Beijing is the China’s capital city, as well as its political, cultural, economic and educational centre. Rich in its history, Beijing has been populated for over 3000 years and being the capital through the 800 years of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The Forbidden City or Gu Gong is the worlds greatest and best preserved imperial palace complex in the world. Located at the Beijing center it was the residence of the many emperors of those times.
The forbidden City is divided in two parts – the Outer Court, where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation, and the Inner Court, where the royal family lived.
Also being a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Palace Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The yellow color was the main color of the royal family so it prevails in the architecture and decorations of roofs, tiles and brick paths. The only exception is the royal library – Wenyuange which has a black roof symbolizing water and was believed to be able to extinguish fire.
Some 15km (9.3mi) from central Beijing is the Summer Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage site which is the largest and best preserved royal park. It is a magnificent Chinese garden with graceful landscapes and ancient art which provided rest and entertainment to the royal families.
Covering 294ha (727 acres), three quarters of which is water, landscape artists designed it to maximize viewpoints to over 3000 structures – pavilions, towers and bridges, from every angle.
The Temple of Heaven is larger than the Forbidden City, but smaller than the Summer Palace and was built to offer sacrifice to Heaven. It’s northern part is semicircular symbolizing the heavens, and the southern is square symbolizing the earth. Not only is it magnificent architecturally, but is also known for its great acoustics. The Echo Wall has a perimeter of 193m (633ft) so if you whisper facing the vault wall, you will be heard on the opposite side!
WHAT ARE THEY China’s most elaborate Imperial Palaces
WHAT TO SEE Stunning architecture, landscapes and rich historic content
WHEN TO VISIT Autumn is the best time
WHAT TO KNOW Be sure to get an English-speaking guide as the locals do not speak English and getting around can be tricky.
