Great Wall

Great Wall is one of the architectures that can be seen from outer space. During Warring State period ( 475 BC to 221BC), seven kingdoms in China built walls to defend on each other. There are still several sections built by Qi Kingdom in existence in Shandong Province. In 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified 6 kingdoms as a whole country. He pulled down the former defending walls of former 6 nations on one hand and on the other hand, he named General Meng Tian gathering millions of people to build a new great wall, in order to prevent the Huns, an ancient nomad tribes living in north of China.

Forbidden City

Forbidden City was the imperial palace for 24 emperors in Ming and Qing dynasty from 1421 to 1911. Forbidden City is also called Purple Forbidden City. While traveling in the big yard enclosured by a 10 meter high city wall, you cannot see anything in purple. However, because the emperor believed that the North Star was the center of cosmos, and the color of North Star is purple.

Temple of Heaven

The paragon of Ming design, the main hall of the Temple of Heaven has come to symbolize Beijing. Located in the southeast of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven used to be Heavenly-worshipping altar for emperors during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle. It was originally called the Temple of Heaven and Earth, since both Heaven and Earth were worshiped together.

Summer Palace

Summer Palace, located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, is the best-preserved imperial garden in the world and the largest of its kind in extant in China today. In the past, royalty took refuge here from the insufferable summer heat that roasted the Forbidden City.The site had long been a royal garden and was considerably enlarged and embellished by in the 18th century.

Thirteen Ming Tombs

Everyone will pass away, of course no exception of emperors. However, the death of the royal family is much more mysterious. Nearly 31 miles northwest away from Beijing downtown, the Ming Tomb complex possess the most harmonious mountain and river views. Construction of the necropolis spanned more than two hundred years, almost throughout the entire Ming Dynasty: The first tomb was built in 1409, and the last one in 1644. Altogether, there are 13 emperors buried and it also has a name called “Thirteen Ming Tombs”.

Qianmen Gate Avenue

Qianmen means the front gate. Since it is the only formal gate in front of the Forbidden City, people call it Qianmen Gate more frequently rather than its original name “Zhengyang Gate”. From the general officials to the highness emperor, Qianmen Gate was the only pass to go in and out of the royal city. Officials from other cities coming for civil business and literators coming for national examination would like to accommodate here. Besides, in Ming and Qing dynasty, no theatre or whorehouses were allowed to open in the royal Forbidden City.

National Stadium:Bird Nest

National Stadium is located in the Olympic Green, which is at the north end of the historic north/south axis of Beijing. It is designed to host the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics as well as the athletics and football. After the Olympic Games it will be transformed to public playground for open-air concert hall, civic parks and so on.

National Aquatic Center:Water Cube

The National Aquatic Center is located by Beijing's North Fourth Ring Road. During the 2008 Olympic Games, athletes around the world will gather here competing for 42 gold medals in swimming, diving and synchronized swimming and after that it will be converted into a multi-functional facility for sports, culture and recreation, featuring a "water setting" for members of society.

Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing

Usually, the Drum Tower and Bell Tower were built together for time reporting. In ancient China, there were two kinds of Drum Tower and Bell Tower. One was built in the royal palace, and the other in central city, most of which were two-floor architectures. It was in Sui dynasty (581-618) that people began to build these towers in the palace, which were also using for grand ceremonies.

Lama Temple

The Lama Temple is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet: beautiful rooftops, stunning frescos, magnificent decorative arches, tapestries, incredible carpentry and a great pair of Chinese lions. It is located next to the northeast corner of the second ring road, convenient to reach by subway or bus.It is also called Yonghe Palace in Chinese, which means the palace of harmony and peace, since it was originally a prince’s mansion during the Qing Dynasty.

Beijing Botanical Garden

Beijing Botanical Garden, lying at the foot of West Hill of Beijing, has by tradition been engaged in the conservation of the native flora. It was founded in 1956 with financial support from central government and became well-known largely for the fact that the last emperor Pu Yi used to work here as a gardener.

Confucius Temple and Imperial College

To the opposite of Lama Temple on the 2nd ring road in Beijing, there is the imperial college street. Confucius Temple and Imperial College locate here. The street came into being and known as imperial academy early in Yuan dynasty (1206--1370). In Ming dynasty (1368---1662), it was affiliated to Chongjiaofang (learning school) including Confucius Temple and Imperial College. In Qing dynasty (1644---1911), the name of Confucius Temple and Imperial College came into use.

National Grand Theater

National Grand Theater is located in the heart of Beijing, neighboring the Great Hall of People on its east and the Forbidden City on its north. The plan of the construction of a national theatre was originally set in the 1950s, but failed due to financial shortage. At the point of new epoch, the plan was once again placed on the agenda and the construction was finally completed in Dec, 2007, marking another pioneering architectural masterpiece in Beijing.

CCTV New Building

CCTV New Building, near the east third ring road, is located in the CBD of Beijing, which symbolizes the openness and economic strength of modern Beijing. CCTV, shorted for China Central Television, is the national TV net work of China. The construction of CCTV New Building is based on the design of Pritzker Prize winner Rem Koolhaas of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture of the Netherlands. Koolhaas is widely regarded as a true “post-modern” architect challenging old beliefs and no exception this time.

Peking University

Peking University or Beijing University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China, which was established in 1898 as the Imperial Capital University. At that time, it worked not only as the first national comprehensive university but also as the highest educational administration. In 1912, following the 1911 Democratic Revolution, the Imperial Capital University was renamed the National Peking University.

The City Wall of Ming Dynasty in Beijing

Being ancient capital for centuries, Beijing is rich in historic heritages, including the relics of the city wall built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1944). According to traditional Chinese urban planning, a city should be enclosed by city walls, which worked as solid defense with city gates opened at certain points along the wall.

Wangfujing Pedestrian Shopping Street

Like Paris has Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Beijing has Wangfujing Pedestrian Shopping Street. Various kinds of department stores along the street record the development of Beijing people’s consumption at different times. It has a long history originating from Yuan Dynasty, when there gathered a dozen of royal mansions and a well, hence the Chinese name Wangfujing.

Z-Park

As the US has Silicon Valley, China has Zhongguancun Science Park, shorted for Z-Park, which is the leading experimental zone of China’s reform in economy, science-technology and education. Dating back to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the present site of Z-Park, located in the northwest of Beijing, was once cemetery to eunuch; hence the Chinese name Zhongguan, which means eunuchs.

Tiananmen Square

Located in the centre of Beijing city, Tiananmen Square is the biggest city square in the world. From the southern end Zhengyang Gate to the northern end Tiananmen Gate, there are 880 meters’ long, and 500 meters’ wide from the east to west. It can hold 1 million people to gather for grand ceremony.