Sightseeing in Beijing – 25 most interesting places

There is no more amazing, mysterious and paradoxical country in the world than China. Chinese philosophers, scientists, inventors have done a lot to develop the technical and cultural progress of the planet. Silk, paper, tea, porcelain, spices, etc. came to us from the Chinese. Many secrets are kept by its ancient history, embodied in the architectural and religious monuments of the Chinese capital – Beijing. This article introduces the main sacred for the Chinese and interesting for tourists sights of Beijing, which has experienced many upheavals over the past centuries, but managed to preserve the heritage of history.

forbidden city

At its core, the “Forbidden City” (Gugong) is a large-scale palace complex built in the traditional Chinese Feng Shui style – the forefather of Beijing. Created under the 3rd Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1406-1420), the mini-city contains 9999.5 rooms, which is impossible to get around in 1 day. Today it is a huge museum of the centuries-old history of the imperial dynasties and, in general, the country, stunning with its incredible size. Every day, huge crowds of tourists line up in front of the Gugun gate to see all the splendor and wealth of the rulers of the past.

Here is a Chinese miracle – a carved marble slab, striking in its dimensions (weight 250 tons), depicting seas, mountains, clouds and 9 dancing dragons against their background. The gigantic figures of a bronze lion and lioness are also a miracle, only of foundry art, as is the symbol of longevity – a giant cast-iron turtle. You can list all the treasures in the mega-museum for a long time, look at them – great luck.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

Such a pacifying name was received not only by the gate leading to the Forbidden City, but also by a large area (440 thousand square meters) in front of it. In Chinese, it sounds like Tiananmen – the word for a sacred place for the Chinese. Here is the Mao Zedong Mausoleum, where thousands of people come to bow to the leader. The Gates of Heavenly Peace are known for sad events for the country: the execution of students in 1989, the mass self-immolation of Falun Gong sectarians.

Various celebrations were held on it: the coronation of emperors and empresses, the fateful speech of Mao Zedong announcing the founding of the PRC (1949), the annual celebration of the Day of the Republic, etc. architecture that enchants with its originality.

Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

If you ask any Chinese what is the most sacred place in the city for him, he will probably answer without hesitation – the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. The daily pilgrimage to the place where the body of the ruler of the fate of the people rests clearly confirms this. Thousands of people line up to the sacred object at dawn. Some are driven by pure curiosity and a sense of duty, while others are driven by a sincere desire to pay tribute to the person who chose the course of the country's development towards a better life.

The mausoleum was erected in a short time a year after the death of Mao, although he himself signed an order for the posthumous cremation of the leaders back in 1956. Despite this, the government decided to keep the embalmed body of the Great Pilot, as he was called during his lifetime. Visitors do not have the right to carry bags, liquids, photo-video equipment and cell phones – only money and a passport, the rest is handed over to the left-luggage office. A 3.5-meter marble statue of Mao sitting in an armchair “greets” everyone at the entrance. Many come with flowers, many cry, quickly passing by the sarcophagus with the body of the leader.

Monument to the People's Heroes

A monumental building 40 meters high, located in the center of Tiananmen, the Monument of People's Heroes is the history of the revolutionary movement of China, embodied in marble. The pedestal is decorated with 8 bas-reliefs, each of which depicts a certain episode of this story: “Burning Opium” (1939), the uprising in the village of Jingtian (1850), the Wuchang uprising (1911), the May 4th Movement (1911 ), Crossing the Yangtze (1949), etc.

The creation of a grandiose monument took 17 thousand marble and granite blocks, fastened so that the monument is able to stand for a thousand years. Along with the Mao Mausoleum, the majestic monument is the most visited object, where those Chinese come, whose great-grandfathers participated in the revolutionary events, and those who are not indifferent to the history of their homeland, and foreign tourists.

Sky Temple

The ancient temple complex, together with the landscape garden adjacent to it, symbolizing the connection between heaven (divine forces) and Earth (Chinese emperors), was erected under Emperor Zhuli in 1420. It was intended for the prayers of emperors asking for good weather and harvests. The architecture of the Temple of Heaven is based on the philosophy of numbers – numerology. The temple altar is lined with a number of marble slabs, a multiple of 9, considered the most powerful; 28 columns (Hall of prayers for the harvest) are located in 4 groups – symbols of 4 seasons, that is, there are columns, symbols of “months”, columns-hours.

