Beijing Highlights

The venerated Chinese history has strewn the land of Beijing with sites of cultural and historical interest. Some of them, such as the Great Wall, former Imperial Palace, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and the ruins of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, are UNESCO-endorsed world cultural heritage sites. Imperial palaces, mansions, gardens and tombs are epitomes of classical Chinese architecture. Among the massive number of ancient buildings that have remained to this day are quite a few Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples and Catholic churches, such as Yonghegong Lamasery and Big Bell Temple. There are 120 museums, including Museum of Chinese History and China Art Gallery. Over 100 gardens are open to the public. As behooves an international metropolis, Beijing's skyline looks splendid with a jungle of tall buildings in varied and distinct styles.

LT1 Great Wall and Ming Tombs (One-day Tour)

8:30-17:00, available on August 10 and 13. Cost: TBA.

As an emblem of Chinese civilization, a cultural phenomenon of world caliber, and another UNESCO-endorsed world cultural heritage site, the 6350km Great Wall was in China's feudal years a mammoth defense bulwark that serpentines its way across mountains and valleys in the northern part of the country. The Great Wall came under construction in the 7th century BC. But it was Qinshihuang, the founding emperor of the Qin, who brought it to completion. Repeated extensions were done in later dynasties until the Ming. The 600-year-old Badaling Fortification in Yanqing county in northwest Beijing is representative of Ming sections of the Great Wall. The Great Wall looks equally breathtaking at such sections as Jinshanling, Mutianyu and Simatai.

50 kilometers northwest from Beijing lay the Ming Tombs - the general name to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the many emperors. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, the site has a high cultural and historic value.

LT2 Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven (One-day Tour)

8:30-17:00, August 11. Cost: TBA.

Large enough to hold 1 million people, the 440,000-square-metre Tian'anmen Square in the center of Beijing is the world's largest city square, where sunrises and sunsets are observed solemnly with national flag hoisting and lowering ceremonies. Tian'an men Gate on the northern edge of the square sued to be the front gate of the Ming and Qing Imperial Palace. The rostrum atop the gate, where national leaders review mass rallies or gala celebrations on important occasions, is open to tourists. The Monument to the People's Heroes stands in the center of the square. Behind Zhengyang Gate to the south sprawls Mao Zedong Memorial Hall; to the east is the complex which houses the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History. The Great hall of the People stands on the western side. The night scene of Tian'anmen Square is definitely a MUST for any visitor to Beijing.

The 720,000-square-metre Palace Mueum, better known as "Forbidden City", was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing. Built during the 1406-1420 period, it is the largest royal palatial complex in existence in China; ranging from the majestic to the exquisite, they bear witness to a nation in transition. Other tourist attractions on the premises include a huge stone ramp carved with intricate dragon and cloud patterns, Imperial Garden and Nine-Dragon Screen Wall. An immense trove of cultural artifacts and treasures of various dynasties, some of them on display in the Treasure Hall and the ceramics, painting, bronze ware galleries, are reason enough for UNESCO to adopt the Former Imperial Palace as a world cultural heritage site.

China's largest temple and altar are found in Temple of Heaven, part of a 273 hectare park in Chongwen District today. Built in 1420, it was where Ming and Qing monarchs prayed for good harvests. Major structures are hall of Prayer for good Harvest, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Circular Altar, and Abstinence Palace. UNESCO endorsed Temple of Heaven as a world cultural heritage site in December 1998.

LT3 Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo (panda) and Beijing Capital Museum (One-day Tour)

8:30-17:00, August 12. Cost: TBA.

The Summer Palace was so named because it served as the summer residence of the imperial households. It consists of the Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake with a total area of 290 hectares. It is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "An outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole."

You will spend a half hour to visit Beijing Zoo to see giant pandas.

Beijing Capital Museum houses 11 exhibition halls displaying ancient Chinese art: bronze statues, jade utensils, ancient calligraphy and paintings, restored old Beijing city views and precious relics of old Beijing operas. Two temporary exhibition halls on the first floor and basement level display artistic and cultural exhibits from around the world. Exhibitions of fine artistic collection include "Exhibition of Ming-Qing Classical Paintings", "Selected works of Ancient Calligraphy", "Selected works of Ancient Buddhist Statues", "Selected works of Ancient Porcelain Art", "Selected works of Bronze Art in the Beijing Area", "Selected works of Ancient Jade Art" and "Selected works of Ancient Stationary and other Study Utensils".

LT4 Learn Chinese Cooking and Fine Arts Village (One-day Tour)

8:30-17:00, August 14. Cost: TBA.

In a cooking class, you will learn how to prepare and cook a few typical Chinese dishes and communicate with cooks.

LT5 Lama Temple and Hutong (Lane) Tour (One-day Tour)

8:30-17:00, August 15. Cost: TBA.

The Lamasery is a combination of mainstream Han and ethnic Tibetan Buddhist architectural styles. Covering an area of 66 000 square meters the temple has 1000 rooms altogether. There are five main buildings lying on the north-south axis in the temple. The temple is best known for its huge standing statue of Maitreya Buddha of the Future carved out of a single trunk of white sandalwood tree presented by the Seventh Dalai Lama. It is 26 meters high 18 meters above the ground and 8 meters under the ground and 8 meters in diameter.

The hutong tour is to let you know more about the city. You will visit the backyards of Beijing, on a pedicab, across the small zig-zag lanes in the old residential areas. The tour also includes a visit to the Prince Gong's Mansion and the Drum Tower.

LT6 Taste Chinese Sichuan Food and Foot Massage (Evening Program)

18:00-23:00, August 11-14. Cost: TBA.

Sichuan Food is a style of Chinese cuisine originating in Sichuan Province of southwestern China. It is famed for bold flavors, particularly the spiciness resulting from liberal use of chilis and "numb" or "tingling" flavor of the Sichuan peppercorn. You will have a chance to taste it in a Sichuan food Restaurant.

After the dinner, you will try the foot massage. Many Chinese believe that health of body comes from health of foot; foot massage is a kind of natural therapy for accelerating metabolism and regulating the body's immune system. Anyway, you will get relaxed after a day's meeting by foot message.

LT7 Beijing Opera (Evening Program)

18:00-21:00, August 11 and 13. Cost: TBA.

Beijing Opera is the quintessence of China. It is a traditional opera which originated in the 18th Century by absorbing many other dramatic forms. It has now become a symbol of Beijing's tradition. The performances include part or all of song and dance, pantomine, and acrobatics. And the actors and actresses have painted faces.

LT8 Acrobatic Show (Evening Program)

18:00-21:00, August 12 and 14. Cost: TBA.

The Chinese acrobatics are more classical. They include plate-spinning, contortionists, jugglers, bicycles, tight rope walking, and balancing on tubes, etc. Many Chinee acrobatic programs have won awards at international acrobatic competition.