Lost in Beijing» World Heritage Site http://www.lost-in-beijing.com Are You Lost in Beijing? Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:40:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 The Ming Tombs: a World Heritage Site http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/the-ming-tombs-a-world-heritage-site/ http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/the-ming-tombs-a-world-heritage-site/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:48:53 +0000 admin http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/the-ming-tombs-a-world-heritage-site/ beijing.raffles.com/" target="_blank">Beijing hotel. Being a rapidly expanding city with a vibrant tourism sector a ... ]]>  

A couple hours towards the northwest of Beijing City lies the mausoleums of thirteen Ming dynasty Emperors. Referred to as the Ming Tombs these historical structures have been flawlessly preserved and serve as excellent examples of Chinese palatial architecture and culture. It is said that the site of the mausoleum wee chose n by Ming dynasty emperor Yongle, who was also instrumental in moving the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing.

 

The site of the tombs was carefully chosen according to Chinese Feng Shui principles. This is why an arc shaped sheltered area at the foot of the Jundu Mountains was chosen as it deflected the evil spirits of the North Wind. Following the burial of Emperor Yongle twelve others where subsequently buried here, though their tombs bear the same architectural style and geometrical design they differ in their proportions and decorative features.

 

However, of the thirteen tombs only two are open to the public today, known as the Changling and Dingling tombs. Of these the Changling tomb is the largest and covers an area of almost 2,000 square meters. The tomb holds the remains of Emperor Zhudi and is one of the most interesting Ming dynasty buildings in China. The tomb is supported by 32 large posts some of which measure up to 14 meters in height. The ceiling of the tomb is colorfully painted and features traditional Chinese inscriptions and drawings, the floor of the tomb is covered by gold bricks.

 

The smaller Dingling tomb is built underground at depth of about 30 meters. The important sections of this tomb are the Stone Bridge, Soul Tower, Baocheng and the Underground Palace. The later section was only found and excavated in the 50’s and is constructed completely from stone. The entire Ming Tomb enclosure was recently declared a UNESCO World heritage site making it a tourist attraction among visitors in many a Beijing hotel. Being a rapidly expanding city with a vibrant tourism sector a luxury hotel in Beijing would not be difficult to find for tourists wishing to visit the Ming dynasty tombs.

]]> http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/the-ming-tombs-a-world-heritage-site/feed/ 0 A Monumental Unesco Heritage Site – the Forbidden City http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/a-monumental-unesco-heritage-site-ae%e2%80%9c-the-forbidden-city/ http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/a-monumental-unesco-heritage-site-ae%e2%80%9c-the-forbidden-city/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:09:05 +0000 admin http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/a-monumental-unesco-heritage-site-ae%e2%80%9c-the-forbidden-city/ Beijing hotel concierge will help you make arrangements.

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From the middle of the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Chinese. The city is situated in the center of Beijing and shelters the Palace Museum. The Emperor and his family had used it as their home for nearly 5 centuries and it served as the ritual and political center of the Chinese government.

The location of the Forbidden City was a component of the Imperial city all through the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. It was here that the ruling Mongol families could conserve their Mongolian civilization. When the institution of the Ming Dynasty took place, the Hongwu Emperor shifted the capital from Beijing Nanjing and dictated that the Mongol castles be demolished. When his son Zhu Di became the Yongle Emperor, he shifted the capital to Beijing, and building began in 1406 of the present Forbidden City.

The building complex comprises of 980 lasting buildings with 8707 alcoves of rooms and extends 720,000 square meters. The Forbidden City is the world’s biggest existing palace complex. The palace grounds illustrate conventional Chinese architecture. The Forbidden City was announced a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is heralded by UNESCO as the major gathering of conserved ancient wooden constructions in the world.

The Forbidden City has been in control of the Palace Museum from the year 1924. The artwork and the artifacts are built on the royal collection of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Both museums fall under the same organization, but were disunited after the Chinese Civil War.

 

Visit the Forbidden City at leisure while enjoying the comforts of a recommended hotel in Beijing. China has many heritage sites, and Beijing has most of it. Besides the historical aspects, China also has many adventures and activities, for which your Beijing hotel concierge will help you make arrangements.

