Top 3 Stunning Villages Around Beijing

Beijing which is the capital of China has a lot of historical and cultural destinations to visit. Besides all of that, located near from Beijing, there also offer ancient and artistic villages around where visitors could enjoy stunning and amazing landscapes around. There are three top village descriptions below:

1.       Hancunhe Village

It is a modern village which located 40 kilometers southwest away from Beijing. Once poor village, the now turned into one modern village. Visitor could find such facilities like park, department store, hotel, swimming pool, cinema, travel agency, post office, hospital and education center. Many people facilities were also built very modern with advance and good qualities.

Beautiful flowers and trees are planted everywhere, all the villager villa-type houses in both traditional Chinese and European architectural style. They turned the undeveloped village into a beautiful metropolitan garden. It's also an ideal place to buy really fresh vegetables. 

Chatting and talking with some locals will also be a fun and unusually thing to do to get closer to many locals in China. Visit the museum of development of the village will let visitors know about history of the village. 

2.       Zhuishikou Village

 

The other famous village called Zhuishihou Village located close to Tailing, one of the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing. It is located 50 kms north of Beijing city and surrounded by the hills with a stream in front of its entrance. Zhuishikou village is one of the 30 villages under Changling Township in Changping District. There are 140 households in the village with about 450 villagers.

Visitors could breathe some fresh air, enjoy calm and peaceful village far from the city. Visit some local residents and have a chit chat to know better about local culture, life style and habits of the village life in Beijing. 

3.       Chuandixia Ancient Village

 

Chuandixia Ancient Village located in the west area of Mentougou District, 90 kilometers west of downtown Beijing. It is an ancient mountain village with peaceful tranquilities, characteristic architecture and natural beauty. It is home to 500 well preserved courtyard homes dating to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Many of these homes have been converted into inns offering food and lodging to travelers.

Chuandixia Ancient Village has unique scenery and still stands in a quiet valley with little temples, mountain paths and numerous family-owned inns and restaurants. Visitors could climb up in to the hills surround the village and see the beautiful view of the village with delightful little temples. Because of its beauty, the village also has become a famous object for painters and photographers.

Beijing Villages are highly recommended for the walk with blue skies, authentic local cuisine, fresh air. It has become suitable place to escape from the crowd and busy city.

Top 5 Section of Great Wall in China

Walking to the Great Wall will be an incredible experience and an opportunity to seek on Chinese history, unbeatable ancient architecture and fabulous mountain scenery. Here 5 top sections of Great Wall that will be the highlights on China vacation. 

1.       Badaling Great Wall

Badaling is a first section of the Wall that opened to the public. It is also the closest Great Wall section from Beijing as well as the busiest one. Located in Yanqing County, 60 kilometers northwest of Beijing, visitors could reach Badaling only about one hour.

At past, Badaling was used as the important military defensive structure from the enemy and transmit military message to the emperor. Once, they got the message, the whole country will ready to war. Because that reason, in every 2 till 5 kilometres in Badaling was built a beacon tower to give the quick signal to the whole country.

The beauty of the Wall reflected greatness and powerful where located around the mountain. Have a bird eye view on Badaling, it will look likes a big dragon stretched along the mountains. 

2.       Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the favorite sections for the hikers. Some part of Mutianyu offer some steep high steps where hikers could exercise their skills. Has known become most favorite section among tourists, Mutianyu located 70 kilometres northeast of central Beijing in Huairou District. Surround by vegetation areas around, Mutianyu offer stunning beauty landscapes in every season.

A cable car and toboggan ride will facilitate visitors to explore to Wall more convenient and fun. Mutianyu Great Wall will be a challenging one!  

3.       Jinshanling Great Wall 

 Jinshanling has 10.5 kilometres long starts from the Wangjinglou Tower in the east and ends at Longyukou in the west. Become one of the dangerous and can be said an original one, Jinshanling offer challenging trek of hiking. Keep it original looks after over hundreds years ago, the steps are rather steep and rocky with loose stones at time.

Today, Jinshanling attract more hikers hoping to exercise. Arrive at Jinshanling, do not miss reach Simatai in few hours hiking. 

