To holiday in Beijing is to enjoy a city of monumental scope and history. Beijing is a great city – literally. Famous Tiananmen Square is big enough to hold one million people, while the Forbidden City is home to just short of ten thousand imperial rooms. And Beijing’s growing. Thanks to the 2008 Olympics, the capital has witnessed more and higher rising towers, new restaurants and see-and-be-seen nightclubs. But at the same time, the city has managed to retain its individual charm. The small tea houses in the backyards, the traditional fabric shops, the old temples and the noisy street restaurants make this city special.
Your visit should include the Tiananmen Square precinct: the historic centre of Beijing, with thousands of visitors’ daily viewing the new cultural centre dubbed “the egg”, Mao’s remains, Great Hall of the People and the Tiananmen Gate, the first bastion of defence of the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City was home to the imperial household and you’ll need time to explore even a small part of the compound. To get the best insights ask your Travel Counsellor to organise a private escorted tour. In the foothills west of Beijing, you’ll find the Summer Palace; a complex of buildings and gardens with superb views of Kunming Lake. Another must-see is the Temple of Heaven; an enormous park hosting several ancient structures, and a haven for locals who congregate to chat, play and practice ballroom dancing and tai chi.
One of the world’s top destinations, the Great Wall is a stunning monument stretching over 5,000km and some pundits say it’s visible from space. The closest place to view the wall is from Badaling, around 70kmfrom Beijing. A better choice is a little further out in the Mutianyu region; it’s not as overrun with tourists, and the view from the top will take your breath away, if the climb up the hill doesn’t.
No visit is complete without sampling the crispy Beijing Duck, but you’ll also find excellent examples of other Chinese regional cuisines. And don’t forget tea time, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony should be on everyone’s list.
Beijing fun facts
Beijing was known as Peking in Imperial China
Beijing is home to five of UNESCO's thirty-five World Cultural Heritage Sites in the People's Republic of China
The Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China and has a wide variety of animals, including the giant panda
Lombok Adventure!
Tuesday 1st April 2008
Travel Counsellor: Jeanette Peace
Let me take you on a little journey to the Island of Lombok, off the south coast of Bali.
I started my journey in Legian, Bali and made my way up the south coast to a small fishing village and port called Padang Bai. This took about 2 hours through some beautiful lush countryside. It is far quieter than other parts of Bali and if not for the port, there would not be much happening here.
The ferries to Lombok are in and out all day and all night. Something is always happening around the port.
I was lucky enough to be there during a festival. All the locals dressed in bright and colourful ceremonial clothing looked wonderful. On their way to the temple to pray they played their drums and bells, sang and talked like one big happy family. It was quite a spectacle!
After a couple of days I was ready for my adventure to Lombok. The ferries to Lombok carry trucks, cars and motor bikes as well as the local people, food and fuel.
The ferries can take between 3 to 5 hours depending on the... view full story
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