Beijing Off the Beaten Path Tips by SirRichard

MAO IS IN THE AIR...
In the Gate of Heavenly Peace, there is still ahuge portrait of Mao Zedong. Here, is where he declared the founding of the Peoples's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

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THE LAST EMPEROR
After the republican revolution of 1911, the last emperor of the Ching Dynasty, then still a child, abdicated the next year. But he and his family and their entire entourage were allowed to stay in the palaces. They were finally expelled by republican troops in 1924. The Forbidden City was renamed as the Palace Museum and opened to the general public.

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THE CHANNELS
Around the Forbidden City you can find a very quiet area with nice channels and old buildings, that reminds sometimes to Venice and its channels. It's a nice walk around after the rushing ambiance of the rest of the town.

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HUTONGS
A hutong is an ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing, where hutongs run into the several thousand. Surrounding the Forbidden City, many were built during the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming(1368-1628) and Qing(1644-1908) dynasties. In the prime of these dynasties the emperors, in order to establish supreme power for themselves, planned the city and arranged the residential areas according to the etiquette systems of the Zhou Dynasty.

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When you go visit the Wall, there are a few kilometres restored where most of the people go, real crowds in summer!!
But if you go a bit further, the wall begins to be a bit ruined, tourists don't dare to go so far, and you can end up being totally alone at the original wall, surrounded by woods and nice landscapes... anyway, it takes a few kilometres to get there, but is worth the effort!

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