Beijing Things to Do Tips by aramat

The Forbidden City or - as it is known today - the Palace Museum is nearly 600 years old and it's magnificent. It's the world's largest palace complex and indeed it is huge: as one walks across it, there are new doors again and again, like in a dream, when you never arrive. It's an absolute must for any visitor of Beijing.

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Address: North of Tiananmen Square
Directions: In the centre of Beijing
Website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/forbidden.htm

The inverted bowl-style, Lamaist dagoba was built in 1651 during the Qing Dinasty, in honour of the fifth Dalai Lama's visit. It stands in Beihai Park, on the top of Qiong islet, and it has become a significant landmark of the city and a great scenic spot.

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Address: Beihai Park
Directions: Central Beijing
Website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/beihai.htm

In Beihai Park, in front of the dagoba, there is a terrace on which a glazed chamber was built, called Shanyin Hall. Its four sides are covered by a hundred glazed tiles depicting Buddha. It's very colourful and a memorable sight.

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Address: Beihai Park
Directions: Central Beijing
Website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/beihai.htm

This is the South Gate in Beihai Park at the end of the bridge that leads from Qiong islet to the Round City. Looking through the gate, one can see the white dagoba. The park is a perfect place to relax and to feel immersed in Chinese culture.

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Address: Beihai Park
Directions: Central Beijing

I don't think it's necessary to elaborate.....

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Directions: Easily acessible from Beijing are parts of the wall in Badaling, Mutianyu and Simatai.

Badaling is the closest part of the Wall to Beijing and it's said to be the easiest part. Well, it is steep climbing all the way up on either side is a pretty good workout (it's also possible to go around, if you've got time). The year before I went to Mutianyu and maybe I was fitter, but that part seemed to be easier for me, though I remember I was surprised by the stairs - I imagined more of a roadlike surface, not steps. Probably because I learnt in school that the Great Wall was also used as a road for the army and it was wide enough for carriages. And I was there and couldn't imagine any carriage moving on those steps. Maybe they were more like litters without wheels, carried by people.

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Address: Badaling
Directions: Yanqing County, about 70 kilometers northwest from Beijing
Website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/

13 Ming emperors (and empresses and concubines) were buried in this area between 1409-1644. Only the tomb of emperor Wanli (Dingling) is open to the public (it's an impressive size, but there is not too much to see). Some of the objects excavated can be seen in the museum nearby, so it's worth to visit. My favourite part of the complex is the Sacred Way, a path built for the emperors' funeral processions, lined by statues of real and mythical animals and human figues (state officers and warriors).

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Address: App. 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing