DK Eyewitness Top 10 Beijing

362 Pages·2019·21.804 MB·English

by  DK Eyewitness

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to Beijing
Exploring Beijing
Top 10 Beijing Highlights
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
Tian’an Men Square
Lama Temple
Bei Hai Park
Hou Hai
Summer Palace
798 Art District
Ming Tombs
Great Wall of China
The Top 10 of Everything
Moments in History
Places of Worship
Museums
The Olympic Legacy
Off the Beaten Path
Children’s Attractions
Entertainment
Beijing Opera
Beijing Dishes
Restaurants
Bars and Pubs
Markets and Shops
Beijing for Free
Festivals and Events
Beijing Area by Area
Tian’an Men Square and the
Forbidden City Area
South of Tian’an Men Square
North of the Forbidden City
Eastern Beijing
Western Beijing
Greater Beijing
Farther Afield
Streetsmart
Getting To and Around Beijing
Practical Information
Places to Stay
Phrase Book
Maps
Acknowledgments
Copyright
Discover the world with
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around the world, while the very best photographs and
illustrations bring cities, regions and countries to life. We
publish guides to more than 200 destinations around the world,
from handy pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country
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Clockwise from top: Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden
City, Beijing’s financial district, painting at the Ming Tombs, the National
Stadium, Chinese lanterns
WELCOME TO BEIJING
From ornate temples and palaces to hip cafés and
bars, Beijing’s attractions make it a great place to
explore. In just over three decades, China’s capital
has transformed itself from a socialist monolith to a
cosmopolitan metropolis, with all the arts, culture,
entertainment and glamor that entails. With
Eyewitness Top 10 Beijing, it is yours to explore.
Less than 20 years ago, the residents of downtown Beijing were
cycling around in their pyjamas, and mules pulling carts of bricks
through the streets were a common sight. But over the last decade,
the city has experienced an incredible rate of growth. Today, Beijing
is dotted with Olympic sites such as the Bird’s Nest and the Water
Cube, state-of-the-art venues including the National Center for the
Performing Arts, and edgy art districts such as 798 and
Caochangdi, while Sanlitun is filled with chic boutiques.
Yet amid this cosmopolitan city, lovers of antiquities still have plenty
to see. The Forbidden City anchors the capital, and the Summer
Palace offers respite from city noise. The conical Temple of Heaven
graces countless guidebooks, and there are houses of worship on
almost every corner – from Taoist (White Cloud Temple) to Buddhist
(Lama and Fayuan) and Confucian to Catholic. However, the city’s
real charm lies in its hutongs – 800-year-old warrens that wind
through the center – and a walk around Hou Hai lake, with its
historical courtyard houses, offers a further glimpse of everyday life
in Beijing.
Whether you’re coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide
brings together the best of everything that Beijing has to offer, from
temple fairs to traditional crafts and tea. The guide has useful tips
throughout, from seeking out what’s free to avoiding the crowds, plus
eight easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to tie together a clutch of
sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and
detailed maps, and you’ve got the essential pocket-sized travel
companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Beijing.
EXPLORING BEIJING
Beijing combines ancient history with accelerated
progress, but information can be sketchy and
transportation difficult, even for Chinese speakers.
These two itineraries include the city’s highlights and
offer advice on how to make the most of your time.
Two Days in Beijing