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To Beijing
Plan your trip to Beijing
Standing solidly on its past but with an eye on the future, Beijing is a bustling metropolis that never sleeps, and which reminds many of New York.
In no other city in the world is the visitor confronted with such a sweeping historical panorama as the visitor to Beijing. In China’s second-largest city there are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, almost as many as in the whole of Egypt.
Beijing is centred on the Forbidden City, a royal palace the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, with numerous Buddhist temples and pagodas, and the Great Wall of China, which winds through the hills to the north of the city like a snake. Yet, the modern architecture of Beijing is equally impressive, the most characteristic examples being the state television building, the Galaxy Soho mall, the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 2008 Olympic Games.
Beijing is not simply the centre of China’s political scene but is also the heart of its artistic and cultural activities. With renowned museums, art galleries and music venues, it is a paradise for every art lover as well as a centre for anyone who wishes to be initiated into the mysteries of the traditional Chinese arts.
Book your tickets to Beijing through the Olympic Air website and discover a city full of treasures, a blend of old and new that cannot be found anywhere else in the world!
Sightseeing in Beijing
The Forbidden City. The Imperial Palace, known also as the Forbidden City, is considered the most important sight in China. It covers an area of 720,000 square metres, the result of extensions during the Ming dynasty, and is surrounded by a 10-metre high wall with towers at its four corners and a moat 50 metres wide. The palace complex that was the home of the Ming and Qing dynasties is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The area around the Forbidden City is filled with hutongs, the narrow lanes with the old houses that appear spread out to all four corners of the horizon. The inhabitants of Beijing were once proud that their city had so many hutongs, as many as the hairs on a bull
Address: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng Qu, https://en.dpm.org.cn
Tiananmen Square. The world’s largest public square, designed to hold a million people, was built by Mao Che Tung to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in 1958. Here you will see the Monument to the People’s Heroes (Rénmín yingxióng Jìniànbei), a 38-metre tall obelisk made of 17,000 pieces of granite and marble and the Gate of Earthly Tranquillity, once the main gate to the city. Also, in the square are the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, with exhibits that take the visitor through the various stages of the Chinese revolution, and the Mausoleum of Mao Che Tung, where Mao’s embalmed body lies in a crystal coffin. To see it from up close don’t forget your passport as you will not be allowed to enter the mausoleum without it.
Address: Dongcheng, Beijing.
Beihai Park: Just a short distance from the imperial palace, Behai Park is one of the oldest and most emblematic of the imperial gardens of Beijing. In the park, which takes its name from the nearby Lake Behai, you will be able to see many important historical landmarks, palaces and temples. The park is a perfect spot for boat rides on the lake in the summer and ice skating on its frozen waters in the winter.
Address: 1 Wenjin St, Xicheng, www.beihaipark.com.cn//english/index.html
The Temple of Heaven (Tiantán) dates to 1420 and is considered one of the most sacred buildings in Beijing. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it has two sections – one rectangular, the other semicircular – which together symbolize heaven and earth.
The Summer Palace: The Summer Palace (Yíhé Yuán) is just 30 minutes from the city centre by car or taxi. Covering an area of 70,000 square metres, you will marvel at the artificial lake of Kunming Hu, the little islands and arched bridges, and its beautiful garden. Don’t miss the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Throne Room) and the 19th-century Great Theatre, where traditional musical and theatre performances are held regularly.
Address: 19 Xinjian Gongmen, Haidian 100084 Beijing, www.summerpalace-china.com/en
The National Stadium of Beijing, known also as the “Bird’s Nest”, was the centre of the 2008 Olympic Games. It takes the nickname of Bird’s Nest from the fact that it resembles one when seen from high above. During the Olympic Games, it held the track and field events and the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies. Since then it has hosted major cultural and sporting events, while in the winter it has the largest artificial ski slope.
