Search
  • Home
  • Media center
    • News
    • Biz updates
    • Life
    • Specials
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Government
    • News release
    • Personnel changes
    • Annual reports
    • Officials
    • Bureaus
  • Living
    • Life
    • Dining
    • Shopping
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
      • Craftworks
      • Theater performances
      • Museums
      • Galleries
      • Art zones
    • Transportation
    • Services
    • FAQ
  • Doing business
    • Biz updates
    • Introduction
    • Planning
    • Procedures
    • Policies
    • Industries
    • Industrial parks
    • Enterprises
  • Visiting
    • Travel log
    • Attractions
      • Historical
      • Parks
      • Religious
      • Museums
      • Nature
      • Landmarks
    • Itineraries
    • Maps
    • Transportation
    • Hotels
    • Dining
  • Study
    • Student stories
    • Overview
    • Universities
    • Scholarships
    • Services
    • Learning Chinese
    • Testing
  • About
    • Profiles
    • Maps
    • Districts
    • Special areas
    • Festivals and events
    • History
  • Events
    • Dates
    • Categories
  • Forum
 
Home / Itineraries

Tour around the center of Beijing

Updated: 2012-12-13
  • printer
  • mail

Schedule: One day

After breakfast, pack your stuff and go. Your first destination is the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City. Standing inside the huge palace complex, you can experience the solemnity of ancient imperial structures. You are advised to do some homework to avoid getting lost or separated from friends, while visiting and to understand the symbolism of the artistic and architectural structure. A good tour guide can help. After visiting the Forbidden City, you can stroll to the North Gate (Shenwumen).

Across the street, you will see Jingshan Park, a famous imperial garden. There is a mountain inside the park where you can climb and relax in any of the several pavilions at the top. You get an unparalleled view of the Forbidden City to the south and Drum and Bell towers to the north and a broad expanse of Central Belling: a photographer's dream. Perhaps you will notice singing down below on the south side of the mountain: local residents love singing especially in the morning, which can be a moving experience.

After your visit to Jingshan Park, exit its West Gate, because another imperial park awaits you: Beihai Park, built during the Yuan Dynasty. But you might get exhausted and hunger for a big lunch, so when you enter Beihai, veer to your right and go to Fangshan Restaurant. Its entrance is on the east side at the base of the White Dagoba in the parks center, which is famous for its imperial Cuisine, a range of dishes once reserved for the imperial family only, so many dishes, it would be impossible to try them all in one sitting. One menu item is classically served over a three-day period! No problem: you are welcome to return again.

After lunch, a leisurely stroll might be a good option. You may walk among trees that are hundreds of years old visit imperial buildings in the park or get in a boat and tour the lake. From Beihai Park, you have options: it takes about 10 minutes to get to the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) by taxi where you can view masterpieces by top classical and modern Chinese artists and art from other countries and regions. Or, you may choose to visit Wangfujing, one of the city’s busiest shopping streets and longest pedestrian malls. Or, you can visit NAMOC, and then go to nearby Wangfujing or vice versa: whatever suits your tastes. Wangfujing will impress you with its modernity, fashion, and huge crowds from at home and abroad. Yet there are also some ZhonghuaLaozihao (China Time- Honored Brand) outlets that should not be ignored. Among things to see in Wangfujing is the Wangfujing Cathedral

By now, the sun will be setting; this is the time to venture to snack street along Donghaumen where the aromas of some typical, some bizarre but always authentic Belling snacks will captivate you; and you can enjoy a dinner that you won't soon forget. There’s many food to try. Perhaps you may be thinking of taking a rest and returning to your hotel. If you followed our suggestions, you have had rewarding experiences in Belling.

News:
  • Peking Opera thriving in Hawaii
  • Americans go 'Hao' over Jingju
  • Beijing holds Feast of Golf
  • Li Lei brings his visual symphony to Beijing
  • A better Beijing in the Year of the Rooster?
  • 刷脸进站(shuāliǎn jìn zhàn): 'Face ticket' at train stations
Specials:
Tsinghua Holdings Co. Ltd launched “Top 10 Talents” in response to the 13th Five Year Plan goal of building Beijing into a national Technology & Innovation Center with a creative spirit and innovative cultural atmosphere.
Top 10 Talents of Tsinghua Holdings read more
Videos:
Easy Talk: Advocating environment protection through storytelling read more

Turn the page and discover Beijing in all its eclectic delights.

Explore the charm of the city in our promo videos

    • Contact
    • Site Map
    • Disclaimer
Copyright © 2011 China Daily All Rights Reserved Sponsored by Beijing Municipal Government Powered by China Daily              京ICP备10023870号-9