China Itineraries
Beijing
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Asian cities, and particularly Asian capitals, are wonderfully fascinating. The continent's love affair with technology is evident in every city you go to, yet they all manage to maintain many of the characteristics which make them some of the most historical cities on the planet. Beijing is no different.
Day 2 - The Great Wall
Would you visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower? Of course not. New York without gracing Times Square with your presence - preposterous idea! Beijing's 'must-see' is the Great Wall which lies just north of this imperial city. Also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1987), even though it extends over thousands of miles throughout China, it is said that the best preserved sections of the wall are close to Beijing.
The section which is closest to Beijing is known as Badaling. Due to its proximity to the Chinese capital it is the busiest section of the 3,000 long wall (it is the only manmade structure visible from space) but the views from atop are every bit as breathtaking as at some of the more remote parts.
Various tour companies operate day tours from Beijing to Badaling, but if you really wish to visit more remote parts of the Great Wall, you can also visit Mutianyu, a part of the wall which requires more energy for the walk, or Simatai which is 100km from Beijing but far less crowded. Check with tour operators and shop around.
Day 3 - Shopping and teahouses
To see a more modern side of Beijing Wangfujing Street just east of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City is the city's flagship shopping street and, even though many of the shops goods are quite expensive, it is worth visiting just for the atmosphere. Beware of students trying to coax you to their studios to show you their artwork - they are very persistent and leaving without buying something from them is very difficult. Just the other side of the Forbidden City is the Xidan area, also packed with a horde of shops, department stores and restaurants also.
If you are looking to actually spend some money but don't want to burn too big a hole in your pocket in the process, Sanlitun Street has some small clothes stalls and some selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs also.
One of the more interesting aspects of Beijing's nightlife are the city's teahouses, which are actually traditional theatres. Staging performances such as magic shows and story-telling, attend one and you will experience the more cultured side to the city.