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