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    Tourist Attractions in Beijing

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Beijing. Photos and a brief description.

    Beijing
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    64.3 °
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    Tue
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    Wed
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    About Beijing

    Imperial heritage, the memory of the creators of the revolution and modern trends in architecture – this is the current Beijing. The Forbidden City is located at arm’s length from the mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Egg, an opera house built in a futuristic style. By some miracle, local authorities find a place for the construction of skyscrapers and parks. And they do this by preserving hutuns – old alleys and classic Chinese buildings.

    It’s always noisy in crowded Beijing, so it’s pointless to plan a relaxing holiday when visiting this city. However, on weekdays you can enjoy relative silence in the temple complexes or in the bosom of nature. For a megalopolis, there are quite a lot of green areas, and extensive in area.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Beijing

    The Forbidden City

    The palace complex has an area of 720 thousand m2 and includes 980 buildings. According to these indicators, he has no equal in the world. It was the main residence for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for almost 500 years. After Pu Yi's abdication from the throne and the revolution, the Forbidden City in 1925 became a museum where the treasures of the imperial houses are kept. The first of the Chinese sites is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    The Forbidden City
    The Great Wall of China

    The Great Wall of China

    The main Chinese attraction, which according to legend can be seen from space. It began to be built in the III century BC. It had an important defensive significance. The thickness of the walls varies from 5 to 8 meters, and the height – from 6 to 10 meters. It was constantly being completed until the middle of the XVII century. The length at the moment is more than 21 thousand km . Badalin is the most visited site by tourists. It takes place near Beijing.

    Tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty

    The complex of mausoleums is located on the slopes of the Tianshou Mountains. 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty, starting with Zhu Di, found rest here. Together with the tombs of the Qing Dynasty, it is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The road to the mausoleums is decorated with statues of animals and mythical creatures. The place was chosen for burials by Zhu Di himself, who moved the capital of the country to Beijing. During the construction, they adhered to the principles of feng shui.

    Tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty
    Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

    Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

    It was built in 1420 and is located in a park area. The rounded features of the temple building are atypical for China. It is believed that this is how the authors of the project tried to symbolize the sky. On the day of the winter solstice, the emperor himself prayed for the harvest here. The tradition has existed for several centuries. Now the temple and monastery complex is one of the largest in the country. Its area is about 280 hectares.

    Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

    It is both the residence of the emperor and a park area. The construction was carried out in the middle of the XVIII century. The architectural ensemble is located at the eastern gate. And on the Mountain of Longevity there is a Tower of Incense, which was erected in honor of the Buddha. The complex of canals, gazebos, painted galleries, artificial lakes and islands is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design. Since 1998, it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
    Changlan Gallery

    Changlan Gallery

    It is located on the territory of the Summer Palace and connects its separate parts. Built in 1750, it was almost completely destroyed a century later, but restored. The peculiarity of this covered passage is 273 sections, which, among other things, contain images of battle scenes and landscapes. The total number of plots is about 14 thousand. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

    Tiananmen Square

    The central square of Beijing was the largest until the XX century. It is spread over 440 thousand m2. Here Mao Zedong proclaimed the formation of the PRC. It is also known for sad events, for example, the group self-immolation of 2001, or the suppression of protests in 1989. Attractions: Mao Zedong Mausoleum, Monument to Folk Heroes, Gates of Heavenly Tranquility, National Center for Performing Arts.

    Tiananmen Square
    The Gates of Heavenly Tranquility

    The Gates of Heavenly Tranquility

    The main entrance to the Imperial City. Built in 1420, damaged several times, including by a lightning strike, and restored. The emperor's decrees were read out near them in the past. The ruler of the Celestial Empire himself went through the gate to pray and leave sacrifices. In the XX century, a portrait of Mao Zedong was hung above the gate, and two posters with slogans and wishes to the Chinese people were hung on the sides.

    Mao Zedong Mausoleum

    Built by 1977 on Tiananmen Square. The coffin with the remains of the long-time leader of the Communist Party of China and the country Mao Zedong is installed in the Visitors' Hall. The Hall of Revolutionary Achievements tells about the politician and his associates during the coup. In the Northern Hall there is a marble statue of Mao, and in the Southern Hall there are images of Chinese attractions. There is a cinema in the building.

