Amazing places to visit in Beijing

Photo from flickr by lylevincent

China is a place that has an abundance of beautiful sights and locations to visit. The history of the country is filled with stunning creations that have cultural significance and this makes for a striking country that is a truly must see destination. Beijing has a wealth of must see places and here is a list of some of the most amazing.

Ming Tombs

Just 30 miles North West of Beijing this is the burial area for 13 of the 17 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. Three of these tombs have been dug and are open to the public, the Changling, Zhao Ling and the Dingling tombs. This is a truly amazing experience but is not really suitable for those with mobility problems due to the depths of the Dingling excavated tomb, however, you could still visit the Changling tomb regardless of your mobility level. Some of the artefacts that have been excavated are just stunning and they have remained in amazing condition. Everything from silk to porcelain has been excavated and you can get quite close to the pieces which are very impressive, particularly considering their great age.

Lama Temple

Known formally as the Yonghe Temple this is widely considered to be a palace of peace and harmony. This is one of the most important and largest Buddhist monasteries in the world and this alone really does make it a must see palace so make sure to attend this after arrival on a flight to Beijing. There is so much to see here with scriptures, statues and even the coffin of Emperor Yongzheng and you can also see his living quarters here too which are very opulent and this is an educational visit that is enjoyable also.

Great Wall

This is probably going to be the highlight of any trip to Beijing and it really does live up to its stunning reputation. With a vast expanse of over 5,000 miles you are probably not going to be able to walk even a fraction of the distance here if you are just enjoying a holiday, however, do not let this put you off visiting this amazing historical spot. Within just a few hours of Beijing you can visit some of the most important points which, while being busy, are simply not to be missed. You can find various day trips and excursions here which will show you around lots of different culturally rich places nearby and these trips are fantastically well priced and usually include transport, tickets and sometimes even food.

Tiananmen Square

Being centred in the middle of Beijing this is really the heart of the city. This is the place for parades and gatherings of all sorts and is the largest square of its kind in the world. Whether visiting in the morning or the evening make sure you catch the raising and lowering of the Chinese National Flag at sunrise and sunset as it is a fantastic experience. Be sure to arrive early to find yourself a good spot, around 45 to 30 minutes before is the ideal time and you will be surprised by just how young some of the troops are, however, don’t let this phase you as they do an amazing job.

Forbidden City

This is by far, for me, one of the highlights of a visit to Beijing but be warned that you will need your comfortable shoes on! With just under 10,000 rooms and set over 250 acres of land this palace is visually amazing and while it keeps most of the opulence that it has received over the past 700 years it also manages to stay bang on trend with modern life,  it even has a Starbucks within! It will take you several hours to take in the vastness of this palace and enjoy the structure but this will be a day well spent.

Jen Hoggett has written 26 articles. Jen is newest member of “The Firm“, originally from the West Country in the UK, recruited because she’s an excellent cider drinker and can dance shamelessly to the Wurzels for hours at a time. Her codename “Giggles” comes from her faint and delicate laugh – A.K.A – Her most deadly weapon. Jen is truly a master of disguise, she’s the person nobody ever suspects but she aint messing around.