3 Days in Beijing - What to See Beyond the Games

On August 8, 2008 the 2008 Olympic Games will officially begin in Beijing, the capital city of China. The city of Beijing is rich in culture and history. 3 dynasties have ruled China from Beijing. Visitors paying a call on the city for the first time will want to see a few of the sites in and around the Olympic Games. The following sites can all be seen in 3 days or less. While the culture can only be sampled in this time, it's important to make those samples memorable.

Beijing Cruise Tour

Cruise tours are available on the Yangtze River. The 3rd longest river in the world (after the Nile and the Amazon rivers), the Yangtze River is considered the dividing line between northern and southern China. Cruises along the river feature landmarks including the Great Wall and more.

The Forbidden City

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City was China's Imperial Palace for centuries. It was built in 1406 and completed in 1420. The Imperial Palace housed the Emperor and his household. Commoners could not enter the Forbidden City and it was the center of the political and ceremonial government. There are 980 buildings present within the surviving complex and over 8,000 rooms. In 1924, the Forbidden City was put into the charge of the Palace Museum. Visitors can see the collections of artifacts and artistry of the Qing and Ming dynasties.

Summer Palace

The archetype of Chinese gardens, the Summer Palace is considered among one of the most classical gardens in the world. The palace was constructed during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) and was extended by succeeding generations. During the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911) it was the royal family's escape for rest and relaxation. Within the Summer Palace, visitors will discover Jade Spring Mountain, Fragrant Hill, Garden of Everlasting Spring and Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is located in the center of Beijing; he mixture of ancient and modern history makes Tiananmen Square a must visit location. A center for student protests in 1989, Tiananmen Square features Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Tiananmen Tower was used traditionally for ceremony crowning the Emperor and the Empress.

The Great Wall of China

Originally built as a fortification to keep out the invading hordes, the Great Wall is one of the most enduring symbols of Chinese civilization. The Badaling Great Wall is located just over 40 miles north of Beijing. This section of the wall is the most preserved of the Great Wall and stretches like a great dragon along the mountain ranges.

Ming Tombs

Not far from the Badaling Great Wall are the Ming Tombs. While only two of them are open to the public, the Ming Tombs are the mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty's 13 emperors. The area is considered a rich historical and cultural treasure of the nation. The most magnificent of the tombs was the Changling dedicated for Emperor Zhu Di and his empress wives. Changling is open for visitors to tour.

There is so much to see and do at the Olympics, but these sites are all doable in 3 days or less. So take the time to explore the Beijing of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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