ABOUT BEIJING

Beijing is the capital city of China with a mix of ancient history and modern structures. The historical Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven are located here. Geographically located in East Asia and has the 3rd largest land mass (9.6 million square kilometers) as a country after Russia and Canada. She shares her boarders with Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrygzstan, Kazakstan, Mongolia and Russia.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT BEIJING

From April to mid October the country has good weather (basically Spring to Autumn). November to mid February is winter with cold weather in the northern region and high altitude / mountainous areas.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN BEIJING

• Great Wall of China is about 144 km away from the city center and stretches over 13,000 miles snaking through the mountains, valleys and deserts. This structure was built to defend against attacks by barbarian tribes. The most popular sections is the Badaling and Mutianyu guard tower section where battalions of solders were stationed here thousands of years ago.
• Forbidden City, 7 km from the city center once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a sprawling complex with the world’s largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance to the site is through the Grand Meridian Gate which still stands till this day. The site is a repository of Chinese history and culture with many courtyards and halls like the imposing Hall of Supreme Harmony and the tranquil Imperial Garden.
• Tiananmen Square. It is one of the largest public squares in the world and features key monuments. This square echoes history from the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 to the pro-democracy protests of 1989. The Changing of Guards ceremony at the Monument is an encapsulating event to watch.
• Monument to the People’s Heroes is situated at the southern end of Tiananmen Square. It stands as a poignant testament to China’s revolutionary history and the sacrifices made by its people. Built in 1958 the structure stands at 37.94 meters high.
• Mausoleum of Mao Zedong structure was inaugurated on September 9, 1977. The mausoleum houses Mao’s embalmed body inside a glass sarcophagus. The body is dressed in a simple gray suit.
• Temple of Heaven is a big intricate wooden architecture structure where emperors used to pray for good harvests. Today the locals engage in Tai Chi and other community activities around the grounds of the temple among the lush landscapes.

OTHER INFORMATION ON BEIJING

The Renminbi note is denominated in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 while coins are in denomination of 1 and 5 Jiao. There is also a 1 Renminbi coin. Travelers need not carry too much local cash as transactions by e-wallets and debit cards are widely accepted even by street hawkers and vending machines in China.

China’s population comprised of 56 ethnicity groups. The Han is the dominating group (92%) while the other main minority groups are Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uyghur, Yi, Tujia, Mongols and Tibetans.