Discovering hidden Beijing
If you’re considering travelling to Beijing, it’s all too easy to stick to the well-worn and beaten track. Many of the most popular places to visit are likely to fleece you of money as well as provide you with a rather false image of this beautiful location.
Wangjing rainbow Photo Credit
Despite the massive popularity of the area, there are still some places that are rarely visited by tourists. Many of these locations have been beautifully preserved over hundreds of years and are remains of the Chinese society that once was.
The Forbidden City
A true gem of Beijing, The Forbidden City’s landmark was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty until the end of the Qing Dynasty. Despite being located in the centre of Beijing, it is often overlooked by many tourists.
The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) in the heart of Beijing Photo Credit
The palace, which was once home to emperors for more than 500 years, now houses the Palace Museum, giving visitors a chance to learn first-hand about the palace and the many wonderful moments of history that took place there.
The city is no longer lived in but is well cared for and maintained at a glorious level of preservation. While the palace itself is always host to numerous visitors, the outskirts of the city are usually much quieter and can offer a creepy insight into the past that is well worth exploring.
Beijing Bell and Drum Towers
These astounding instruments once had a hugely significant role in the lives of thousands of people living in Beijing. Used in the morning and evening, they signified the time before there was any modern means of doing so for the entire city.
Rooftop view of the Bell tower Photo Credit
Almost every city in China had their own drum and bell towers, but few are as impressive and awe-inspiring as those in Beijing. It is fascinating to think of how influential and important they once were and are a great example of the design and fashion of the time.
The Capital Museum
Based within the Confucius Temple, the Capital Museum was initially proposed in 1953 with an opening date of 1981. From this date the museum has enjoyed continual work to improve and expand the artefacts to bring even greater insight to those looking to learn about the history of the area.
Stone drums in the Confucius Temple Photo Credit
There are few places in the country with a better, more in depth insight into the country’s and city’s history than Capital Museum. With a dedicated team ensuring that the museum is always improving, it is astounding that more visitors to the area don’t take advantage of the sights on offer here.
Upcoming Beijing Events
January 2014: Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival 50 miles from the city centre – showcasing cool ice scultpures.
Longqing Gorge Ice Festival Photo Credit