4.       Huanghuacheng Great Wall 

Huanghuacheng located in a village in Jiuduhe, Huairou District, about 65 kilometers (40.39 miles) from Beijing. This section is also become one and the only section of the Wall which located surround by the beautiful and unique view of lake and mountains.  

Lately, Huanghuacheng is popular for its hiking activities, it offer the steep paths and its original construction. Challenging hiking the Wall as well as enjoy the best view of the beauty of mountains and lake around the Wall.  

5.       Jiankou Great Wall (Arrow Nock)

Connected with Mutianyu Great Wall ten kilometers to the east and Huanghuacheng Great Wall to the west, Jiankou has its own unique features. The shape of the mountains where the Wall was built is like an arrow with the collapsed ridge opening as its arrow nock and because of that it got the name.

Due the lack repairs and built along the mountain ridges and huge cliffs, Jiankou Great Wall is an ideal example of Wild Great Wall. It became the popular hiking destination as well as a favorite photographic spots. 

A visit to the Great Wall will be one of the highlights of travel in China. That cannot be said a China trip without at least one trip to the Great Wall.

Shopping Centre in Beijing with Different Atmosphere

Beijing has more than enough shopping places that offer different characteristic in each place. And this is three favorite shopping centre areas in Beijing:

1. Xidan Shopping Centre

Xidan has known as the second favorite shopping centre after Wangfujing Street. There have more than complete various goods include clothes, electronics, foods, and many others. Locals or tourist could also find some big shopping malls where sell many various international brands. Inside the mall, visitors could find what that they want start from cosmetics, parfumes, electronics, clothes, etc. If visitors feel tired after their shopping time there also located food court where they could relax and rest a little bit. 
Not only that, there is also situated second largest book store called Xinhua Book Store. If you love reading books, then Xinhua Book Store will be the best place to visit when come to Xidan. More than that, around the area, there also located many clothing stores. The clothes can be said not less good than some clothes inside those shopping malls and certainly offer lower price than the malls one. Visitors also could bargain the clothes there and if they are lucky, they could get lower price. The area will be crowd at night, moreover in the holiday or weekend.

2. Qianmen Shopping Street

Qianmen Street has long history behind for about 570 years. It known as Zhengyangmen stands at the south end of the Tiananmen Square. In Qing Dynasty, Qianmen Shopping Street even become more prosperous because there built many famous theaters, tea houses and lanterns festival. There also located famous Quanjude roast duck restaurant that popular from long time ago.
With traditional architecture style and layout, Qianmen Street attracts so many locals and tourists to come visit. Moreover, there have many international brands such as, H&M, Haagen-Dazs, Sephora, ZARA, Starbucks, COSTA CAFÉ, SK Jewelry, and many others. Here is not only become a shopping centre but also become a cultural and historical site. Some visitors could also take some photos in front of many unique architectural buildings along the street.

3. Liulichang Antique Market

Liulichang Antique Market is an old and antique street with Ming and Qing dynasty architectural features. Built from a long time ago, in Ming and Qing Dynasty, the street was a famous street where gathered scholars, poets and artists. In total the street has 800 metres long, it offer many traditional antique Chinese goods including the writing brush, ink stick, paper and ink slab. Many foreign tourists are interested in antique hunting, arts, painting, calligraphic works, handicrafts and other traditional products of China. Liulichang is a recommended street for the Chinese antique lovers.  Visitors will find Chinese time-honored brands with long history along the street.

Three Famous Sacrificial Altars in Beijing

A lot of historical sites that interesting and worth to visit in Beijing. With long history behind, those historical places certainly will offer its own beauty. At past, in the Dynasty era of China, each emperor believed they must give the sacrifice and hold ceremonial rituals to Gods. Below, it is three famous sacrificial altars in Beijing which played an important part in the ritual life of the Ming and Qing emperors.

1. Temple of Heaven 

Temple of Heaven was used as the sacrificial altars where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for good harvests. It also has known as the largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings in China. Built in 1420 and in total located in the area of 273 hectares, in more than 500 years, 22 emperors made 654 sacrifices to heaven here. 

The main building inside Temple of Heaven called The Hall of Prayer for the Good Harvest. The building stands on a round foundation built with three levels of marble stones and cone-shaped glaze-tile roof in blue color crowned with a gilded knob.
Another important building inside Temple of Heaven includes The Circular Mount Altar, Echo Wall, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Center of Heaven Stone and many others. It was open to the public in 1919 and soon became the top attraction of Beijing.

