"The home of the Great Wall"
Beijing is one of China's most historic cities. It has been the capital of various emperors over centuries and continues to be the capital of China today. It is a major tourist attraction due to the heritage of all the dynasties that have resided here, their culture, their monuments and their palaces, and not to mention the Great Wall of China.
Beijing is the cultural, economic and political hub of China. Although many of the financial centres are in Shanghai, everything is controlled from Beijing. It is a major hub for travellers from all over the world. It's magnificent structures from the imperial Chinese times are absolutely stunning, and a major reason for the hordes of tourists it attracts. Entire complexes to serve the royal families such as the Forbidden City, the official home of the emperor since 1420, the Temple of Heaven, the Tiananmen Square. Brilliant and picturesque places built just for leisure and recreation, such as the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, the Jingshan Park, the Shichahai area and of course, the scenic Beihai Park. You can never talk about a visit to Beijing without the Great Wall of China, it's many popular parts and tracks, and fortifications. Not just the attractions, Beijing is also home to a wide variety of recreational activities. Streets lined with shops and stores, loads of bars and nightclubs, and of course, the world famous Chinese food which you can have at the very place where it all began. Beijing makes for a wonderful week of travel, discovering the history and the culture of one of the oldest and historically most important Chinese cities.
