Travel to Beijing, tour guide
Beijing , better known as Beijing, is the capital of the People's Republic of China, a place full of history that has become the desired destination of millions of tourists, who travel to the city every year to soak up all the culture and tradition Oriental.
This urban nucleus is one of the four municipalities of China, thus showing the provincial status. It is under the direct control of the central government and is one of the most populated cities in the entire People's Republic of China, second only to Shanghai.
WHAT TO SEE IN BEIJING
Forbidden City
It is, without a doubt, the most important and visited place in the city. In its origins it was a completely impenetrable place, as its name says. However, today it is open to the public, becoming one of the most acclaimed and important monuments in all of China.
It was built between 1406 and 1420, and for 500 years it was the home of the emperors of China. Today we can stroll through its gardens, pavilions and countless corners full of stories. Thus, we highlight for example the guardians of the roof, the Chinese lions in each of the accesses to the different pavilions, the Imperial Causeway through which the emperor's carriage or the pavilions where the imperial concubines resided.
It is certainly worth visiting this place, which you also have to know, it is one of the lucky monuments inscribed in the World Heritage Site since 1987, being also considered by Unesco as the largest set of ancient wooden structures in the world .
Tiananmen Square
It is one of the symbols of the city. It was built in 1949 and had a clear purpose, to host major acts of political adherence, such as those held in the Red Square in Moscow. However, it is currently remembered for the tragic event of the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989, which ended with the declaration of martial law by the government and the death of hundreds of protesters.
In the square we can see some buildings and prominent places, such as the Gate of Heavenly Peace, in which Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
We also find the Qianmen Tower, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the National Museum of China or the Great People's Palace.
summer Palace
It is certainly another favorite visit in Beijing. It was used as an imperial garden by several dynasties. Also, during the Qing dynasty it began to be used as a summer residence, in order to escape the hot days in the Forbidden City.
It has more than 290 hectares, where we can see places such as the Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Suzhou Street, the Garden of Harmonious Taste, Kunming Lake or known as the Great Corridor , a beautiful covered hallway of more than 750 meters long. In addition, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit the impressive Marble Ship, used by Empress Cixi for her luxurious parties.
Other places of interest:
- Coal hill
- Beihai Park
- Houhai Lake
- Temple of the Lamas
EXCURSIONS FROM BEIJING
We can make many excursions from Beijing, but without a doubt the most anticipated and demanded are those that allow us to visit the Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs.
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, thus being one of the most representative symbols of the entire country.
We can choose several sections to visit it. For example, we can see the part of Badaling, 80 kilometers from Beijing. It is a restored area of the wall quite visited by tourists.
About 90 km from the city we find the Mutianyu area, which in addition to having the remains of the wall offers us difficult landscapes to match. It is not as crowded as the previous one, so it is totally recommended for those who prefer a quieter visit.
Another interesting excursion is that of the Ming Tombs . They are located about 50 kilometers from the city. It stands out for being the place where thirteen emperors of the Ming dynasty were buried, as well as 23 empresses, courtiers and concubines of the court. It is a huge necropolis of about 40 km2. Tombs with a lot of history that in 2003 were declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Special mention deserves the mausoleum of Zhu Yijun, one of the few that was not sacked by thieves and therefore has a fairly good state of conservation.
GASTRONOMY
Without a doubt, most of the people who travel to China, in addition to observing their monuments, anxiously await to meet their gastronomy; And it is that the cuisine of China is very variable and rich.
Far from what we usually eat in international Chinese restaurants, we will find traditional dishes full of history and flavor. Endless options in which sweet flavors will be mixed with acid, bitter, salty and spicy dyes.
We can try the Pekingese duck, marinated and roasted duck that is served in thin slices to place them inside a crepe with vegetables. We also recommend Dim Sum, delicious steamed dumplings.
We cannot leave Beijing without trying Hot Pot, a hot broth that serves to cook certain foods.
Obviously we can also find rare dishes far from our culinary customs, only suitable for the brave. Thus, in Wangfujing Night Market we can taste delicacies such as scorpions, centipedes or spiders.
More information at: Chinese food, the art of gastronomy
WEATHER
The climate we find in Beijing is continental. The winters will be cold and dry, with minimums that can descend without problems to -5ºC.
The best stations to travel are those of spring and autumn, months with little rainfall and a pleasant temperature; And it is that during the summer we can find quite high temperatures and more rains.
HOW TO GET
It is possible to reach Beijing by Rail, as it has lines to other places in China such as Shanghai, Harbin, Baotou or Qinhuangdao. There are also international lines to Pionyang, Kowloon and Russia.
The closest airport to the city, about 20 km northeast of it, is Beijing International Airport , near Shunyi.
ACCOMMODATION
Being a city so visited by international tourists, the offer of accommodation is really wide. It has an endless number of quality establishments and with different price ranges.