Beijing Things to Do Tips by ValbyDK

The Temple of Heaven Park Temple of Heaven Review

The Temple of Heaven Park, located some 6km south from the centre of Beijing, was built between 1409 and 1420. The Emperor used to come here each winter solstice to make sacrifices to Heaven and to pray for good harvest.

The most impressive temples are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Hall of Abstinence – both very colourful. However, the Temple of Heaven Park is actually bigger than the Forbidden City and there are many other interesting sights in the park. The Circular Mound Altar – with the Heaven's Heart Stone (Tianxingshi) and the terraces, designed according to the supreme odd number (9) –, the Red Stairway Bridge, the walkway with the many old cypress trees, the Seven-Star Rocks and much more…

The Temple of Heaven Park was a really nice place, and also popular among the locals. People were taking a nap or having a picnic. If you go to the park early in the morning, there will be many people exercising kung fu and tai chi.

Address: Tiantan Gongyuan

Ming Tombs (Changling) Ming Tombs Review

The Ming Tombs are located 50km northwest of Beijing and are the final resting-place for 13 of the 16 Ming Emperors (1368 - 1644). The site of the Ming Tombs was carefully chosen according to Feng Shui principles, and the area of the foot of the JunDu Mountains – with quiet valleys and calm waters – was the perfect place to protect the tombs against bad spirits.

I visited the Ming Tombs at Changling on a guided tour booked through my hotel in Beijing, but the ‘Spirit Way’ was NOT included in the guided tour! Check before you book a day trip from Beijing! Instead our tour guide showed us around at the Changling tombs. The Hall of Eminent Favour with a large statue of Emperor Yongle and an exhibition of artefacts recovered from the tombs, the beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and a few other sights - but the Ming Tombs at Changling was not one of my favourites. I think the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are both much more impressive and interesting!

A couple of stories…
We passed some old wells, and the guide told us a rather creepy story… The Emperor was married to the Empress, but he also had many concubines. When the Emperor died, some of his concubines must follow him into the afterlife! Therefore the 'lucky' ladies were taken to the tomb and hung. The bodies of the concubines were buried in the wells - not exactly the same fabulous tomb as the Emperor's grave!
When you enter the Ming Tombs, it is possible to go through a small gate. If you do so, a myth says that your soul ascend to heaven. You must pass through the same gate again when exiting, this time jumping and yelling : 'I'm back' (in any language)... Otherwise your soul will stay in heaven...

The Summer Palace Summer Palace Review

The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), located 12km northwest of the centre of Beijing, is one of Beijing's most visited sights - and absolute worth a visit. The Summer Palace was original built in 1750, but the palace was burnt down and the garden destroyed during the Second Opium War in 1860. In 1888, Empress Cixi started a rebuilding of the palace and it was finish in 1895. As the name says, The Summer Palace was used as a summer residence by the imperial rulers of China. It was a pleasure ground away from the city (and the Forbidden City) – but still near to the city.

I think the most impressive sights are the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake (which is man-made). I especially enjoyed the boat tour on the lake. From the lake you have a really nice view of the palace buildings on the top of the surrounding hills. I also had a closer look at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. It is about 150m long, and connects the ‘mainland’ of the Summer Palace with the Nanhu Island. The Bridge was built in the 18th century, and is decorated with white marble lions - and there is a carved beast on each end of the bridge. And don’t miss the Grand Theatre from 1895… It is located inside the East Palace Gate. I spent a little time here listening to musicians playing traditional Chinese music.

When you pass through the Summer Palace you'll see many men with water brushes writing traditional Chinese poems on the walkway. Many of them are very skilful and write with both hands simultaneously - and do other tricks. You can also, in shops around the Summer Palace, buy your own handwritten posters with poems.

The Summer Palace is another must-see in Beijing…

Website: http://www.summerpalace-china.com

Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square Review

Tiananmen Square is located in the centre of Beijing and is 880m from south to north and 500m from east to west. The square is surrounded by the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Mausoleum, the National Museum and the Forbidden City.

The Great Hall of the People is located on the western side of the Tiananmen Square, and was built in 1959. It is the home of the “The Standing Committee of People’s Congress of China” (SCPCC). The National Museum was established in 2003, when the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History was merged into the National Museum of China. In front of the building was a display with a countdown to the Beijing Olympics 2008. Read my other tips about Chairman Mao Mausoleum and the Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square has been the site of a number of political events such as the student movement in 1989 (maybe you remember the historic photo of a man standing alone trying to block a line of tanks).

