Beijing, China

One of the purposes of this blog is to discuss particular places. With this in mind, and knowing that the Summer Olympics are coming up soon (8 August 2008) in Beijing, in the People's Republic of China, I thought it would be interesting to add a post here about Beijing. I traveled to Beijing last September (2007) to visit one of my brothers who was studying Chinese there at the time. The visit to Beijing was part of a broader trip that also took us to Shanghai, Tunxi, and beautiful Huangshan.

Beijing (along with many other parts of China) is an interesting city for a geographer to visit for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is growing at a tremendous rate (as are many cities and areas of China). Beijing also has a very long history and a huge presence in the Chinese national psyche. Urban geographers will have a fun time here, as will population geographers. The transit and road infrastructure is notable because of Beijing's many "ring" roads. Beijing's impact on the environment, and the environment's impact on Beijing are also two interesting points to consider. Beijing is in fact located at the southeastern edge of the massive Gobi Desert, which is why sandstorms often frequent the area. Although the city of Beijing itself feels relatively flat, visitors and tourists will note that there are some high mountains on the outskirts of the city and in the hinterland. Visitors to one of the sections of the Great Wall will especially be able to take in the mountainous scenery outside of Beijing.


To further comment on Beijing, I would like to add to this post an article that I previously wrote for another website. The link to the original article, "How to See Beijing's Top Ten Attractions", is here: How to See Beijing's Top Ten Attractions

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, but has been the seat of government for successive imperial dynasties since the Ming Dynasty established the "northern capital" in 1403 AD. Many believe that Beijing was actually the largest city in the world from 1425 to 1650 and from 1710 to 1825. It plays a significant role in the cultural history of China, even to the present day. Of particular note is that Beijing is the site of the Olympic Games, which begin on the 8th of August, 2008. This article describes what many believe to be the top ten sights and attractions in and around Beijing, although these top ten here are not presented in any particular order. Some visitors may prefer some sights, while different travelers may prefer others. This descriptive listing is particularly helpful to potential visitors to Beijing.

Beijing Top Ten #1: Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) - This is one of the quintessential images of Beijing. The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) sprawls across 250 acres to the north side of Tiananmen Square. With over 9,000 rooms, the palace complex was first built between 1406 and 1420 AD. But due to being burned down, most of the architecture visible today was built in the 1700s during the Qing Dynasty. You can enter the palace from the north side of Tiananmen Square (south gate of palace) through the large Tiananmen Gate with Mao's picture hanging above. From the north gate of the palace you can enter Jingshan Park, where there is a spectacular view of Beijing from a hilltop.


Beijing Top Ten #2: Tiananmen Square and Great Hall of the People - The square is one of the largest public squares in the world and is the site of numerous large-scale rallies and parades. It has also been the site of many historical events over the years. Most people immediately think of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. But other important events include the announcement in 1949 by Chairman Mao of the creation of the People's Republic of China. There is typically a flag raising and lowering at sunrise and sunset, accompanied by much precision by the troops. The square is flanked on the north by the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace - with Mao's portrait) which is a main entrance to the Forbidden City, on the south by the Monument to the People's Heroes and Mao's Mausoleum, on the east by the National Museum of China, and on the west by the Great Hall of the People (the meeting place for the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China. It is well worth the effort to get inside the Great Hall of the People and look around. The architecture is monumental in scale and there are many interesting works of art, murals, paintings, and historical items on display.


Beijing Top Ten #3: Temple of Heaven - This exquisite site, with beautiful classical architecture, is regarded as a Taoist temple. It is located south of Tiananmen Square. Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors would visit the temple to offer prayers to Heaven in hopes of good harvest. The temple grounds include three main groups of structures, and are surrounded by ancient trees of various types. The three main groupings of buildings are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Earthly Mount. Each was built to strict philosophical requirements and contains much symbolism.


Beijing Top Ten #4: Beihai Park and Jingshan Park - Beihai Park, initially built in the 10th century, was used as a winter palace for emporers. Nowadays, people go to the park for a respite from the city. The lake within the park is the largest in all of Beijing. There are also several structures to see such as the White Pagoda (built in Tibetan style), the Five Dragon Pavilion, and the Nine Dragon Wall. Jingshan Park, on the other hand, is located directly north of the Forbidden City. From the hilltop (one of the highest in Beijing) in the center of the park, visitors have a spectacular 360 degree view of Beijing. Of particular interest is the view to the south back over the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square on the other side of the Forbidden City.


Beijing Top Ten #5: Great Wall - This is one of those world famous sights that everyone grows up hearing about, and is definitely a must see! The wall was began in the 5th century BC and construction ceased in the 16th century AD, and stretches for over 4,000 miles. The section of wall nearby Beijing is well preserved in most places. These sections of wall mostly date from the Ming Dynasty. There are various places that travelers can go to see the wall and to walk along it. The most popular (and therefore the most crowded) is the section at Badaling, which is the closest part of the wall to Beijing. Other sections are accessible at Simatai, Jinshanling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu, for example. It is possible to hike on the wall from Jinshanling to Simatai, as well as other sections, although it is quite strenuous in places. But the very mountainous scenery, along with the wall itself, make the trek worthwhile.


Beijing Top Ten #6: Summer Palace - Located in a suburban area northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace was an imperial retreat set on a large tract of parklike land, about 10 square miles. It is the largest and most extensive imperial garden within China. Visitors to the park can explore mansions, ancient pavilions, temples, bridges, and the central Kunming lake. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace as a World Heritage Site.


Beijing Top Ten #7: Ming Tombs - The tombs are actually located about 50 km north of Beijing, allowing visitors to see some of the countryside on their journey there from the capital. In all, 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (which ruled from 1368 to 1644) are buried at this site. Only two of the tombs have been excavated and are open to the public.


Beijing Top Ten #8: Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) - This is one of Beijing's most visited religious sites. Located in the northeast area of Beijing along the second ring road, it is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The architecture of the buildings are in both the Han and Tibetan styles. There are many halls within the temple, but probably the most amazing sight is the large statue of Buddha carved from a single piece of Sandalwood.


Beijing Top Ten #9: Museums and Gardens - As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing contains many fascinating museums. These include the Beijing Capital Museum, the National Museum of China (at Tiananmen Square), Chinese Ethnic Museum, the Palace Museum, various art and culture museums, various science and technology museums, Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing Aviation Museum, Geological Museum of China, a Military Museum, as well as the many historical sites that are like museums in and of themselves. There are also many parks and gardens in addition to the ones previously mentioned, including several Imperial gardens and the beautiful Beijing Botanical Garden.


Beijing Top Ten #10: Beijing Opera and Chinese Acrobatic Shows - Beijing opera developed in the late 18th century and combines a variety of vocals, music, acting, dance, mime, and acrobatics. Performers utilize skills of speech, song, dance, and combat to convey the story in time with music. Beijing Opera repertoire includes over 1,400 works, mostly based upon Chinese folklore and history, as well as contemporary life.


Link to original article by Paul McDaniel:
How to See Beijing's Top Ten Attractions