Beijing
... is the proud capital of modern China, Beijing and is fast becoming a popular, fashionable tourist destination, complete with high rises, snazzy malls, luxury hotels and the latest cars plying on the streets. It has been inhabited for well over 3,00 years, and has a rich history, culture and architecture. After the years of the cultural revolution, economic activity in China is increasing hand over fist and nowhere more so than Beijing.
Beijing is not only the modern political, cultural and educational centre of China, it has not let go of its rich traditional heritage and proudly displays it to the world. The city holds the largest collection of ancient sites and relics in China. The main tourist attraction is, naturally the Imperial Palaces of the Forbidden City - now known as the Palace Museum - the private Inner Court and the administrative areas of the Outer Court. It's entrance, the Tiananmen Gate - the Gate of Heavenly Peace - is the epitome of imperial architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the Summer Palace, a vast royal park whose landscape, lakes and buildings are designes to ensure that the viewer gets the most out of every viewpoint.
Fantastic as Beijing's cultural heritage is, it is also a modern, thriving city, full of enterprising, energetic people. It would be a pity to deny yourself the pleasure of haggling for a bargain in one of the markets, such as the Pan Jia Yuan flea market or Hon Qiao where you can buy silk, pearls, turquoise and coral.
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