Top 5 Beijing Attractions
City: Beijing
State: Beijing Municipality
Country: China
For 3 millenia, Beijing has been the seat of power of China, functioning as its political, educational, and cultural centre. As such, Beijing is rich in history, and the 8 inner districts of the city is where the majority of attractions are located. Besides being the capital of China, Beijing is also the most heavily populated city in the world.
Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Beijing, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.
1. Forbidden City
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The Forbidden City houses the Palace Museum, and is bordered by Tiananmen Square and Tiananmen Gate, the Bell And Drum Towers and Jingshan Park. Located at the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City served as China seat of government for centuries, and as the home of the Emperor. There is heavy symbolism in the Forbidden City, from the towers to the buildings, to the layout and even the colours all were chosen for their representation or meaning attached to them.
2. Great Wall
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The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications originally built to protect China from invaders, and contary to popular belief, cannot be viewed from space, although it can be seen from low Earth orbit. The most famous section of the Great Wall of China in Beijing is Badaling / Ba Da Ling, which is also the most heavily visited. For a less crowded spot, the Shanhaiguan / Shan Hai Guan section is unique in that it's the beginning of the Great Wall, with the Laolongtou / Lao Long Tou / Old Dragon's Head carving. But the most scenic and dramatic view of the Great Wall would have to be Simatai / Si Ma Tai, with its plunging cliffs and jagged ridges.
3. National Museum Of China
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The National Museum Of China in Beijing traces almost 1.7 million years of China history, with a vast collection of over 1,050,000 artifacts spanning 48 exhibition halls. The artifacts in the National Museum Of China are arranged thematically, ranging from paintings, to sculptures, to furniture, to traditional costumes, to coins and more. Also nearby is the Great Hall Of The People.
4. Summar Palace
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Otherwise known as the Garden Of Nurtured Harmony, the Summar Palace is a vast area in Beijing, encompassing lakes, gardens, palaces, pavilions, halls, Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The front of the Summar Palace contains most of the Imperial buildings of ancient China, while the back of the Summar Palace is a beautifully landscaped marvel of tranquility.
5. National Stadium
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Fondly known as 'The Bird's Nest' for its unique architectural design, the Beijing National Stadium was originally constructed for the 2008 summer Olympics and Paralympics held in China. Since then, the Beijing National Stadium has been refurbished as not only a sporting complex, but is also an entertainment and events complex and a shopping hub. Part of it has also been converted into an amusement park.
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