"They call Beijing the "Green Capital of... " a China Travel Page by Penelope4

First day in Beijing - June 24
Tian'anmen Square
Wangfujing Dajie

Second day - June 25
Juyong Guan (part of the Great Wall)
Ming Tombs
Tea Factory
Silk Factory

Third day - June 26
Summer Palace
Pearl Market
Temple of Heaven

Fourth - June 27
sites where Olympics were held in 2008
Mutianyu Wall
Yanqi Lake
Shichahai Lake
Visit to Hutongs

Fifth - June 28
Forbidden City
Jingshai Park
Behai Park
Wangfujing Dajie

Sixth - June 29
Yonghe Lama Temple

I've always wanted to go to China but I didn't have time to apply for visa.

Not only do I consider China very significant to the world but I have some Chinese blood running through my veins. My great grandmother was 100% Chinese, you see. When I was about 9 years old, I skipped classes and watched rehearsals of Chinese Opera. I am not ashamed that I've done so because those memories are still vivid in my mind and made my childhood enjoyable.

And why visit Beijing in particular? Well, you know, I didn't make it to the Olympics (ha!) so I thought I visit the place when all of you VT members have written down your tips about your visit (ha again!).

Peking is very famous and I heard that English is spoken here than in any other part of China. I don't know if this claim is legitimate...This I can tell you - everybody spoke to me in Chinese!!! My eyes betrayed my roots.

Beijing is green indeed! So many trees everywhere!

As soon as I checked-in, after freshening up a bit that is, I went out and headed for the Tiananmen Square. Well, my hotel's brochure says that it is walking distance. What walking distance - it was a 25-minute walk under a 39 degree sun (if you have a great hip, that is)! I was told that they haven't had heat wave for a long time. So I will write it as a tip: buy a map on your very first day! I think Chinese' understanding of distance is much wider in perspective than ours (more of heavenly terms perhaps). When I was sweating and all on my way to the Tiananmen Square it even occured to my mind that when the order was issued to build the Wall - everybody else thought it was a wall as long as our own walls at home.

Anyway, after getting sunburn and all, I reached the Tiananmen Square but that is another story. I came without a sunburn. I left with a sunburn. That's Beijing for me. But no regrets really. I so love Beijing!