Begin in Beijing - Beijing Travel Information

The best way to kick off your Asian travels is inAlthough there are hundreds of historical sites in
China's progressive and even tragically hip capital cityBeijing, the rapidly sprawling metropolis is also
of Beijing. Traditional relics like the Tiananmen gateoverflowing with contemporary wonders and luxuries.
stand juxtaposed against the imposing modernistThe National Zoo houses the largest inland aquarium
architecture of recent history, most notable in thein the world as well as China's famous pandas. Next
Dashanzi Art District. The People's Republic of Chinato the Imperial Palace, the Wan Fung Art Gallery
has its financial industries mainly in Shanghai and Hongprovides insight into the artistic transition from regal
Kong, but Beijing remains the nation's true cultural andand traditional to cutting edge contemporary. Most
political center.interestingly, the suburban sprawl has witnessed the
Orange County Meets Ming Dynasty in Beijingcreation of a $60 million American-inspired community
When many travelers think of Beijing, they imaginecalled Orange County, complete with town homes
the dictatorial atmosphere of Mao Zedong orand tract housing.
television images of protesting citizens; however,Chinese Cultural Centrifuge in Beijing
Beijing has a tremendous history beginning as early asExperience two cultural traditions in one at the
the 1st century BCE and has persevered throughLaoshe Tea House where you will be both charmed
Kublai Kahn's Mongols, Japanese invasion, and theby Chinese opera and soothed by a variety of
Communist Civil War victory in 1949.traditional teas. For world-class shopping in Beijing,
The Forbidden City is a fascinating journey throughvisit Wangfujing, or you can find your way into the
500 years of Imperial secrecy. The head of state nomany enchanting smaller districts for traditional
longer resides here and the beautiful buildings andChinese shops and boutiques. Beijing is also home to
breathtaking gardens are open to the publicseveral notable temples like the Miaoying, and even a
year-round. The entrance to the Forbidden City is themosque that was built in 996.
infamous Tiananmen Square and gate, protected byWith such dynamic experiences to offer and the
four formidable marble lions. Nearby, the Temple ofimmaculate preservation of its past, Beijing is truly an
Heaven is another sublime representation of an erainternational city and there's no wonder the
of dynasties and royal architecture. With airfare tocosmopolis has been chosen for the Olympics. Get
Beijing, you also have the extra opportunity to seeyour airfare to Beijing now or wait for the 2008
the Great Wall of China, which is only one and a halfSummer Olympics in Beijing.
hours away by bus.