]]> http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/a-monumental-unesco-heritage-site-ae%e2%80%9c-the-forbidden-city/feed/ 0 Beijing And The Great Wall Of China http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/beijing-and-the-great-wall-of-china/ http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/beijing-and-the-great-wall-of-china/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:57:23 +0000 admin http://www.lost-in-beijing.com/beijing-and-the-great-wall-of-china/



A vibrant tourist destination – Beijing is the capital city as well as the political, educational, and economic center of the People’s Republic of China. Located on the north western part of the North China Plain between the rivers: Yongding He and Wenyu He, Beijing is a lively as well as a thriving city, blessed with enchanting areas consisting of majestic mountains, rolling hills, and amazing plains.

Apart from these, the city has to its credit an astounding array of world-class tourist destinations, including incredible palaces, wonderful monuments, and incredible mausoleums. In this article, further elucidated are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Beijing.

Most prominent among the attractions of Beijing is undoubtedly the Great Wall of China, built more than 2,000 year ago by the first emperor of China – Qin Shi Huangdi. Stretching across the mountains of the northern China, the Great Wall of China holds the distinction of being the only man made structure visible from the moon.

It is also the world’s longest man made structure, with a length extending up to 5,000 km. According to certain records, it took centuries to complete the construction of this fabulous fortification; almost a period ranging from 3rd century BC to 17th century. Badaling is the most the visited among the sites of the Great Wall.

Another popular destination worth visiting in Beijing is the Forbidden City, which is alternatively known as the Forbidden Palace or the Palace Museum. Situated in the ancient city of Beijing, this marvelous spot once served as the imperial palace of the Ming and the Qing dynasties. Surrounded by royal gardens and with an area encompassing 720000 sq mt, the palace consists of more than 8000 buildings and 800 rooms.

In 1987, the UNESCO declared the palace as a World Heritage Site. The palace boasts of a large as well as a rare collection of ancient wooden structure, each of which throws light towards the interesting history of the country. Included in the attractions of the complex are Zhongnanhai, which now serves as the headquarters of the Communist Party of China; Beihai Park coupled with a beautiful lake and a great park; and Jingshan Park, sometimes referred to as Jing Shan or Coal Hill.

Equally marvelous is city’s highlights such as the Temple of Heaven – a complex containing a variety of Taoist building. One of the specialties of the temple is wonderful sounds produced from its different regions, like the Echo Wall, the Dialogue Stone, the Triple Sound Stone, and the Heaven’s Center Stone. The temple grounds also cover attractions like the Earthly Mount, the House of Heavenly Lord, and the Hall of Annual Prayer.

The city’s highlights also include Tiananmen Square, located in the center of modern China. With a capacity to hold up to 500,000 people, the square is credited be the largest public area in the world. Specialties, among many others, of the square are the Monument of the People’s Heroes and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Zedong.

A visit to Beijing is incomplete without taking a tour to the Summer Palace – a 290-acre park which was once a summer recreation area of emperors. The palace is renowned for its ancient shrines, mansions, and pavilions.

Other sightseeing options in Beijing are the Central Business District – an area packed with high-end housing facilities and shopping malls, Beijing Zoo, Wangfujing Street, CCTV Tower, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Bell Tower and Drum Tower, Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, Beijing Ancient Observatory, Beijing Botanical Garden, and the Beihai Park.

Above all, Beijing is a venue for a host of international activities, such as, the Asian Games, the World Women’s Congress, the International Entomological Conference, the Universal Postal Congress, and more.

Well linked by air, rail, and water, Beijing render superb accommodation options. Beijing has accommodation choices to cater to every category of vacationer, let it be a budget conscious traveler or one looking for luxurious options. Majority of the hotels and resorts are located within the heart of the city, and hence are within easy reach of almost all top tourist attractions.

Nowadays, many of the hotels, both budget and luxury accommodation, have their own sites on the web, which in turn enables the visitors to check price and room as well as make bookings in advance. There are also some hotels and resorts, providing packages inclusive of accommodation, dining, and facilities to explore the attractions of the place.



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