Top Tourist Spots in Beijing, China

All year round, a lot of tourists from different parts of the world visit China to see the beautiful city of Beijing. No wonder Beijing has always been on the top list of the most visited places in the world. The capital of China, Beijing is regarded as a fast changing metropolitan city of old and new.

You will not have a hard time looking for something to do in Beijing because this sleepless city always has something exciting to offer. There are many historic sites and tourist spots in Beijing, China. Some of these places are a bit further from one another and some are just within walking distance. So it would be best if you plan ahead your tour so you can make the most out of it. If you are going to visit Beijing in just a short period time, make sure that you take time to visit the leading tourist attractions.

Three of the top tourist spots in Beijing, China are the Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, and Tiananmen Square.

Forbidden City. (Photo above) The Forbidden City is so beautiful that it is considered as the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world and with 9,999 rooms in flourishing period, it is also the largest. The Palace Museum has a collection of art pieces including bronzeware, ceramics, jade, timepieces, palace artifacts and paintings. These precious art pieces can be traced way back during the Qing Imperial Dynasty (1644-1912).

Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China on the other hand will not be on the list of the "Eight Wonders of the World” for nothing. The extent of this immense wall reached five provinces starting at Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west which according to comprehensive survey, reaches a length of 8,850 kilometers or 5,500 miles.

The experience you may get from visiting the Great Wall of China may vary with seasons. During spring, you'll witness a lush green scenery while during summer, you'll enjoy the colorful flowers and leaves covering the mountains. The fall season is the best time to visit the Great Wall of China because of the pleasant weather and the awesome view of the mountains. You may also opt to visit during the winter where you can enjoy the amazing snowy scene however, tourists are fewer during this time of the year because of the very cold weather.

Tiananmen Square. When you visit the huge courtyard of Tiananmen Square, you can also go to the nearby important structures like Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Tower, National Museum, and Monument to the People’s Heroes.

The Mao Zedong Memorial Hall is located on the south side of the Square. The body of Chairman Mao, founding father of the People's Republic of China, lies on one of the three halls, inside a crystal coffin and surrounded by flowers and grasses.

The Great Hall of the People is located on the west side of the Square. The China National People's Congress meetings were held in this structure, which was built in 1959. The Great Hall of the People is composed of three parts namely, the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and the Banqueting Hall.

The Tiananmen Tower is located at the north end of the Square. This structure was built way back in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty.

The other top tourist spots in Beijing China include Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, and Beijing Capital Museum.