2. Altar of Earth (Ditan Park) 

 

Altar of Earth located in Andingmen and it was built in 1530 during Ming Dynasty. For some four centuries, Altar of Earth was the sacred place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the God of Earth. Ditan Park located in the total 42.7 hectares area and also become the second largest of the four Temples of Beijing behind only the Temple of Heaven.
Every year, starting from 1986, Ditan Cultural Temple Fair was also held during the Spring Festival. The festival features thousands of red lanterns hanged on the many trees of the park. The festival attracts lot of locals to come and even tourists. Same as the other park in Beijing, the Park has also become the place where some elderly Chinese doing their daily activities, such as, playing cards, singing, dancing, exercising etc.

3. Temple of the Sun (Ritan Park) 

 

Ritan Park or also called Temple of the Sun is one of the biggest parks in Beijing. It was used as the place where Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors came for reflection, meditation, and carrying out ceremonial rituals and sacrifices to the God of the Sun. It was initially built in 1530 and was build in the Ming Dynasty and rebuild in Qing Dynasty.  There is a tradition to stand at the highest point of the park and watch the sun fade away behind the mountains. Qinghui Pavilion is the ideal location to see the sunrise and sunset which sit in the southeast side. If interested, visitors could enjoy stunning and beauty sunrise or sunset from here.
Not only that, the park has completed and opened to the public and have a children amusement park and a fishing area. Inside Ritan Park, there also occasionally hold some culture activities include music festivals, flower shows in the spring, morning exercise performances, and the adoption of ancient trees.

Mysterious Atmosphere of Ming Tombs in Beijing

Beijing is a city which rich for its long history. One of tourist reasons why they could come to Beijing because they could remember and know better about historical heritage sites which built from long time ago, from many dynasty era of China. A lot of historical sites that built in Beijing include Great Wall (one of world seven wonders), Forbidden City, Beihai Park, and many others. All of those historical destinations above not only have an ancient unique architecture and design, but those sites were also built by the order of many emperors from famous dynasty of China.

Beside all of those buildings above, there also have a cemeteries complex of emperors in Beijing which called Ming Tombs. There buried 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty. The Ming Tombs is located in a 40 square-kilometer-nearly basin, screened by mountains on three sides. Because it is such a huge tomb complex, so make Ming Tombs known as the largest clusters of imperial cemeteries in China. Not only 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty were buried in the area, there also buried twenty-three empresses and one highest-ranking imperial concubine.
Ming Tombs was built in 1409 and it built to become very luxurious and huge tombs with carving tombstones decorate it. Changling is the tomb of Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di), was the earliest of the tombs and the succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around it.

One of the most attractive places in Ming Tombs called Underground Palace. It is the place where the last of Ming dynasty emperor and his empress were buried. Underground Palace was found in 1956 by the archeologist with a total area of 1.100 square meters. Many ancient Chinese antiques that found in Underground Palace include ceramics, jade, paintings, and others.

In the middle of the cemeteries situated sacred road. The road is very straight and built magnificent statues as guards on the road side. These creatures include twelve pairs of animals such as lions, horses, elephants, camels, and other hulking beasts, and six pairs of human beings such as generals, and public officials.

Beside tombs that stand incredibly magnificent, in this complex area also have amazing nature sceneries which are lots of stunning green trees, that make the cemeteries become a relaxing cool and beauty place. Ming Tombs have already become a tourism destination among locals and even tourist. Some visitors will curious to look over those ancient antiques in the Underground Palace and directly see such a huge, sacred and mysterious cemeteries complex in Ming Tombs.

Beijing Tour Guide - Prince Gong Mansion(恭王府）

If you travelling in Beijing,Prince Gong Mansion is one of the historical buildings which located in the capital city of China, Beijing. This palace built in 1777 by the royal dynasty as the residence of Heshen. Heshen is one of a smart man which has become the member of imperial guardian. As an imperial minister during Qing Dynasty, he was the most reliable one, that the emperors always trusted him. Because of that he had occupied the royal financial and had become a controller of corruption inside the palace.

