Part 1 of the article can be read here.
5: Summer Palace
The Summer Palace occupies a very large area of park surrounding Kunming Lake. Construction began on the Summer Palace over 300 years ago. However, much of what is standing today was reconstructed by the Dowager Empress Cixi after the original was destroyed by European Imperialists. A monument to late Qing dynasty aesthetics, as well as to the decadence of the Dowager Empress, the park is a beautiful and interesting historical space. Sites of interest include the main palace area as well as the Marble Boat built for Cixi, and where she would entertain guests. A number of tourist buses head to the Summer Palace from the downtown, but you can also take Beijing Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station and then walk to the gate of the park. A student discount is available, however Beijing ticket sellers don't always grant the discount to holders of a foreign student card or even holders of an ISIC card.
4: Hou Hai and Qian Hai
Hou Hai (meaning back sea) and Qian Hai (meaning front sea) are two lakes in the centre of the old town in the area north of the Forbidden City. Lined with small cafes and restaurants, bars and clubs, this area is a centre for night life in old Beijing. The area has cobblestone streets, willows, and old stone bridges. All businesses are run out of converted old brick buildings. The easiest way to get to the area is to get off at Gulou Station on the 2nd subway line, and walk down Jiu Gulou Street.
3: The Great Wall of China
The most famous monument in China, the Great Wall in Beijing actually consists of several different sections of the Great Wall. The Great Wall at Badaling is the easiest to get to, and the most crowded section. The Great Wall at Simatai, unlike Badaling, is unreconstructed. The Simatai portion is further away from the city, but is purported to be the most spectacular portion of the Great Wall in Beijing. Since it hasn't been repaired, some parts of the wall are more dangerous to climb than others. The Great Wall at Mutianyu is less crowded than Badaling, but easier to get to than Simatai. Portions of Mutianyu were restored with the help from foreign conservationists. Any local tour agency should be able to help you visit the Great Wall. There are also buses leaving for different sections of the Great Wall from Tiananmen Square.
2: The Forbidden City
One of the most awe-inspiring places in China,
Funny Quotations Unforgettable words of eternal hu, the Forbidden City is not to be missed. The complex that makes up the forbidden city really does feel like a separate city,
beijing massage, complete with city walls and gates. Highlights include the Imperial Garden, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Imperial Clock and Porcelain collections. The entrance to the Forbidden City is located right across the street from Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West stations on Line 1 of the subway sit right beside the Forbidden City and the edge of Tiananmen Square. Tickets can be purchased outside the gate. Audio guides are available. Student discounts are only available to Chinese students.
1: Hutongs of Old Beijing
Often overlooked and under-appreciated, the hutongs are the heart of old Beijing life. Hutong roughly translates to alley or neighborhood. Homes built in these hutongs consist of gray brick and tile roofs with wooden doors. The classic residential design of imperial Beijing was the SI He Yuan, which translates to 4 buildings and a courtyard. Since 1949, the Si He Yuans of Beijing were divided among locals. Neighborhoods like these are full of small venders selling traditional snacks, as well as local markets,
beijing escorts, and small dumpling and noodle restaurants. Since the beginning of the rapid transformation of Beijing in the 1990s, fewer and fewer of these neighborhoods remain. As old Beijing is destroyed to make way for the Capital City, the hutongs offer a window to a way of life that is quickly disappearing. Exit stations Ping Anli or Xisi on subway line 4 or exit stations Gulou or Yonghegong on subway line 2.