Today, the huge park surrounding the amazing UNESCO-listed building is accessible to ordinary citizens, which was not the case in imperial Beijing. Everyone can see a unique architectural monument here and walk in the park as much as they like. Most Beijingers do various types of gymnastics here.

Yonghegun Temple

Of great interest to tourists is the ancient Buddhist temple of the 17th century, the name of which is translated as the Temple of Harmony. Under the emperors who owned the temple, an annual ceremony was held here to commemorate the deceased ancestors. In fact, this is a monastery that is still active today, where 100 monks live, performing various rituals. It is impossible not to admire the original oriental architecture, numerous decorations outside and inside.

The gates leading to the Temple of Harmony are “guarded” by sculptures of mighty lions, installed on both sides. To reach the monastery itself, you need to go through 2 more gates: Zhaotaimen and Yonghemen. The entire area of ​​the temple is divided into 3 pavilions isolated from each other, each of which has a symbolic name. The main shrine of the lamaist monastery is a tall (18 m) Buddha statue carved from sandalwood, dug into the ground 8 m.

Temple of Confucius

The temple, built in 1306 in honor of the great philosopher-scientist, underwent repeated reconstructions, but a fair part of the buildings have been preserved in an authentic form. All external and internal design of the huge structure is aimed at chanting scientists and teachings. At the entrance you can read wise sayings, poems inscribed on numerous stone drums.

The centerpiece is the Pavilion of Learning, surrounded by slender cypresses. Its walls are decorated with a continuous pattern of hieroglyphs that form philosophical sayings, telling about the brilliant Confucius and his students, about the progressive rulers of China. Of the 50 thousand square meters. m area of ​​30 thousand square meters. m – the inner courtyard of the Temple, and the rest of the territory – the Imperial Academy “Concentration of the Wise”, which today has a symbolic status.

Temple of the Great Bell

During the reign of Emperor Yongla, the creator of the Forbidden City, the Great Bell, unique in its dimensions, was cast (height 5.5 m, weight 46 tons). A tower was built for him, on which the bell was raised in winter, when a heavy colossus was rolled into the tower on an ice rink. The temple around the Big Bell was erected already in 1773, and it became the place of imperial prayers for the well-being of the people, for rain, etc.

The bell ringing was heard for 15 km, its sound varied from the most gentle chimes to deafeningly loud and rolling overflows. The entire surface of the silver bell is covered with inscriptions with Buddhist sutras. There is a museum on the temple grounds (1985), which presents hundreds of various bells cast not only in different provinces of China, but also in other countries. A visit to the Temple of the Big Bell leaves a deep impression.

CCTV Headquarters

In the city, along with ancient monuments, there are symbols of avant-garde architecture – modern skyscrapers, striking in their height and unusual design. Among these skyscrapers is the headquarters of the Chinese Central Television (CCTV), located in the main modern attraction of the Chinese capital. The building, built in the style of deconstructivism, looks like 2 giant letters L, connected at the top. The Beijingers called such an extraordinary design “pants”, which they are still proud of.

A bold project by the Dutchman Rem Koolhaas is an example of a 21st century building that can withstand any earthquake. A whole team of engineers was engaged in the seismological stability of a 54-storey skyscraper 234 m high. Two rectangular towers, deviated from the vertical axis by 6 degrees, are rotated so that they support each other. A reliable base-foundation consists of many interconnected cells forming a monolithic grid. The system of evacuation of people in emergency cases is also carefully thought out.

Waning Am

There is a Wanjing district in Beijing, where high-tech architectural structures rise, the futuristic appearance of which cannot leave anyone indifferent. 3 extraordinary buildings were erected to meet the needs of the offices of various international companies. The high-rise project in the style of deconstructivism was developed by the architect Z. Hadid (she is called the “queen of curves”).

