Destination Guide to Beijing, China

Beijing, the capital of the Peoples' Republic of China (the PRC) is home to approximately 22 million people. Peking, as it is also known, is a veritable melting pot of culture, religion, dialect and history and is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The popularity of Beijing was enhanced during their hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.

There have been cities in the area of Beijing as far back as 1000 BC and, as such, it is the most historical cities in the world. In fact, it is so old, the first written record of people living in the area can be found as cave paintings in Dragon Bone Hill, almost a quarter of a million years ago. It has been home to such famous dynasties as the Yuan Dynasty (led by Kublai Khan), the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty.

Surprisingly, Beijing is also a cheap place to visit with many cheap hotels in Beijing. However, the life in Beijing is so busy that you may as well save your money on accommodation because you’ll be spending most of your time out and about.

One of the most famous landmarks of Chine is, of course, the Great Wall of China and no visit to China is complete without a visit to the wall. There are many day trips or overnight stays to the wall that the visitor can take advantage of.

Because of the great number of people in the city, cycling is a very popular means to get around in the city. A bicycle or scooter tour is also a great way to explore the city. So hop on your bike and visit such great historical and impressive sites such as the Forbidden City – home to the Ming and Qing emperors and the former imperial gardens of Shichahai, Jingshan, Beihai and others. You must also visit Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China, and the Great Hall of the People, the Summer Place, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and so much more. There are also many religious places of consequence in the city. The Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for very good reason.

Suffice to say, Beijing is huge city and well worth exploring if you have the time.

The time of the year is also very important when visiting Beijing. There are many memorable festivals which are fantastic to see. In April, one can witness the colourful International Kite Festival, in June it’s the turn of the Dragon Boat Festival but, the biggest festival to witness is the Chinese New Year in February.

Beijing is also a very important trade hub in Asia and visitors to the city also include businessmen, politicians, celebrities and well knows members of the fashion and music industries.

The cuisine of Beijing may not suit the palate of most Western visitors but the food is well worth trying. So, take a break from your traditional Western restaurants and try some of the local delicacies. One of the most famous dishes in Beijing is Beijing Roast Duck and many visitors decide to stay in cheap hotels in Beijing so as to partake of this dish every night.

But, don’t limit yourself to just this one dish – as hard as that might be. One must also try the Imperial Court Food. There are also the street vendors who sell literally anything. Whilst the risk of eating the food from these vendors may be worth it, be very careful about what you put in your mouth!