The Lama Temple: Known also as the Yonghe Temple, the Lama Temple is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved buildings in Beijing. This remarkable building was completed in 1745. In the Hall of Celestial Kings (Tian Wang Dian) the statue of Buddha stands surrounded by four kings each holding a symbolic item: a toad, sword, snake and shield. Also impressive is the Pavilion of the Ten Thousand Fortunes (Wang Fu Ge) containing the huge sandalwood sculpture of the Maitreya Buddha, 18 metres tall.
Address: 12 Yonghegong Daije, Dongcheng Beijing, www.yonghegong.cn
Beijing Capital Museum. This is one of the most important art museums in China, which first opened to the public in 1981 and which has a rich collection of ancient artefacts made of porcelain and bronze, works of traditional calligraphy and Asian sculptures. A highlight of the 200,000 exhibits in the museum is the huge stele of the emperor Qian Long, which weighs over 40 tons and is almost seven metres high.
Address: 16 Fuxingmen Outer St, Xicheng.
Things to do in Beijing
If you have children, then take a trip to the Beijing Zoo. In an area of over 220 acres you can admire more than 15,000 animals from 1,000 species, including many rare species, such as tigers from South China, snow leopards and pandas, in an environment that is reminiscent of a classical Chinese garden, with dense forests, meadows, rivers, streams and lakes. The zoo also has an aquarium with a huge number of marine species.
Address: 137 Xizhimen Outer St, Xicheng.
A stroll to the 798 District. Also known as the Dashanzi Art District, this is a unique art district that developed gradually, in and around the old military factory of Beijing. The old factory spaces have today been converted into galleries, art studios and exhibition spaces.
Address: 2-4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, www.798district.com
Excursions near Beijing
Just one hour away from the city centre you will encounter one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the Great Wall of China, a defence work built in 221-207 BC to defend against Mongol attacks. The section of the wall that can be visited starts at Badaling, which dates to the 16th century, and stands at a height of 8 metres. Along the route, you will be able to enjoy numerous towers and windows with great views of the surrounding landscape. Another popular spot (with a total length of 5000 kilometres). from where to discover the Great Wall is Mutianyu, sections of which date to the 6th century.
Address: www.badaling.cn/language/en.asp
A little further along, in northwest China is the historic oasis city of Dunhuang, famous for its role as a hub along the Silk Road. A former centre of trade relations between China and the West, Dunhuang will guide you to the furthest parts of the Great Wall and the Mogao Caves and will enchant you with camel rides in the Gobi Desert.
Entertainment in Beijing
Beijing is not as known for its nightlife as Shanghai is, but there are still many places where you can enjoy a beer or a cocktail and listen to a live DJ set by a famous international DJ.
The heart of the city’s nightlife beats in Sanlitun, the tree-lined area where most embassies are located. You can also find a number of bars in Dongcheng.
In the summer, the centre of the city’s nightlife relocates to near Lake Houhai, where there are many cocktail lounge bars and cafés, while the karaoke bars are especially popular.
If the Chinese and Greeks have one thing in common, it’s their love of food. Going out to eat is the main social activity for the Chinese too. When eating, they have fun, celebrate, agree business deals, fall in love... Don't leave Beijing without having sampled the famous Peking duck, dumplings and noodles.
Shopping
Silks, traditional Chinese lanterns made of rosewood or sandalwood and decorated with coloured glass and silk and handcrafted goods made of jade (jade is considered the “king” of precious stones in China and has a history in the country of over 5,000 years) are the main items to buy during your visit to Beijing. Also impressive are the rice figurines (with have a history of 1340 years), especially if you are lucky enough to be able to watch a craftsman making them. The main spot for your shopping is Panjiayuan Market, the huge open-air market into which 3,000 vendors and 50,000 visitors crowd every day. Don't forget to haggle if you wish to buy something.
Getting from the airport to Beijing
Several bus lines connect Beijing airport to various parts of the city. Lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 take an average of 50 minutes to reach the city centre, depending on the traffic. Around the same time is required to cover the 32 kilometres that separate the airport from the city by taxi too.
Driving is not permitted in Beijing unless you have a Chinese driver’s licence, so if you decide to rent a car, you will have to hire a driver to go with it.