China Travel Destination – Beijing

One of the foremost places that come to mind while one is considering a China tour is undoubtedly Beijing. Beijing instantly reminds us of the incredibly ambitious ‘Great Wall of China’ that was built over several dynasties in order to secure China from the invasions of horse-ridden nomads coming from the North. The apparently endless stretch of the wall evokes the feeling of wonder and one feels overwhelmed by this stupendous human feat. Extending over 4000 miles, it ranges between the Yellow Sea in the east and Gobi desert in the North. The sheet grandeur of the Wall is something that has amazed people over generations and is easily one of the major tourist attractions not only in Beijing, but in China as a whole.
The Great Wall of China is just a start. Beijing in its entirety is filled with historical places that are a traveler’s delight. The next in line is the famous Tiananmen Square, a place which has stood witness to a number of historical events of China. It is said that Mao Zedong, in this very place, had declared the birth of People’s Republic of China from a balcony. The Tiananmen Square was developed in a way that it can accommodate a million people easily making it possible for big rallies to take place there.
On the same pathway is Luilichang which is a street dedicated to antique shops. It is usually a place where most tourists bargain over beautiful souvenirs and antiques. Scouring the place for the best deals is something that is an integral part of buying from these shops and also is half the fun! There are several other places of interest in the same area, for instance the Great Hall of the People, the Coal Market, a series of museums like the Museum of Chinese History, the Guanfu Classical Art Museum and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and Glazed Tile Factory Street.
At the center of the Beijing city is the Forbidden City which used to be the home to the emperors from the years 1368 to 1911. As prevalent at that time, the place is fenced by 30 foot high walls, accompanied by a broad moat as well. History says that common people were forbidden from getting inside (hence the name) and no other structure in Beijing was allowed to be higher than this. Inside the Forbidden City, almost 10,000 people lived in 8706 rooms. While touring this place, one can see the Meridian Gate, the Hall of Complete Harmony, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Hall of Clocks and Watches, the Hall of Jewelry, the Inner Palace, and the Imperial Gardens. A little away from Beijing is Xi’an which is another place that is often featured on many China travel itineraries. The reason is to visit the Terracotta Warriors which are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.