Indeed, in the erected aluminum-glass bulks there is not a single right angle. Looking from afar at these fantastic buildings, in which traditional windows are not visible, it is difficult to imagine the interior layout. Lighting is regulated by changing the width of aluminum panels, all communications are subject to a single control system, which provides significant savings in electricity, water and heat. The Chinese compare buildings with pond carps – they associate these fish with wealth and good luck.

National Museum of China

Opened in 1959 in a 4-storey building with 11 columns, the National Museum shared it with the Museum of the Revolution, but after many years of restoration of the building, the museums united. Now there are spacious exhibition halls, which house more than a million exhibits, fully reflecting the history of the most ancient state of the planet – China. The expositions feature objects from various eras, from the Neolithic to the present.

It's hard to believe, but the museum keeps a unique rarity, the oldest exhibit, which is over 1.5 million years old. years – the remains of the Yuanmou man. The pride of the institution is a bronze tripod that belonged 3 thousand years ago to the emperors of the Ding Dynasty. Its weight is 800 kg; no other museum owns such a large bronze product of antiquity. Of undoubted interest are exhibitions of contemporary Chinese art, scientific achievements, and the national currency. There is something to see here.

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Gunwanfu

The most beautiful palace and park complex, which once belonged to Prince Gong, is located among the remains of the old city in the western part of Beijing. The palace, built in 1777 for an influential nobleman, a favorite of the emperor, Heshen, is a real architectural gem of Beijing. Transferred in 1851 by the then emperor as a gift to his brother, who bore the high title of “Gong”, the palace became known as Gongwangfu. The fate of the palace was sad until 1982, but after its recognition as an object of cultural heritage, intensive restoration began, the collection of looted property, and the restoration of the garden. Today, hundreds of tourists walk among the landscape splendor, admire the amazing decorations of the facades, the interiors of the palace halls, admiring the talent and skill of Chinese masters.

National Beijing Stadium

Built for the 2008 Olympics, the stadium resembles a bird's nest in its shape, for which it is unofficially called that. World-famous architects, such as the winners of the competition, the Swiss designers Herzog and Meron, took part in the development of the project. The National Stadium is a synthesis of architectural minimalism, steel and concrete, surprising with the originality and grandeur of a design made to last for centuries.

The building, capable of accommodating 80,000 spectators, took 45,000 tons of rolled steel 36 km long. The stadium, located next to the swimming complex, looks like some kind of fantastic giant ship reflected in the waters of the lake. It looks especially enchanting at night, colored from the inside by electric lighting. Against the backdrop of fashionable skyscrapers, the National Stadium successfully blends into the modern look of Beijing.

Summer Imperial Palace

It is too modest to call the wonderful world of mysterious and colorful beauty a palace. In fact, this is a solid imperial residence, on the space of which there are 3 thousand different buildings: unique bridges, palaces, temples against the backdrop of incredibly beautiful landscape paintings. Everything that has been created here is the most valuable cultural heritage of the world, delighting everyone who comes to this fabulous kingdom.

On the slope of Mount Wanshoushan (longevity) is the most visited object – the Temple “Great Retribution for the Mercy of Longevity”. The local gallery-corridor strikes the imagination, on the walls of which almost 8 thousand paintings are placed, marble sculptures of dragons and lions are installed. There is also a symbol of the power of the imperial family – the Marble Boat. Crowds of people come to the Kunming artificial lake, especially when the divine lotuses are in bloom. The residence, in fact, is a huge museum, you can walk for long hours, admiring the masterpieces of Asian art.

Yuanmingyuan Park

A little to the east of the Summer Residence is a landmark that serves as an example of how man-made miracles created by one hand and mind can be destroyed by another hand and mind. Only by the majestic remnants of former luxury and beauty can one now judge how magnificent Yuanmingyuan Park (Garden of Perfect Clarity) was during the reign of Emperor Qin of the Kangxi Dynasty. Luxurious palaces, comparable in perfection of decoration with the best works of art, were surrounded by a huge park, with artificial reservoirs, picturesque alleys, and many sculptures.

But under the next emperor, the territory of the garden increased 5 times compared to the area of ​​the Forbidden City, its cultural and artistic content surpassed even the Vatican. The prosperity of the Yuanmingyuan park ended in the autumn of 1860, when the vandal invasion of the Franco-English army caused irreparable damage to it. Today, only separately preserved ruins of palaces and park structures are reminiscent of their former splendor.

