Explore the Temples of Beijing with Stunning China | Travel Research Online

Image
Image

Explore the Temples of Beijing with Stunning China

If you are looking for a city bountiful with history, independence, and excitement look no further than Beijing. Beijing has many a popular site to explore, with temples and palaces that will leave any visitor wanting to learn more about the city. Thanks to Stunning China, the supplier sponsor for this article, you won’t have to miss any of what Beijing has to offer.

 

 

60-Second Geography

Beijing, China

Picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture

  • Beijing, located in Northern China, is the capital of the people’s republic of China. Formerly romanized as Peking, Beijing is the most populous capital city in the world and has a history that dates back three millennia. This alluring city has much to offer anyone who pays a visit, from a cuisine all its own to imperial garden surrounded palaces. One of the highlights of Beijing for travelers and residents alike is the Forbidden City. You can find the traditional Chinese palatial palace complex situated in central part of the city. It was once the seat of the Imperial Chinese Dragon Throne from 1420 to 1912, and served as the home emperors and their families. The ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government was also housed on the grounds for over 500 years! The enormous property contains 980 surviving buildings with over 8,000 bays of rooms and is surrounded by city walls. The city, which got its name because you were forbidden entrance without permission from the emperor, is now known as the Palace Museum. Take a guided south-to-north tour of the grounds, but make sure to set aside most of a day if you want to get the full experience.

 

  • Separated but near the Palace is Tiananmen Square, one of the top ten largest city squares in the world. Stroll the streets and spend some time viewing some of the many monuments the square, like the Monument to the People’s Heroes: a ten story obelisk completed in 1958. The Great Hall of the People flanks the Western edge of Tiananmen Square, and provides a great way to spend the afternoon in Beijing. The state building is used for legislative and ceremonial activities, but also often used for events like large anniversary celebrations, or memorial services for former leaders. It is open to the public when not in use. The most exciting attraction found in the square is by far The National Museum of China. It succeeds in its mission to educate about the arts and history of China. Previously two separate museums in the 16 acre building, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History were merged together and as a result the National Museum of China was established. This took place in 2003. More recently was a four year period of renovation that brought 28 new exhibition halls, and more than triple the previous exhibition space. Collections in the museum feature precious artifacts that are not found anywhere else, and contain over one million items! Take a whole day to explore the museum, as it is one of the largest in the world and can pull you in for hours.

 

  • If you tire of the hustle and bustle of life around the area of the Imperial City, take a breather at the Beijing Botanical Garden. Established in 1955, the garden contains 12 exhibitions districts and halls. Examples include a peony garden, a wild fruit resources district, and a tree garden. You can find Buddhist temples throughout the grounds. The Beijing Botanical Garden is a beautiful side of what Beijing has to offer, especially beautiful in the Spring and Fall. Summer Palace is another peaceful, scenic way to escape the crowds. Once an Imperial Garden in the Qing Dynasty, Summer Palace’s make up of lakes, gardens, and palaces is sure not to be missed. One of its most popular features is Longevity Hill, which stands at 200 feet tall. Both sides of the hill offer something different, with one side dappled with rich halls and splendid pavilions. It was declared to be a masterpiece in Chinese garden landscape design, and because of this a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though not a park, another breathtaking site found in the city is the Beijing National Stadium. This iconic structure was built to house the 2008 Summer Olympics as well as Paralympics. Nicknamed “The Bird’s Nest,” Beijing National Stadium is also slated for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is also used for other events, including sports games and recently, for the first time, Monster Jam.

 

  • For a little religious history and beautiful architecture, pay a visit to the Yonghe Temple. Meaning “Palace of Peace and Harmony in Chinese,” and sometimes referred to as the Lama Temple, Yonghe is a monastery for the Gulug School of Tibetan Buddhism. The architecture is worth visiting for alone, as it is a beautiful blend of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. The temple has five halls, all separated by courtyards, that contain many different Buddhist works of art. One of the most notorious and well known of these are the three bronze statues of the three Buddhas of the Ages. These statues are located in The Hall of Harmony and Peace and are flanked along the sides of the hall by 18 arhat statues. Another fantastic work you can find at Yonghe Temple is the sandalwood statue of the Maitreya Buddha, a gift from the seventh Dalai Lama to the Qianlong Emperor. Miaoying Temple is another temple to see when visiting Beijing. This Chinese Buddhist temple also called the “White Stupa Temple” has undergone a handful of renovations. The most recent building dates back to the Ming Dynasty, while the famous white stupa has ties all the way to the Yuan Dynasty.
  • Wouldn’t it be great to visit many different locations without having to leave Beijing? Thanks to Beijing World Park, you can do just that. This theme park tries to give visitors an opportunity to see all over the globe without leaving the city, and features many international landmarks like the Pyramids of Egypt, France’s Arc de Triomphe, and India’s Taj Mahal. The detail and time that went into constructing the over 100 landmarks is worth visiting the park alone. These renditions only take up the scenic half of the park in a naturalistic layout of the globe. The other half providing shopping and dining options, as well as entertainment. Sample cuisine from other countries or take part in cultural activities and immerse yourself in the park’s many details. Happy Valley Beijing, an amusement park, is perfect for someone looking for a little more of a thrill. Divided into six themed areas, there are more than 40 rides in the park. This 40 includes 10 extreme rides, like the Crystal Wing. Beijing may thrill guests with their parks, but one of the most thrilling experiences in Beijing is to visit Badaling, the most visited section of The Great Wall of China. It spans roughly 50 miles, and was also the first section of the wall open to tourists. It is one of the most visited sites Beijing has to offer.

Beijing should be at the top of you travel list, complete with its significant history and scenic views. Make your Beijing travel dreams come true with Stunning China.

Charming China with Stunning China

Click Here!

9 Days Best of China

Visit:
Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou; 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

11 Days Enchanting China

Highlights:
Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Terracotta Army, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an Ancient City Wall, The Bund, Lingering Garden, Grand Canal, West Lake.

15 Days Classic China

Highlights:
Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Terracotta Army, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an Ancient City Wall, The Bund, Lingering Garden, Grand Canal, West Lake, Yangtze River Cruise with Balcony cabin, High-speed train experience, Giant Panda experience.

© Copyright 2017 Travmarket. LLC.

Travel Agents: You can use the content above on your own website or newsletter, compliments of the supplier sponsor above who has paid for your use of the materials. All you need to do is to follow the directions in the TRO Licensing Agreement. Also, please take a moment to check out the travel supplier that makes your use of this material possible. To use – Follow the procedure outlined in the TRO Licensing Agreement. Then, right click on this page and choose “View Source”. Copy the HTML and paste the copied HTML into your own webpages or newsletter. You may remove advertising

Share your thoughts on “Explore the Temples of Beijing with Stunning China”

You must be a registered user and be logged in to post a comment.