Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and is the nation's
center of government, economy, culture, and international activities, as well as
a transportation hub. It has 18 districts and counties, with an area of 16,800
square kilometers and a population of 11 million.
Beijing has a long history. As early as 500,000 years ago, Peking Man lived
there. It is alo an ancient cultural city. It was established in 1045 B.C. and
for 800 years served as the capital of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing
dynasties.
Beijing is also known as a tourist city for its many places of interest,
including ancient buildings, royal gardens, temples, palaces, and modern
structures. It is a gathering place of artists and other people of talent.

Urban construction has brought new changes to Beijing, making it both an ancient
and a modern metropolis.
Attractions

The Great Wall
The Great Wall is a symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. It was built as
a defensive structure. Stretching 6,350 kilometers it is classified as a world
Cultural Heritage. The best preserved and most imposing section of the wall is
at Badaling, 80 kilometers north of Beijing, but the magnitude and beauty of the
wall can also be seen at Jinshanling, Mutianyu, and Simatai.

Place Museum of Beijing
The Palace Museum, formerly known as the Forbidden City, lies in the center of
Beijing. Built between 1406 and 1420, it served as the imperial palace for the
Ming and Qing dynasties. It has 9,000 halls and rooms, containing many precious
relics. It is the mankind's major cultural legacies.

The Ming Tombs
Covering an area of 40 square kilometers, the Ming Tombs is a group of
mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors and their empresses and concubines. Two of the
tombs, Changling and Dingling, are open to the public. The most famous is the
Dingling, an underground palace.

Tian'anmen Square
Located in the center of Beijing, Tian'anmen Square covers 400,000 square
meters. It is the largest city square in the world. Tian'amen (the Gate of
Heavenly Peace), was the front gateway to the imperial palace in the Ming and
Qing dynasties. A picture of Tian'anmen is at the center of the Chinese national
emblem. The inauguration ceremony of the People's Republic of China was held at
Tian'anmen on October 1,1949.

Zhongshan Park and the Laboring People's Cultural Park
They were the Ming and Qing royal temples for ancestor worship and served as
parks in 1914 and 1924 respectively.
The temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420, is the place where emperors would pray to
Heaven for good harvests. It is the largest temple complex in China.

Yonghegong Lamasery
Built in 1694, the Yonghegong Lamasery is the largest lamasery in Beijing. In
the tower there is a standing figure of the Buddhist saint Maitreya carved in
sandalwood, eight meters in diameter and 26 meters tall.

Jingshan Park
A royal garden of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Jingshan Park is located adjacent
to the Palace Museum. It is the best place for a panoramic view of the whole
city.

The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace was a grand imperial palace and a royal garden of the Qing
Dynasty. It is an outstanding example of imperial gardens in classical Chinese
style.

Beihai Park
Beihai Park was the imperial garden of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing
dynasties. It is one of the oldest of the Chinese gardens.

Yuanmingyuan
Yuanmingyuan was an imposing imperial palace built during the reigns of Emperor
Kang Xi and Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by
foreign invaders. The ruins of Yuanmingyuan are well preserved and are open to
the public.

Beijing Zoo
The Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China and has a wide variety of animals,
including the giant panda, the golden monkdy, the white-lipped deer, the
red-crowned crane, and many rare animals from other parts of the world.

Marco Polo Bridge
Erected in 1189, the Marco Polo Bridge is the oldest and grandest arch bridge in
Beijing, spanning the Yongding River in southwestern Beijing. It was here that
the war of resistance against Japan began. A memorial hall has been built here.

Hutongs
Hutongs are a special feature of downtown Beijing, where there are 4,550 of
them. A hutong is a kind of lane lined on both sides by courtyards containing
compound houses. The best-preserved hutongs are those around the Mansion of
Prince Yixin. Riding in old-fashioned pedicabs through these hutongs is
something special for your Beijing trip.

Other attractions
The Ancient Observatory, the Temple of the Earth, Fragrant Hills Parks, the
ruins of the Chinese Ape-Man, the China Ethnic Culture Park, the Big Bell
Temple, the World Park, the Grand View Garden, Taoranting Park, the Temple of
Pool and Cudrania, and Longqing Gorge.

          Beijing opera
Telephone Numbers
Area code: 010
Tourist Complaints: 6531-0828
Air China Ticket Reservation: 6601-3336
Airport Information: 6456-3604
Beijing Railway Station: 6512-9525
Taxicab Administration: 6461-6688
Tourist taxi service: 6515-8604
Taxi service: 6858-2661
International Post Office: 6512-8114
Jianguomennei Post Office: 6519-6642
Beijing Branch, Bank of China: 6519-9114