Beihai Park

To the west of the Forbidden City are 3 lakes, once called the seas: North, Central and South. Here, beautiful imperial gardens were laid out around them – witnesses of how the Chinese rulers loved to pamper themselves, surrounding their life with unprecedented luxury. Now Beihai Park is a sought-after place to visit and an interesting attraction, looking around which you mentally forgive those in power for their narcissism and thank you for creating such grace. The long-suffering history of the park began in the 10th century.

Beihai Park, which survived the ruin and decline, acquired a new face in 1925, after a grandiose restoration in 1949, it became the most beautiful and beloved place in the Chinese capital. The most visited sites are the Jade Island, with unique places of worship; Chshizhan bridge leading to the island; White dagoba (Buddhist church) with sacred rarities stored in it; Shanyindian pavilion; Temple of Eternal Peace, etc. Everything that is here is worthy of admiration!

Peace Park

An entertaining and educational place, called the Peace Park, gives an unforgettable experience to visitors of all ages. From here, no one leaves disappointed, because here you can not only see the famous buildings of the world in reduced copies, but also get the thrill of exotic entertainment such as feeding an elephant. Among the mini-objects are the native Red Square with a temple complex in miniature, the Eiffel Tower, the Egyptian pyramids, Niagara Falls, English and French medieval castles, the Great Wall of China, etc.

The central “patch” of the park is very beautifully decorated with green lawns with landscape “drawings” and thematic sculptures along the edges, picturesque fountains. On a wonderful large pond, through which a wonderful bridge is laid, they ride on mini-boats, river buses and catamarans. It is a great pleasure for everyone to communicate with rare animals, for example, riding a red deer. After the tour, there is an opportunity to relax under the canopy of trees on comfortable benches in the floristic part of the park, charming with its well-groomed and cleanliness.

Botanical Garden

At the foot of the Xianshan Mountains, near the Yiheyuan Park, the Beijing Botanical Garden spreads over 130 hectares, the area of ​​u200bu200bwhich includes mountain slopes and plains. The main part of the entire territory of the garden is planted with trees and shrubs (more than 100 thousand), several hundred herbs. A narrow river flows along the garden, with rocky rapids and banks. Cascades made of stone make it very picturesque. Flower beds, skillfully designed by landscape designers, fascinate with their beauty: a stunning rose garden, a large collection of magnolias, lawns of peonies, various themed gardens are presented, the garden grows 60 varieties of delicate fruits, for example, peach.

Touches the garden of miniature trees – bonsai. Despite the small height of some specimens, their age is 1300 years. Impressive are interesting structures made of stones on trays – suiseki, sculptural compositions. For walks, special paths are equipped, winding throughout the territory, there are restaurants and cafes for visitors.

beijing tower

Those who would like to see Beijing from a bird's eye view should visit the Beijing TV Tower, which is not only a service and broadcasting institution, but also a kind of entertainment facility. Inside the skyscraper (405 m) there are museums, the expositions of which introduce the history of TV development in China. Here they are allowed to test themselves as a presenter, taking a chair in front of the camera. It has become a tradition to hold races for speed, when participants make 2 circles around the base, and then climb up 1500 thousand steps.

Tourists experience real delight when they look at the stunning panorama of the city from the observation deck (238 m), shout into the hole of a huge pipe so that all residents of the capital can hear them (as the electronic guide-loudspeaker claims). An equally interesting spectacle awaits visitors in the underground center “Underwater World of the Pacific”, where everyone passes through a tunnel with transparent walls, behind which the exotic world of the ocean opens from the side and from above. Green algae, red corals, fantastic fish, jellyfish.

Marco Polo Bridge

On this pedestrian bridge, thrown over the river. Yongdinghe, tourists and Chinese are attracted by numerous stone lions and lionesses, which show the “gray hair” of the Middle Ages. A 10-span stone bridge was erected in 1698 instead of a granite crossing washed away by a flood. The construction was hosted by the Kangxi Emperor, marked by a stone stele at the western end of the bridge. On some sections of the pavement (length 266.5 m), authentic marble slabs have been preserved, depicting traces of the past centuries.