    Mao Zedong Mausoleum
    Yonghegong Temple

    Yonghegong Temple

    It belongs to the denomination of Tibetan Buddhism. During the construction in 1964, it was decided to combine Chinese and Tibetan classical styles. In the central hall there are 3 statues of Buddha, identifying the past, present and future. The main ceremonies are held in the Dharmachakra Hall. And the "Pavilion of 10,000 successes" is notable for the statue of Maitreya, which has a height of 26 meters and is carved from sandalwood.

    Temple of Confucius

    It is dated 1302, and has existed as a museum since 1911. The second largest Confucian temple in China. The area of the complex, divided into 4 courtyards, is more than 20 thousand m2. Here, the names of 50 thousand people who passed the exam on the works of Confucius are stamped on stone tablets. And 189 steles are covered with quotations of the philosopher. The main museum exposition is located in the Pavilion of Great Scholarship.

    Temple of Confucius
    National Museum of China

    National Museum of China

    In its current form, it appeared in 2003 after the merger of the National Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. Both were founded in 1959 and were located in the same building. From 2007 to 2011, the museum was closed due to reconstruction. The exhibition space was increased 3 times, and the exposition was updated. The collections cover a period of 5 thousand years. A countdown clock is installed on the facade before important events.

    National Center for Performing Arts

    The futuristic building was built in the Chinese capital from 2001 to 2007. Paul Andre was responsible for the project. Even after the start of the work, disputes continued about their expediency. The ellipsoid dome made of titanium and glass clearly did not fit into the historical center of the city. The opera house is popularly called the "egg" precisely because of its unusual shape. An artificial pond was created around the center. Inside there are 3 halls with 6500 seats.

    National Center for Performing Arts

    Metropolitan Museum

    According to the classification, it can be attributed to local lore. A modern Art Nouveau building was built especially for the museum by 1981. The combination of glass and concrete makes it both fundamental and lightweight. On the 7th floor there are several permanent exhibitions about the past of China. Temporary exhibitions touch upon the modern period of history. The funds number 200 thousand units of storage.

    798 Art Zone

    In the 50s, a factory was built on this territory. By the 90s, it was no longer working at full capacity, and the areas were rented out. The Beijing Academy of Fine Arts rented several rooms, then individual artists began to catch up. They opened workshops, galleries, or simply lived here. Gradually, the Art Zone was filled with restaurants, theme shops, souvenir shops and exhibition halls.

    798 Art Zone
    Chaoyang Theater

    Chaoyang Theater

    The year of foundation is 1984. The main specialization is the creation of acrobatic shows. In addition to the performance hall, there are three cinema halls on an area of 3 thousand m2. The program is demonstrated twice a day. Artists try to take into account Chinese traditions when staging, use authentic props or appropriate music. The rooms combine beauty, agility, grace and some risk.

    Red Theater

    The name is derived from the color of the walls of the building located in the historical district of the capital of the Celestial Empire. The performances include acrobatic performances with elements of kung fu. The artists do not use insurance, which makes the spectacle even more exciting. On the screens, Chinese words sounding from the stage are duplicated by the English translation. It is forbidden to film in the hall during the performance.

    Red Theater
    Olympic Park

    Olympic Park

    It was built for several years for the 2008 Olympic Games. The area is 1135 hectares . The main objects of the park are the Bird's Nest Stadium and the Water Cube Palace for water sports. When the competitions ended, they were transformed into an entertainment complex and a music and variety center, respectively. In addition, the park has an extensive green area and attractions, such as a Ferris Wheel.

    Wangfujing Street

    One of the trade arteries of the capital of China. It is almost entirely pedestrian. The length is less than a kilometer, while there are about 200 shops on it. In addition to the famous brands on Wunfujing, there are also locally produced goods, including handmade ones. The street traces its history back to the Yuan Dynasty, when it was formed 700 years ago. It received its current name 200 years later during the Ming Dynasty.

    Wangfujing Street
    Nanluogu hutong

    Nanluogu hutong

    The narrow street with this name is a typical representative of Hutong – old alleys. It stretches for 800 meters in Dongcheng district. It was built during the Yuan Dynasty, and received its current name during the Qing Dynasty. It has not been rebuilt for centuries, but the buildings often changed their specialization. Now more and more locals are guided by tourists, so they open shops and small restaurants.

