Beijing Tours & Day Trips
Beijing surely is a city of China’s past, present, and future – and for me, of all cities, it embodies the quixotic romance of ancient China. Beijing has a history of warlords and revolution, architectural antiquities, the old-world charm of Hutong neighborhoods that contrast with newer, tree-lined boulevards full of mirrored skyscrapers, glitzy shopping malls, and towering apartment buildings. All reminders that Beijing (as well as China) is changing. In this city of old and new, I find the allure of Beijing not in the city it’s becoming, but in the city it once was – here are my recommendations for exploring ‘old Beijing’.
Wander through the Hutong Neighborhoods
Hutong are the winding and narrow ‘old streets’ that crisscross Beijing from east to west, originally built in the Mongol Yuan dynasty, after Genghis Khan’s army sacked the city. The maze-like alleyways are lined with courtyard homes, where life is lived in the communal style I find to be one of China’s most distinguishing (and uniting) traditions. Hutongs represent a great way to experience Chinese cultural history, yet the number of these neighborhoods, unfortunately, has dropped dramatically in recent years, as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings – especially with the 2008 Olympics in sight. You can explore the Hutong on a guided tour. Walking or bicycling on your own is also a great way to delve into the historic neighborhoods. Hutong can be found in various areas of Beijing – and while it’s easy to get lost in the twisting alleyways, finding your way out is part of the fun.
Visit Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square dates back to 1417 and holds great significance for pivotal historical events that happened here, the most recent being the protests of 1989. Tiananmen Square is also the site of the Mao Mausoleum, where large numbers of Chinese tourists donned in red and black come to pay respects to the late dictator, whose preserved body is on display. While the queue looks like an eternal wait, the line moves swiftly and entrance is free. Ironically, the figure of Mao in the kitschy wax museum in the National Museum, located on the square’s eastern edge, affords a better view of the man.
Located adjacent to the Forbidden City, the square is lined with important government buildings and since 2004 has been the home of a giant clock that counts the days, hours, minutes, and seconds to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics.
Explore the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City – it’s over 1,800,000 square km of gardens, palaces, and halls full of relics that whisper of a long and stormy past. The Forbidden City dates back to 1406 and represents the tumultuous history of China’s warlords, invaders, dynastic history, and more modern day revolutions.
Over the years the Forbidden City was invaded, burned down, reconstructed, and occupied by a number of ruling parties, including the British during the second Opium War in 1860. Having been the imperial palace for five centuries, and home of 24 emperors, it became the Palace Museum in 1924, and the mysteries of its buildings within were opened to the public for the first time in 500 years. Today, one might say the Forbidden City faces its final battle, commercialization – a Starbucks located inside is a sign of the times.
You can hire an English-speaking guide to tour the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Self-guided tours are also available.
Walk the Great Wall
Although it’s a myth that the Great Wall can be seen from the moon, it’s easy to believe it when you gaze at the length of it, watching it disappear into the horizon. Located on the southern edge of the Mongolian Plain and several hours from Beijing, a hike along the Great Wall offers sweeping views of grasslands, plateaus, and mountains along the ridge of jagged mountains – just be prepared for the steep slopes and massive steps. Walking the Great Wall is a bit of a workout.
The wall has been dubbed “The Long Graveyard” and “The Longest Cemetery on Earth” for the numbers of workers who died during construction. Built between the 5th century BC and the beginning of the 17th century (although dates vary wildly depending on who you ask), the wall served to protect China from raids by Mongols and Turkic tribes. It stretches along the northern border of China, over 6,000 km from east to west, and spans nine provinces.
Many people a tour to the Great Wall at Badaling on a day trip from Beijing. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, there are also several segments of the wall that see a smaller number of visitors, such as the 10km stretch between Jinshanling and Simatai (it’s possible to get here via public bus).
Be sure to browse Viator’s complete list of suggested itineraries in China, Beijing tours and day trips, and tours of the Great Wall.
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January 18th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Rumor has it they might close the Forbidden City Starbucks — its come under a lot of criticism for being so close to such an important cultural landmark. There’s a recent AP story about it since an anchor for China Central Television has been very vocal about calling for its closure.