Sightseeing
............................................................................................................................................

Beijing’s key attractions are listed below, but the city and its surrounds are historically and culturally rich. If time allows, it is worth including the Old Observatory on an itinerary. Established by Kublai Khan, it is now a museum with an extensive collection of Ming and Qing dynasty bronze astronomical instruments. The Beijing Zoo, of course, is the world-famous home of the giant pandas and merits a visit, as does the Marco Polo Bridge in the south west of the city. To the northwest, the 798 Factory art district at Dashanzi is gaining global recognition for its broad portfolio of galleries and art museums. Away from the centre, most visitors go to Badaling to walk on the Great Wall but another section is Mutianyu, to the northeast of the city, which has spectacular views. It is worth including Zhou Kou Dian (Peking Man Site), 48km (30 miles) southwest of Beijing, the site where skulls dating back between 200,000 and 500,000 years were found in 1929. The original fossils were lost during World War II, but there is an interesting museum housing many implements and animal bones from that period.

There is also a 24-hour tourist telephone hotline (tel: (10) 6513 0828) for information and emergencies. Of course, you can always contact China Study Abroad at any time for assistance.

Tiananmen Square

(Tiānān mén) This is the largest square in the world. Built by Mao to impress; his riposte to the Forbidden City, the square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings, and houses Mao's mausoleum at the end opposite the entrance to the Forbidden City. It remains an astounding place and a spot to linger and see visitors from all over China, many visiting their capital for the first time. There is a flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk.

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 0830-1130, plus Wed-Fri 1400-1600 Tue and Thu.
Free admission.

China National Museum
Opening hours: daily 0900-1530.
Admission charge.

Great Hall of the People
Opening hours: 0830-1500, but closed during government meetings.
Admission charge.

Forbidden City

(gugong) Also known as the Palace Museum, The Forbidden City was built in the 15th century and is a vast complex of courtyards, halls, pavilions and gardens, which was home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It now houses a vast collection of priceless relics, including paintings, ancient pottery and bronzes, and is one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city.

Tiananmen Square
Tel: (10) 6513 2255.
Website: www.dpm.org.cn
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1700 (10 Apr-14 Oct); 0830-1630 (15 Oct-31 Mar).
Admission charge.

Temple of Heaven

Just south of Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven (located within Temple of Heaven Park), is China’s largest temple complex, built in the 15th century and used for prayer by the emperor to ask for good harvests. The architecture of the temple is exquisite and the roofs are covered with blue glazed tiles. The grounds of this UNESCO World Heritage Site also contain the Echo Wall, which carries the merest whisper.

Tian Tan Lu (north gate entrance)
Tel: (10) 6702 8866.
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1800; daily 0600-2000 (park).
Admission charge.

Lama Temple

Located in the northeast of the city, the Lama Temple, built in the late 17th century, used to be a centre of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism. Today, there are about 70 monks (or lamas) in residence. The temple consists of a series of halls, connected by courtyards. An impressive 18m (59ft) Maitreya, carved from a single sandalwood tree, stands in the furthermost hall, which is accessible to the public.

Yonghe Gong Dajie
Tel: (10) 6904 4494.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1630.
Admission charge.

Drum Tower and Bell Tower

Every Chinese city once had drum and bell towers that were used to advise citizens of the time of day and announce curfews. The Beijing Drum Tower, in the north of the city, was originally built in the 13th century and reconstructed around 1420 when the Bell Tower was first built. The towers, which are quite different in style, offer good views across Beijing.

Di’an Men Wai Dajie
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace in the northwestern suburbs, was used by the royal court as a retreat to escape from the heat of the city and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former imperial residences are located on the shores of Kunming Lake, which contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse. The Summer Palace is best reached by taxi.

Northwest Suburbs
Tel: (10) 6288 1610.
Opening hours: daily 0630-1800 in summer, 0700-1730 in low season.
Admission charge.

Beihai Park

Beihai Lake covers almost half of the 67-hectare (168-acre) Beihai Park and is a popular place for skating in winter and boating in summer. Qiong Hua Island (Jade Flowering Island), in the southern end of the lake, is reached by an arched marble bridge and is home to a Tibetan Buddhist shrine (the White Dagoba) and the Temple of Eternal Peace.

Wenjin Jie
Opening hours: Daily 0600-2100 (park); daily 0900-1600 (halls and temples).
Admission charge for the park and temples.

Jingshan (Prospect Park)

Located immediately to the north of the Forbidden City, Jingshan contains a hill, known as Coal Hill, which enjoys superb views over the golden rooftops of the imperial buildings. One of the five pavilions on the summit, Wan Chun Ting (Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs), used to be the highest point in the city.

Jingshan Qian Jie
Opening hours: Daily 0600-2130.
Admission charge.