Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. It has a long history with an abundance of historical and cultural heritage representing the treasures of the city’s civilizations. Beijing has been the capital of the country for more than 800 years. The city has many places of historical interest and scenic beauty.
The successful organization of the 2008 Olympic Games represents the definitive declaration of China’s emergence as a world superpower, and it is determined to make the “People’s Olympic Games” the most successful and dazzling ever. After the big event, trips to Beijing become more attractive for international tourists. Now, I would like to show my dear international friends around Beijing to experience its culture, history and daily life.
A) Emblematic tours:
A good place to start exploring the city is Tiananmen Square, where Mao Tse Tung declared the founding of the People’s Republic. It is the heart of the city of Beijing and is large enough to host a gathering of a million people.
Go to the Forbidden City, the largest and best preserved ancient architectural complex in the world. It was the Chinese imperial palace from the middle of the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. For nearly five centuries, it served as the Emperor’s home and house, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government. It now houses the Palace Museum.
Another must-see is the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors performed solemn rituals to obtain abundant harvests. It was built between 1406 and 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle; Various features of the temple complex symbolize the connection of heaven and earth, of the circle and the square. The entire temple complex is surrounded by two strings of walls; the outer wall has a higher semicircular north end, representing the sky, and a shorter rectangular south end, representing Earth. Both the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar are round, each about one square meter, again representing Heaven and Earth.
Visit the Summer Palace, the magnificent retirement garden of the emperors; the Ming tombs, the majestic and majestic mausoleums of the emperors of the Ming 13 dynasty; and the world-renowned and genuinely inspiring Badaling section of the Great Wall. Large-scale construction has brought great changes to Beijing since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, adding more and more new attractions to the mysterious old city.
The Ming Tombs were an imperial tomb site where 13 Ming emperors were buried. The Dingling Tomb is the second largest tomb, and it is the first of 13 tombs to be excavated and opened to the public. It is an example of a typical imperial tomb.
B) Daily life experience
In the morning, get up early to visit one of Beijing’s public parks. This is when people enjoy their favorite physical activity, be it tai’chi, jogging, singing, or even ballroom dancing. In the afternoon, you can get a chance to experience the real life of local Beijing residents on a tour of the Hutongs by rickshaw. The Beijing hutongs are considered the latest incarnation of the spirit of ancient Beijing. Walking down the back street of the hutongs and meeting people there will leave you with a different understanding of China.
C) Chinese art
Beijing Opera is the most popular of all styles of opera in China. It developed from classical styles of song and dance dating back to the Ming Dynasty and gradually merged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries into the Beijing Opera that we see today. Beijing opera features four main types of performers. Acting groups typically have several of each variety, as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers. With their elaborate and colorful costumes, the performers are the only focal points on the characteristically sparse Beijing opera stage. They use the skills of speaking, singing, dancing, and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Above all, the skill of the artists is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production.
The Beijing stunts are another wonderful performance. Although the origins of performing art are unknown, many believe that stunts developed from martial arts displays and date back to the Neolithic period. In China they say that every minute an acrobat spends on stage requires ten years of training. Indeed, Beijing’s stunt shows, featuring astonishingly agile performers practicing feats of strength, balance, and skill, are a tremendous sight to behold.
After an exciting, informative and refreshing presentation of my beloved city, Beijing, I would like to share with you the following tours of Beijing.
Day 1 arrival in Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, our professional tour guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the centrally located four-star Beijing Holiday Inn Downtown hotel with a private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Day 2 Beijing (breakfast, lunch)
In the morning, visit Tiananmen Square, the heart of the city of Beijing and large enough to accommodate a gathering of a million people. It is located opposite the Forbidden City, covering more than 100 acres. Then visit the Forbidden City, it is the largest palace complex in the world and covers 74 hectares. Built between 1406 and 1420, the Forbidden City was home to the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a period that spanned more than 500 years.
Today’s lunch will be organized at a local restaurant for you to enjoy Sichuan cuisine. After lunch, you will visit the Summer Palace, the best preserved and the second largest royal garden in China, with a history of more than 800 years. In 1998, it was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the evening, enjoy the Beijing Opera.
Day 3 Beijing (B, L)
Today’s tour will take you to visit The Eighth Wonder of the World – The Great Wall in the Badaling section. Take the cable car up to the Great Wall and enjoy your walk there.
To avoid the crowds at the tourist restaurant near the Great Wall, we will prepare a lunch box from your hotel that can also guarantee a better quality of food.
On your way back, you will visit the Ming Tomb, where you can see the underground palace of the Chinese emperors with its valuable authentic funerary objects. Tonight you will see the incredible acrobatic performance from Beijing.
Day 4 Beijing (B, L)
Today you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors used to pray the good harvest. After enjoying a typical Beijing cuisine lunch at a local restaurant, your afternoon sightseeing tour to Yonghe Lamasery will begin. The temple was built in 1694 and the architecture and ornamentation of the buildings show the influence of the Han, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan styles. Then proceed with the transfer to the Silk Alley Market and enjoy your shopping and haggling there.
Day 5 Beijing (B, L)
Today you will experience the daily life of the local people by observing tai’chi, jogging and strolling through the hutongs. The rest of the day is for you to explore the city in depth on your own.
Day 6 departure from Beijing
Transfer to the airport and flight to your next destination, the service ends.