- China Destination Guide

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China Destination Guide - Beijing 北京

Beijing is not only the capital of the PRC but also one of it's premiere attractions for the traveller. Considered to be rapidly becoming one of the 21st Century world cities it also hosts a wealth of historical sites and thankfully, much of the historical side has survived the construction boom of the last decade. In short, Beijing has it all - rich historical sights, modern masterpieces, fantastic cuisine and a vibrant culture with one foot in the past and the other firmly striding into the future.

➤ TCTC Tip: Beijing is often visited after Shanghai and before Xian. Allow at least 2 nights here.

What there is to see in Beijing:

The vast palace complex of the Forbidden City.
The Great Wall running through the mountains to the North and West of the City
The Summer Palace lake and pavilions.
The Temple of Heaven, arguably one of China's most beautiful buildings.
Little changed daily life in Beijing's many winding Hutongs which still hold much of the city's charm.
Cutting edge modern architecture from the CCTV Tower to the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium.
A vibrant arts, restaurant and nightlife scene.

Best time to Visit Beijing

In the spring from April to May and autumn's September and October are the best months. Winters are cold but exceptionally dry and bright and the summers are hot and humid but without the excessive rain found over much of China during the summer months.

Best reason to visit Beijing

In some respects Beijing is a microcosm of China and has many of it's best features and finest sights so picking one is very difficult. On balance thought it has to be the Great Wall which is quite possibly China's finest sight as well as being unique. No visit to China is truly complete without having stepped on it.

Our last word on Beijing

We can be a bit Beijing biased as some of us have lived there for many years. However, it is fair to say that Beijing has a very visitable mix of sights both ancient and modern, superb cuisine, good hotels, ease of getting around, cultural identity and good shopping to satifsy the most demanding visitor making it the must see China destination.