Beijing

Beijing became the capital of China in 1420, when Emperor Yongle moved the capital here from Nanjing. It became the ruling center for the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and continued in this role through the 20th century. Now Beijing is a large city, and although it can seem chaotic and traffic is heavy you can still find traces of the old Beijing hidden inside the alleys.

The main sight inside the city proper is The Forbidden City. Constructed by Emperor Yongle, it was here that the emperors of China ruled this massive country from 1421 up until the fall of the dynasties in 1911. The Forbidden City is a marvel of Ming architecture and a must-see while here.

Going out of town to the north you can visit several sections of the Great Wall of China. Closest to Beijing is the Badaling Section, which, while beautiful, also sees the most tourists per day.

The Temple of Heaven is another must-see. The temple itself, built at the same time as The Forbidden City, is an incredible structure to behold, but a large part of the draw of coming here is the surrounding park. In the morning thousands of people gather here to dance, practise Tai Chi, fly kites and many other pastimes. Tian'anmen Square in the middle of Beijing is also an integral part of any Beijing itinerary.

Although slowly dissapearing the Hutongs (old alleys) of Beijing are well worth a few hours of your time while here. The whole city used to be made up of these charming living quarters, but unfortunately they have been torn down large-scale to give way for progress. Some of the best ones can still be found near the Houhai and Drum Tower areas. Houhai itself is also a nice place to while away a couple of hours enjoying the tranquil surroundings around Houhai Lake. In the north part of the city you will also find the Lama Temple and Confucian Temple, both ancient structures of Tibetan Buddhism and Confucianism respectively.

On the outskirts the massive Summer Palace offers both beautiful surroundings as well as a chance to escape the hubbub of downtown Beijing. Here you can see both the famous Marble Boat and the impressive Long Corridor. Nearby you can also visit the Fragrant Mountains, a peaceful area of natural beauty.

If you are looking for modernity you might choose to visit the Bird's Nest Stadium, where the main events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics were held. 798 Art District may also interest some.

In addition to the aforementioned sights there are many, many other things to do while in Beijing. You should try the world-famous Peking Duck, a delicacy of crisp duck skin wrapped in rice pancakes.