Of the 482 carved lion statues that have survived, not a single image is repeated, so they can be viewed endlessly. The width of the bridge is almost 10 m, it can accommodate hundreds of people. And although there is no river water under the bridge, it has not lost its popularity. The Chinese call it Lugoqiao, and the Europeans call it the Marco Polo Bridge, believing that it is he who is mentioned in the travel notes of the great navigator.

National Center for the Performing Arts

It took 6 years to build a truly outlandish structure, which is now considered a wonder of the world of our time – the National Center for the Performing Arts. In 2001, it was decided to build an opera house, but when the grandiose project was realized in 2007, its futuristic incarnation required a wider purpose and name. The French architect P. André presented the building in the form of a drop floating on the surface of the water, so the egg-shaped building is surrounded by an artificial lake.

The architectural masterpiece consists of the main elliptical building, underwater and underground corridors. The ellipse is 212 m long, 144 m wide, 48 m high, made of 18 thousand titanium plates and 1200 glass sheets. Down the building goes 32.5 m (10 floors) – the scale of the project is amazing! The opening of the Center was marked by a performance by the Mariinsky Theater of Borodin's opera Prince Igor (conductor V. Gergiev).

Zoo

Occupying 86 hectares of land, the zoo is famous throughout the world as the only owner of a giant panda. The entire territory of the zoo is divided into thematic groups: Monkey Hill, Bear Mountain, Water Bird Lake, etc. More than 5 thousand animals of 450 species live in them. The layout of the sections is carried out according to the principle of Chinese gardens, with ponds, channels, bridges, rocks, willows leaning over the water, which makes the territory very picturesque.

One of the most visited sites is the Giant Panda Pavilion, which attracts thousands of visitors every day. They look at not only the panda, but also interesting sculptural compositions decorating the pavilion, depicting a funny bear family. The predators living in spacious open-air cages among natural nature are not deprived of attention. Walking around the zoo is not only an acquaintance with representatives of the fauna, but also a contemplative enjoyment of the surrounding beauty of the landscape.

Shijingshan Amusement Park

A grandiose leisure center occupying a colossal area of ​​35 million square meters. m, Shijingshan Amusement Park is the focus of modern dizzying rides, beautifully designed territory and a truly fabulous atmosphere with the presence of characters familiar to everyone. A visit to this amazing park, opened in 1987, is a pleasure for children and adults. All entertainment and educational facilities are divided into thematic sectors.

For example, the Eastern Sector – artificial gorges, a rapid mountain stream for rafting, caves with treasures, etc. Land of Adventure – Mayan labyrinths, a pirate ship, a Jurassic park with dinosaurs. Fantasy world – all kinds of attractions for preschoolers. There is a gothic castle where Cinderella lives, a 4-D-c/theater, a roller coaster, a 50-meter Ferris wheel and much more that will capture the imagination.

Happy Valley Park

How could the ubiquitous Chinese do without an analogue of the American Disneyland!? The Happy Valley amusement park they created outdid the famous American facility in its own way, adding Asian mystery and oriental motifs to the design of the huge area of ​​​​its park. Now it has more than 120 different attractions for every taste. All of them are located in 6 thematic zones, the central of which is “Atlantis” – a fantastic embodiment of an ancient civilization.

There is no limit to children's delight from “immersion” in the mysterious world of antiquity, fairy tales and characters. They will happily recognize their favorite cartoon characters, presented here in a wide variety. Adults test their courage on extreme rollercoasters and water slides, giant swings with unthinkable flight amplitude. Costumed performances, processions, theater shows are organized in the park.

Houhai lake

In the Shichahai area, there is a corner of almost pristine appearance – the artificial lake Houhai, created a long time ago for the imperial family. It has become a popular holiday destination for modern Beijingers who come here at any time of the year. In summer, people swim here on boats and catamarans, in winter they go skating and sledding.

Many cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops have grown along the shores of the lake. Children love to feed the ducks that live in the pond here, adults walk along the beautiful embankment. When the water freezes, the lake turns into a skating rink filled with Beijingers of all ages.