    CCTV Headquarters

    The construction of the skyscraper lasted from 2004 to 2009. The building is reserved for the headquarters of the Chinese Central television. In addition, there are office premises, exhibition halls, a hotel, a theater and a cultural center inside. The shape of the skyscraper is unusual: two towers, slightly inclined to each other, are connected by a common platform at the bottom and a 75-meter passage at the top. The height is 234 meters.

    CCTV Headquarters
    Wangjing SOHO Skyscrapers

    Wangjing SOHO Skyscrapers

    When the city needed office buildings for representatives of international companies, it was decided to build skyscrapers in the Wangjing district. Three buildings that look like mountains were erected according to the project of Zahi Khalid in 2012. There are no sharp corners in their exterior design, only smooth lines. The water supply system of skyscrapers is also noteworthy, which allows saving up to 42% of water from the generally accepted norm.

    Peace Park

    Copies of the main attractions of the world are collected on the territory of several hectares. In addition to the beauties that still exist today, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Grand Canyon and Notre Dame Cathedral, there is also a Trojan Horse that came from myths, as well as the lost Lighthouse of Alexandria. Most of the objects are made in scale 1:8. The park is a place for holding national holidays of different peoples.

    Peace Park
    Amusement Park

    Amusement Park "Valley of Happiness"

    It became an alternative to Disneyland and began receiving visitors in 2006. The area is 500 thousand m2. It is divided into 6 thematic zones, each of which has its own theme and corresponding appearance. Ancient Greece, Maya, Wild World, Atlantis, Ant Country, Fairy Kingdom include about a hundred attractions. In addition, there are cafes, shops, and places to relax in the park.

    Houhai Lake

    It is connected to the Sihai and Qianhai Lakes through the channels. Restaurants serving dishes of different cuisines of the world are open on the shores. Thanks to them, the district is famous for its nightlife. You can book a walk around Houhai on a small boat decorated in Chinese style. A wide stone bridge is thrown across the lake. There are many attractions nearby, such as the race track or the Gongwangfu Palace.

    Houhai Lake
    Beijing Zoo

    Beijing Zoo

    The first name is "The Garden of 10 thousand animals". It was founded in 1908. After almost half a century, it's time for big changes: many new species have been introduced. Spacious enclosures for monkeys, pandas, lions, elephants and other representatives of fauna have been built on an area of 50 thousand m2. Currently, there are about 7 thousand pets in the zoo. Some buildings are also part of the exposition and have their own architectural features.

    Yuanmingyuan

    The garden and palace complex was founded in 1707. It included palaces, religious buildings, artificial reservoirs. It was destroyed in the middle of the XIX century. It has not been restored, but some details of the landscape are well drawn to this day. Even the ruins of the palace, built in the European style, look neat and picturesque. We visit tourists on a par with other beauties of the city.

    Yuanmingyuan
    Beijing Botanical Garden

    Beijing Botanical Garden

    The territory is mixed – mountain-plain. The area is about 130 hectares. The garden is divided into zones: places for experiments, tourist segments and those where access is limited. Plants – about 3 thousand species. The bonsai garden boasts trees that are more than a thousand years old. And 60 varieties of peach trees have been collected. There are cafes and restaurants in the garden, as well as paths with detailed signs for the convenience of tourists.

    Jingshan Park

    The name translates as "Landscape Mountain Park" or "view from the mountain". It was founded as an imperial garden. For this purpose, a hill with a height of more than 47 meters was artificially created. There are 4 smaller hills nearby. Each has a classic Chinese pavilion built on it. Jingshan is a gathering place for the elderly. They are engaged in dancing, meditation practices and group walks in the park.

    Jingshan Park
    Beihai Park

    Beihai Park

    It is located near the Forbidden City. The area is about 69 hectares. The lake of the same name occupies about half of the territory. The park has a long history, dating back to the X century, but the general public was allowed here only in 1925. There are many iconic objects here, for example: the 40-meter Bai Ta Stupa, the Yun'an Buddhist Temple, the 5 Dragon Pavilion, Taihu stones and a "garden in the garden" called the Jingxin Hall.