers distance this ‘infamous’ place from the Chinese translation ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace.’ However, once there, most people not only immediately sense the historical and political importance, but also dramatically change their impression to respect toward the power and authority that Tiananmen accumulated through many powerful imperial transitions. For those interested in learning more about the Communist China, you can quench your thirst by visiting Monument to the Peoples Heroes, Great Hall of the People and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.

mperial Palace Museum – Formerly the Forbidden City, this architectural marvel was completed in 1420 after 14 years of hard work by 200,000 laborers , and is today the best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China.  It was the symbol of Imperial power for over 500 years and was the home of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  Seeing the beauty of the palace is not enough; in order to appreciate it on a deeper level, you must learn about the ideas of design, the Fengshui, as well as the legends of the imperial families.

Great Wall – The construction of The Great Wall (Changcheng) started in the 7th century BC during the Qin Dynasty, making the Great Wall over 2,500 years old.  You can visit Badaling, the most well known section.  Former US President Nixon and current US President Bush both enjoyed their retreat at Badaling!  Another popular choice is Mutianyu, a well-preserved section that winds over 1.6 miles with 23 watchtowers.  The construction of this section started during China’s Northern Dynasties (during Qi, in 6th century after Tang) but was restored to the current status in Ming Dynasty.  For active travelers, we recommend venturing outside the city to visit Simatai.  This is the place to go if you love hiking and wish to avoid crowds.  Moreover, this is generally considered the most scenic route of the Great Wall.

Summer Palace – In 1888, Qing’s most powerful Empress Cixi (Dowager) diverted 30 million silver dollars from the Chinese North Ocean Navy to construct Summer Palace as a gift to herself for her 60th birthday. She placed an order to imitate West Lake of Hangzhou and the gardens in Suzhou and absorb the beauty into the creation of Yihe Yuan- Garden of Spirit and Harmony, or the Summer Palace, as most people know it. The garden was almost completely destroyed during the Eight Power Allied Troops’ invasion of Beijing in 1900. Upon Cixi’s return to Beijing from Xi’an, she ordered to rebuild the garden. History records show that Cixi rebuilt the Summer Palace with unbounded extravagance and you can still see how luxurious it is today. For the highlights, stroll along the Long Corridors decorated with a beautiful painted ceiling, view the famous White Marble Boat and enjoy a dragon boat ride on Kunming Lake.