Beijing is not only the capital of China for more than 800 years, but also one of the most important economic, political and cultural symbols of the country. That’s why once you arrive here, you will find yourself not only in a huge, impressive city with more than 25 million inhabitants including the suburbs, but also in a place that blends history and tradition with modernity in a unique way.
Beijing is home to both China’s major political and state-owned enterprises at the same time. In Shanghai you will find a lot of foreign companies as well as many expats, a sign that communism can coexist together with capitalism in some cases.
From a tourist point of view, Beijing is a very generous city, offering 7 tourist attractions listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are a lot of things to check out on a vacation in Beijing, and in today’s article we’ve put together a list of what we consider to be the most important attractions.
Forbidden City
The “Forbidden City” was built by the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century and is a magnificent imperial palace spanning more than 720,000 square meters. Throughout history, at least 24 kings from the Ming and Qing families lived here.
The Forbidden City is surrounded by 10 meters high walls, protected by tall towers in the corners and a 50-meter trench guarding the emperor’s residence in the event of an attack. Inside the imperial complex, we can find a central area used for ceremonies.
Among the points of interest here are the five bridges decorated with white marble, the 35m high Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the golden throne of the Chinese emperor. Here you will also find the Palace Museum, a site visited by 14.5 million tourists annually, making this museum the most visited art museum in the world.
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is the largest market in the world, being able to host over one million people on various occasions. The gate is 66 meters long and 37 meters wide. Because it is strategically located at the entrance to the imperial city, the site is used in various state celebrations but has also witnessed many protests throughout history.
In addition, the Tiananmen Square has witnessed numerous attacks since its opening in 1420. In 1457 it was completely burnt and had to be rebuilt. In 1644 it was destroyed by the rebels, and in 1969 it was secretly decided that the square should be rebuilt, with the country’s leaders at the time considering that it had been damaged throughout history and was no longer seen as a status symbol of China.
Tiantan – Temple of Heaven
Tiantan is a very famous sacred temple complex. The temples have been built since 1406 in an area covered with lush vegetation which stretches over 2.73 square km. Here we can find three large religious complexes:
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests – A circular building with a 36-meter diameter and a length of 38 meters, built on three levels of marble stone base. The construction was completed entirely using wood, with no nails, according to Chinese tradition.
Imperial Vault of Heaven – Here you will have the opportunity to see or hear the Echo wall, which surrounds the Imperial Vault of Heaven and can transmit sounds over long distances, even if you merely whisper – thanks to the special way the building was designed.
Circular Mound Altar – located in the south of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, where the emperor prayed for good weather.
Temple of Lama
The temple, which was completed in 1745, was built mainly for religious purposes, offering Tibetan Buddhism accommodation in the Chinese capital after the Chinese annexed Tibet.
Inside the complex you will find the Hall of Celestial Kings (Tian Wang Dian), the Falun Dian and Wangfu Ge, where you can enjoy seeing the statues and worship rituals of Buddha or other Buddhist protectors throughout history.
Temple of Confucius
The temple of Confucius in Beijing is one of the temples built in China to honor the most famous Chinese philosopher of all time, whose legacy still remains extremely important and relevant after his death in 479 BC.
Beijing National Stadium – Bird’s Nest
Built for a significant price, the Bird’s Nest hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 then it became the venue to host many concerts, sports competitions and football games.
Of course, traveling to Beijing involves some financial costs, but on the other hand, what the city can offer you from an architectural, cultural and civic point of view surpasses any experience you can get in other parts of the world.
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