Beijing Shi Things to Do Tips by victorwkf Top 5 Page for this destination

Beihai Park & Forbidden City Moat

When you are at the famous Forbidden City of Beijing, and if you have the time to wonder around, you should visit the big Beihai Park just next to the Forbidden City as well as the moat where you can actually take a ride on the water using small leg-paddle boats.

Important thing to note is that the Forbidden City itself and Beihai Park are both very huge, so plan your time properly, and it may not be possible to cover everything. In general, the major attractions in Beijing are very very big since China is perhaps the biggest civilisation in the world.

Cherry blossoms during Spring (Part 2)

Here are more photographs of the beautiful flowers of the cherry blossoms taken during my visit to Yuyuantan Park in mid-April 2008. You should not miss this event if you are at Beijing during that time of the year as the flowers only bloom during a very short period before dropping to the ground.

Cherry blossoms during Spring (Part 1)

During spring every year, you can witness the blooming of the cherry flowers at the Yuyuantan Park at Beijing. The best time to catch the flowers is in mid-April every year. There is a section in the park where there are lots of cherry blossom trees, with different sub-species of pink or white flowers. Apparently these trees were gifts from Japan to China years ago, and they were planted in Yuyuantan Park for the local people and tourists to enjoy.

More photographs are at part 2 of this tip.

Yuyuantan Park (Part 2)

Here are more photographs of Yuyuantan Park. It is a very nice park to visit if you have the time. There is no entrance fees but it is slightly off the city centre.

Besides enjoying the plants (especially the willow trees by the lakes) and two huge lakes, there are some stalls in this park where items such as food, Chinese herbs are sold along the walking path. Overall, I enjoyed visiting Yuyuantan Park at Beijing as it is a good getaway from the busy city life.

Yuyuantan Park (Part 1)

The Yuyuantan Park is a huge park located at the north-west portion of Beijing city. You will see lots of local people visiting this park to exercise, walk around and relax especially during the weekends. There are 2 very large lakes in this park as well as a cherry blossom garden (best time to see the folowers is in mid-April every year).

More information and photographs are at part 2 of this tip.

Forbidden City (Part 4)

At the back and side portions of the Forbidden City are the houses of the officials, concubines of the emperor, servants etc. You can visit the houses, some of which have displays of various ancient monuments inside them. Another interesting feature of the Forbidden City are the famous walled walkways which link the varous parts of this ancient city.

Overall, the Forbidden City is really very impressive. This place was exclusive only to the emperor of China and his officials for many generations, so no one else gets to see it until it was finally opened to the public at the turn of the 20th century. In order to appreciate this place, allocate enough time and at the entrance area, you can obtain the information recording devices (in several languages) which you can bring along during your tour. This device is very good and will tell you the history and architecture of the different portions of the city when you arrive at that particular portions, but you need to pay to use it (I think it was around $20-40 RMB).

Forbidden City (Part 3)

Besides the impressive main halls, there are several other buildings at the Forbidden City for various functions during the old days such as worship etc. You will see lots of cravings of the dragon (which represents the emperor) and other mytical creatures such as phoenix, unicorn etc on the building and wall architecture. Please go to part 4 of this tip.

Forbidden City (Part 2)

The Forbidden City is huge and is essentially rectangular in shape, which huge and tall walls which block off the common people during that time from the emperor and his officials. There are a few main halls at the front of the city with huge open spaces for the officials to stand during the daily sessions with the emperor. The halls are very impressive, with huge architecture.

In order to have a detailed trip of the whole Forbidden City, you need one full day as it is really that big! Please go to part 3 of this tip.

Forbidden City (Part 1)

The Forbidden City is one of the most impressive monument I have ever seen during my years of travel. This is a huge palace located at the centre of the city, which is now a museum opened to the public. The main entrance is a huge walled tower with the famous portrait of the late Chairman Mao Zedong.

The Forbidden City was built during the Ming Dynasty of China (around 1300BC to 1644BC) as the office and residence of the emperor of China and his officials. Since then, it was home to about 24 emperors of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty (1644BC to around 1910BC) before it was finally converted to a museum when the monarchy system of China was abolished at the turn of the 20th century. Please go to part 2 of this tip.

Wangfujing Area (Part 2)

I visited the Wangfujing area again in April 2008 and enjoyed my trip there. Besides doing some shopping and having my meal at one of the street store serving Chinese food, I managed to visit the souvenir shop of the Olympic Games 2008 and bought some souvenirs home.

Wangfujing is at the heart of Beijing city and not to be missed when you are there (but take care of your belongings and watch for pickpockets).