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China
Travel Guide
Begin
In Beijing - Beijing Travel Information
Chongqing
Museum invites you to experience 360-degree "mountain forest city"
Dongguan
Information
Hangzhou
Travel - The "City of Heaven"
Hong
Kong Shopping - What are the best buys?
Nanjing
travel info for your China vacations - 2 days in Nanjing
National
Stone Museum – A Collection of Fascinating Stones in Wuhan
Shanghai
Sightseeing, a perfect holiday destination
Study
in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Tianjin
City - Embrace the Journey and the Adventure
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Attractions in Shenyang – A vibrant mixture of history, culture, nature
and entertainment
Yangtze
River Tours
Your
China Travel Guide: How to discover the wonders of China
Begin
In Beijing - Beijing Travel Information by John Binder
 The
best way to kick off your Asian travels is in China's progressive and even
tragically hip capital city of Beijing. Traditional relics like the Tiananmen
gate stand juxtaposed against the imposing modernist architecture of recent
history, most notable in the Dashanzi Art District. The People's Republic
of China has its financial industries mainly in Shanghai and Hong Kong,
but Beijing remains the nation's true cultural and political center.
Orange County Meets Ming
Dynasty in Beijing
When many travelers think
of Beijing, they imagine the dictatorial atmosphere of Mao Zedong or television
images of protesting citizens; however, Beijing has a tremendous history
beginning as early as the 1st century BCE and has persevered through Kublai
Kahn's Mongols, Japanese invasion, and the Communist Civil War victory
in 1949.
 The
Forbidden City is a fascinating journey through 500 years of Imperial secrecy.
The head of state no longer resides here and the beautiful buildings and
breathtaking gardens are open to the public year-round. The entrance to
the Forbidden City is the infamous Tiananmen Square and gate, protected
by four formidable marble lions. Nearby, the Temple of Heaven is another
sublime representation of an era of dynasties and royal architecture. With
airfare to Beijing, you also have the extra opportunity to see the Great
Wall of China, which is only one and a half hours away by bus.
Although there are hundreds
of historical sites in Beijing, the rapidly sprawling metropolis is also
overflowing with contemporary wonders and luxuries. The National Zoo houses
the largest inland aquarium in the world as well as China's famous pandas.
Next to the Imperial Palace, the Wan Fung Art Gallery provides insight
into the artistic transition from regal and traditional to cutting edge
contemporary. Most interestingly, the suburban sprawl has witnessed the
creation of a $60 million American-inspired community called Orange County,
complete with town homes and tract housing.
 Chinese
Cultural Centrifuge in Beijing
Experience two cultural traditions
in one at the Laoshe Tea House where you will be both charmed by Chinese
opera and soothed by a variety of traditional teas. For world-class shopping
in Beijing, visit Wangfujing, or you can find your way into the many enchanting
smaller districts for traditional Chinese shops and boutiques. Beijing
is also home to several notable temples like the Miaoying, and even a mosque
that was built in 996.
With such dynamic experiences
to offer and the immaculate preservation of its past, Beijing is truly
an international city.
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