I enjoyed just watching all the local people on the square with their umbrellas and kites. There were many souvenir salesmen on Tiananmen Square, and they sold anything from postcards to ‘The Little Red Book’ by Chairman Mao.

Website: http://www.roundtiananmensquare.com/index.html

The Forbidden City Forbidden City Review

The Forbidden City, located in the centre of Beijing, was built from 1406 to 1420. From the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was the Chinese imperial palace and served as the home of the Emperor and his household.

The Forbidden City now houses the Palace Museum. The outer court with three main halls - the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony - and the inner court with the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Hall of Earthly Peace. A fantastic place filled with interesting details: Beautiful ornaments on the roof ridges, large bronze vats, guardian lions, the five bridges across the Golden Water River, the Imperial Garden, the central axis through the Forbidden City (and Beijing), and much, much more…

We met a local student just outside the Forbidden City, and he gave us a guided tour inside the Palace Museum. He told us a lot - not just about the Forbidden City - but also about China in general. It is absolutely recommendable to use one of the local students as tour guide.

The Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must see in Beijing.

Directions: North of Tiananmen Square.

Website: http://www.dpm.org.cn

Beijing Zoo Zoo & Aquarium Review

We only went to the zoo to see the panda bears. The panda bears have their own house and this was one of the more modern buildings. I think the rest of the zoo looked out of date.

Beijing Zoo also contains an aquarium, but I didn't go there so don't know if it's any good.

A crazy story: It was very hot in the zoo the day we went there, and the panda bears didn't move much. A drunk Chinese jumped over the fence and tried to get the panda moving. It worked and he was bitten by one of the bears. Didn't see it, but read about it in the newspaper a couple of days later. Crazy!!!

Address: Xizhimen

Monuments & Sculptures Tiananmen Square Review

There are several interesting monuments and sculptures on the Tiananmen Square.

Just at the centre of the square you'll find the 'Monument to the People's Heroes'. It was erected in 1952, and is the largest monument in China's history. ‘The People's Heroes are Immortal' is engraved on the monument - famous words by Chairman Mao.

Around the square there are eight (?) sculptures showing the development of Chinese modern history. Two of them are 'Great Contributions' and 'Carry out Chairman Mao's Behests'.

We didn't discover all eight sculptures, but maybe you'll do better...

Directions: In the very center of Beijing.

Website: http://www.roundtiananmensquare.com/index.html

Zhengyangmen Gate Tiananmen Square Review

At the southern end of the Tiananmen Square, behind the Mao Mausoleum, the Zhengyangmen Gate (The Qianmen) is located.

The Gate was built in 1419-1420, and was renovated in 1989. In the past, it was the front gate of the Imperial City - and a part of a double gate defence system.

Zhengyangmen Gate is one of few remaining gates from the old city wall of Beijing. Inside the Gate you’ll find a small museum.

Directions: In the very center of Beijing.

Website: http://www.roundtiananmensquare.com/index.html

Mao Mausoleum Tiananmen Square Review

At the southern end of Tiananmen Square, you’ll find the Chairman Mao Mausoleum (also known as The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall - or The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong).

The building was completed in 1977 - a year after the death of Mao. Mao had wished to be cremated, but the people of China wanted to honour him, and build his mausoleum. A story says that more than 700000 people did voluntary labour during the building of the mausoleum.

The mausoleum is a very popular attraction, especially among Chinese people, and during the day there could be a very long line outside the mausoleum. I am told that the best time to visit the mausoleum is in the morning, but I just watched the building from outside.

Directions: In the very center of Beijing.

Website: http://www.roundtiananmensquare.com/index.html

The Great Wall Great Wall - Badaling Review

I became a real man on the 18th September 2006! Famous Chinese quote:”You are not a real man until you have climbed the Great Wall"...

I climbed the Great Wall at Badaling (80km north of Beijing). The portion of the wall was built during the Ming Dynasty and has a total length of nearly 4km. Badaling opened for tourists in 1957 after a heavy restoration.

Guidebook says that you might meet many other tourists at Badaling, but I don't think the place was very crowded. There is a staircase up to the beginning of the wall, and from there you can go right or left. Most people went right, so I went left and kept walking until it was not possible to walk any further. Here were no tourists at all...

There is a fantastic view of the surrounding landscape from the wall. Another “must see in Beijing/China”…