Since he always becomes a very reliable person for the emperor and his service was also so big to the imperial family of Qing Dynasty, then emperor built a special rest place for him. Prince Gong Mansion located in Qianhai Xijie, Dongcheng District, in the north Shichahai Lake. Covering the total area of 15 hectare, this palace had given to Heshen as his private mansion. When Heshen retired, this palace had given to his son, Jiaqing Emperor. After that in 1851, this palace had given to the son of Jiaqing Emperor which is Gong Prince.
Have a beauty garden and landscapes, Prince Gong Mansion looks similar to Summer Palace. Almost half of this small palace is a garden where located a man-made lake and covered by green trees. At the shore of the lake, visitors could relax and enjoy the landscapes in the big gazebo or pavilion.

Prince Gong Mansion consists of two parts includes the former residence of the prince and a finely built garden. The garden located in the north and the mansion buildings is in the south area. The former residence inside the palace has a total of 31,000 square meters area and designed with ancient traditional Chinese style of architecture and layout during Qing Dynasty.

With unique wall decoration, detailed ornament and bright colors building, the palace in total has 49 grand rooms with all facilities. Even the woods used as the palace pillar were the same with woods which were used as the pillars in Forbidden City. One unique and magnificent area inside the palace, there surround with 7 hectare of man-made mountain. It makes the atmosphere cooler with fascinating landscapes.

The other part of the palace, there has a large area of garden. Some decorations inside the garden were truly neatly decorated. The flowers layout and combinations will attracts many visitors to come to the palace. Visit Prince Gong Palace, visitors of Beijing tours could get better knowledge about history of China while enjoy and relax cool, quiet and peace atmosphere of the palace.

Top 10 Must Things to do in Beijing

As a must-see destination for visitors to China, Beijing has served as capital of China for more than 800 years. Beijing's glorious ancient past and modern vibrancy mingle perfectly, and you will never get enough of it. Beijing is a city boasting the largest number of cultural heritage sites in the world. The interest of visiting Beijing is at one side to explore its glorious past, and at another side to feel its real Chinese culture and have a better understanding of the Chinese people. Let me show top things you have to do in Beijing.

1. Beijing Great Wall

 

In Beijing, The Great Wall is 629 km long. And five sections of the Great Wall have been opened to visitors. Construction of the wall began over 2000 years ago and lasted for over 1000 years. Today, I am glad to tell you the best-preserved part of the Great Wall is Badaling Great Wall. If you have not climbed the Great Wall, you have not seen China.

2. The Forbidden City

Forbidden City is also known as the Palace Museum. To visit the Forbidden City is to review the history of China’s Feudal Society. The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.

3. The Summer Palace

Summer Palace is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. Like most imperial palace in China, the Summer Palace is divided into three parts: halls for political affairs, living quarters and religious buildings.

4. Hutong

One of the unique features of Beijing is its numerous Hutongs, which means small lanes. The life of ordinary people in these lanes contributes greatly to the charm of this ancient capital. In these small lanes, you will find many Siheyuan, or quadrangles that are the living quarters of ordinary Beijingers.

5. Temple of Heaven

Regarded as one of the greatest architectural structures in the world, Temple of Heaven is the place you should not miss during the Beijing tour.

6. Ming Tombs

With long history and the high fame, Ming Tombs has become one of the key attractions in Beijing. After the tour to Ming Tombs, tourists will both enjoy the ancient architecture style and learn more about thi history.

7. Night show-Beijing Opera

To go to Laoshe Teahouse is not only to drink tea but also to watch performances. Beijing Opera is undoubtedly the first choice for the entertainment of many foreigners in Beijing.

Beijing Opera has its origin in primitive songs and dances of ancient times. The music, singing and costumes are products of its origins.

8. Night show-Kung Fu Show

The Kung Fu Show is treasure of Chinese culture. And the tourists could learn more about China during enjoy this performance.

9. Night show -Acrobatics Show

The Acrobatics Show is treasure of Chinese culture. And the tourists could learn more about China during enjoying this performance.

10. Beijing Roast Duck

Historical records show that Beijing Roast Duck started some 300 years ago. China is one of the first countries to domesticate ducks for the table. In about 1630, a eunuch wrote a book on the imperial diet and referred to roast goose, pork, chicken and duck as the most favored courses in the palace.