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