Beijing Travel Guide, China

A Quick Glimpse on Beijing and what it Offers the First Time Visitor

The city of Beijing has a storied past and the creation of Beijing as a city can be traced back to 1075 BC. That was the year when King Wu declared Beijing a city. After that the city has assumed a number of names like Ji the Zhongdu and Dadu and then finally named Beijing again when Emperor ChengZu chose that name and made it official in 1421. The city was known to the outside world by the name Peking but by 1949, the city reverted back to the original name Beijing.

The city of Beijing or simply Jing is China's center. The nation's political economic, cultural and educational centers converge in the area. The city also plays a crucial role on the nation's international trade and communications. Nevertheless, what the city is now is nothing compared to its rich past. The city is considered as one of the six ancient cities of the country and it plays an important role in the development of ancient China. The other ancient cities of China include Xian Luoyang Kaifeng Nanjing and Hangzhou. This unique status of the city, a modern city and at the same time a city rich in history and tradition, helps make Beijing a tourist-friendly destination. It's a city that is just waiting to be discovered and learned at the same time. And the best time to discover Beijing? It's the time of autumn.

The city of Jing has four seasons, but among these seasons, the late spring and autumn stand out. And if visitors need to select just one time of the year it is suggested that autumn should be it. Old timers recommend that the best months to visit Beijing are during the months of May, September and October. This is the time when people can enjoy the abundant sunshine and the blue skies of the city. If winter is the favorite of the visitor then of course he can visit Beijing during that time and experience skiing at Beihai and sightseeing at West Hill.

A visit to Beijing is never complete without a pilgrimage to the Tiananmen Square. This is considered as the largest square in the world. When inside the square, the landmarks to visit include the Tiananmen Tower and the Monument to the People's Heroes. Another notable sight inside the square is the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. At the end of the square is the Tiananmen Tower that was built in the time of  the Ming Dynasty.

The city of Beijing may be rich in history and an old city but the visitor can also enjoy the many modern amenities of the city. A number of modern shopping malls and modern buildings dot the city as well. Examples of buildings that feature modern architecture are the new Poly Plaza building, the Beijing Olympics Media Center and the CNOOP buildings. The first time visitor should also check out the new Beijing Opera House that was designed by the French architect Paul Andreu and this building is located at the back of the Great Hall of the People.

The city of Jing is a friendly city full of people using bicycles as their one way of transportation. And that alone is a sight to behold for the first time visitor of the city. The presence of these bike-riding people with their smiling faces, the many historic sites and historic buildings, plus the modern buildings makes a trip to Jing a truly enjoyable and learning experience.