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Beijing Area
Beijing is recognized as the political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China. Home to some of the world's most well known sites, Beijing offers visitors a chance to take a step back in time while visiting historical monuments such as The Forbidden City or the Great Wall of China, but also has the feel of a new and thriving city, due the extensive changes that were made to "modernize" in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Highlights of Beijing
- The Forbidden City
- The Great Wall
- Tiananmen Square
- The Temple of Heaven
- Panjiayuan Antique Market
Historical Sites
The Forbidden City
One of Beijing's "must-see" destinations, The Forbidden City, formally known as the Imperial Palace Museum, enables visitors to wander through areas that used to be reserved only for China's emperors. Built in the early 15th century, this 180-acre compound was at the height of it's power during the Ming and Quig dynasties. If possible, it's best to go in the early morning or when the weather is colder to avoid the crowds. While there is no formal ISE discount here, ISE cardholders have been able to receive the student rate by showing their ISE Card here.
The Great Wall
When thinking of The Great Wall of China, it's easy to envision one wall stretching across the mountains, but this, in fact, is not the reality. There are actually several walls that were built starting in the 5th century BC, the most famous of which, was built between 220 and 200 BC, by China's first Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Unfortunately, little of that wall remains as it was built much further north. The wall that most visitors see today was built during the Ming Dynasty. Depending on what you're in the mood for, you can take your pick on how much exercise you want to get. For a more rugged climb, make your way along the Simitai portion of the wall, or go for an area that's a bit less steep at Jinshanling.
Tiananmen Square
While Tiananmen Square is the world's largest square at 99 acres, it is most recently known as the place where hundreds of Chinese student demonstrators were dispersed by government tanks. It is also the location where Mao spoke about the "birth of a nation". A large image of him still hangs above the square. While the square is mostly cement and doesn't exactly invite the visitor to stay and relax, it has still played a part in Chinese history and is worth walking around, if for nothing else, to say you've been there!
The Mao Zedong Memorial Hall
Those interested in viewing Mao Zedong's preserved body should pay a visit to the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Considering what a huge impact Mao had on China, his actual body is surprisingly small. The mausoleum is open only on Tuesday and Sunday mornings and afternoons. There are usually lines to get in and while seeing Mao's body might be a bit anti-climactic, watching the other spectators makes for an interesting "cultural" experience due to the depth of emotion that many still show-even though Mao has been dead for years.
The Temple of Heaven
Originally built in the 15th century as a sacrificial temple, The Temple of Heaven is a magnificent example of Ming Dynasty architecture. The surrounding park is actually twice the size of the entire Forbidden City and is often full of locals practicing tai chi, playing chess, or just wandering around.
Activities
Beijing Opera
A trip to Beijing would not be complete without a trip to the Beijing opera. It is worth going to see the excellent performers, get a peek as some authentic martial arts, and to appreciate all of the work that goes into the elaborate make-up and costumes-not to mention the unusual singing! There are daily shows at Li Yuan Theatre which has a nice spacious stage.
Panjiayuan Antique Market or "Dirt Market"
If you are interested in doing some shopping for authentic Chinese souvenirs, pay a visit to the Panjiayuan Antique Market. Whether it's an ornate birdcage, an opera costume, or an antique of your choice, this is the place to find some great Chinese treasures. Located at the third ring road at Panjiayuan Qiao.
Beijing Capital Museum
To learn more about Beijing's history as the capital city of China, it's worthwhile to visit the Beijing Capital Museum which showcases 850 years of Beijing's beginnings and progression through the years. There are some made-to-scale replicas of houses and a Peking Opera theatre.
Places to Stay
Hostels
There are a wide variety of hostels in Beijing. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability information, please access the following link: http://reservations.bookhostels.com/isecard.com/ The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.
Places to Eat
Depending on the strength of your stomach, you can choose from a variety of great restaurants in China. Lower budget places tend to be dirtier, but in some cases the quality of food for the price is well worth it. Mid to high-range restaurants are probably a safer bet if you don't want to take any chances.m!
Getting Around
Bicycle
While many have a romantic idea of biking throughout Beijing, the reality is that Beijing has changed a lot over the past 15 years and is not nearly as biker-friendly as it used to be due to the popularization of the automobile. That being said, there are well marked bike lanes so it is possible to get around this way, however, it's probably better to use the metro or take a taxi if you want to get to your destination stress-free.
Metro
The metro in Beijing is fairly straight-forward. There are a handful of different lines to choose from and they are all identified by number. The current numbers are Line two (the Circle line), Line 1 running from Pingguo Yuan to the east, Line 8 (and extension of line one heading east), and Line 13, which loops north from two of the Circle line stations. There is a line 5 that runs from the north to the south as well as a line to the airport.
Taxi
Taking a taxi is a convenient way to get around Beijing, but be careful of when you catch one as rush hour traffic can be a hassle. The best bet is to take the Metro as far as you can and then hop in a taxi for the remainder of the trip. There are a lot of scam artists out there, so make sure you are careful to check for a working meter, wave cabs down yourself, and remember that tipping is not necessary.
Moving On
Air
While Beijing has three airports, the Beijing Capital Airport (Shoudu Jichang) handles international and domestic flights. The airport is located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of the city center.
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