As one of the six ancient cities of China, the city has a long and colorful history. At present, it has grown by leaps and bounds and it has become one of the most sought after places to visit and enjoy.

A visit to Beijing is not complete without experiencing the sights and savoring the beauty and value of these most popular sights of the city:

1. Forbidden City – A huge complex of numerous buildings and alleys that comprised the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The complex has 9,999 rooms. A six-meter deep moat and a ten-meter high wall surround this palatial wonder. This palace served as China’s administrative center for five centuries.

2. The Great Wall of China – As one of the Eight Wonders of the World, it is also included in the World Heritage Directory. Originally built to prevent enemy invasion of China, the wall spans through five provinces. It stretches from the Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to the Jiayuguan Pass in the west. The rough terrain of these places did not deter the builders of the wall. Thus it stretches across grasslands, mountains and deserts. It is possible to explore the Badaling Great Wall in downtown Beijing.

3. Tiananmen Square – Renowned as the world’s largest city square. It is a significant symbol of China as a nation. This huge courtyard is the location of many historical events celebrated and commemorated by the Chinese people. A stroll around this immense courtyard will take visitors through the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People, and the Monument to the People’s Heroes.

4. Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) – The Summer Palace was first constructed during the Jin Dynasty. However, it was continuously extended and expanded until it became a luxurious garden during the Qing Dynasty. Originally called the “Qingyi Garden” (Garden of Ripples), it was a favorite vacation haven for the members of the royal family. The Summer Palace is famed for its “three hills and five gardens”—Jade Spring Mountain, Longevity Hill, and Fragrant Hill; Garden of Tranquility and Brightness, Garden of Clear Ripples, Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure, Garden of Perfection and Brightness, and Garden of Everlasting Spring.

However, a big part of the garden was destroyed during the war with the Anglo-French allied forces. Empress Dowager Cixi was credited for funding the restoration of the place and changing its name to Summer Palace.

Today, the Summer Palace is listed by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. Its magnificent landscapes and 3,000 artistic architectures exemplifies a classic Chinese garden. It sits on 294 hectares of land and water.

5. Ming Tombs – These are mausoleums of the thirteen emperors who reigned during the Ming Dynasty. The tombs are held in high esteem for their cultural and historic values. Among the thirteen tombs, only Changling and the Dingling Tombs are open to the public. Changling is considered as the original and the most grandiose of the tombs. It is the tomb of Emperor Zhu Di and his empresses. The twelve tombs are not as ostentatious and were built around Changling. Dingling is the tomb of Emperor Zhu Yijun and his two empresses. The entire mausoleum is made of stone. It is built underground and the symbolic Soul Tower is the imposing opening to the underground chambers.

6. Beijing Zoo – houses a large number of pandas and many other kinds of animals, some of which are endangered and endemic only to China.

7. CCTV Tower – home to many TV and Radio stations including CCTV1 thru CCTV 9. The tower is one of the best architectural wonders in the city. The view from the top of the tower is magnificent particularly the western part of Beijing. The tower has an observation deck as well as a revolving restaurant. After enjoying the sites at the viewing deck, tourists flock to a picturesque park near the base of the tower for a stroll or to rent some boats. At night, the tower is a wonderful sight to behold once it is illuminated by lights.

8. Temple of Heaven – For many centuries, the Temple of Heaven is revered as a sacred site for the Chinese people. For many emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasty, the temple was a place for sacrifice. The temple contains the largest sacrificial place in the city. It is one of the few imperial altars used to offer sacrifices to Heaven, the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon. In the early hours of the morning, people flock to the Temple of Heaven to engage in traditional Chinese exercise including kung fu and taiji. A great way to spend the day is to take a stroll along the paths which are lined with rows of centuries-old Chinese cypress.

9. Hutong Pedicab Tour (Shichahai Area) – A visit to Beijing is not complete without experiencing the Hutong Pedicab Tour. Hutongs are narrow streets or alleys which are said to have existed since ancient times. Tours through the city’s Hutongs are best experienced riding a rickshaw. These old city streets link the courtyards of old homes. A ride through the Hutongs is a show window to the real life of the ordinary people of Beijing. The most common sites which are included in a Hutong tour include the Prince Gong Building, Drum Tower, and the Pipe Tobacco Alley.

10. Lama Temple (Yonghegong) – This is the most frequently visited Buddhist temple in Beijing. It was formerly a palace for a prince who later on offered the temple to the Tibetan Buddhists. The temple is famous for having the biggest Buddha statue carved from a single tree. Every day, many believers visit the temple to burn incense. The temple can easily be accessed in downtown Beijing because it is the only temple with a subway stop.

China’s 56 ethnic groups are represented in Beijing’s population. The Han group constitutes more than 96% while the rest of the population is mostly made up of Manchu, Hui, and Mongolian nationalities with a sprinkling of the other minority groups of China.

Beijing cuisine, also called northern Chinese cuisine or Capital City Cuisine, is influenced by various cultures. It is famous for hundreds of dishes that possess unmatched special flavors. From the chefs of the Imperial Court to the 14th century Mongol invaders, Beijing cuisine reflects their rich culinary influences.

Beijing cuisine has two main branches—the Imperial Court Food and Official Food. The first one focuses on the aesthetic aspect and the use of rare ingredients. Chefs of the Imperial Palace introduced dishes featuring exotic ingredients such as bear’s paw and shark’s fin.

On the other hand, “official food” is influenced by common household food prepared for Imperial officials and aristocrats.

Typical dishes that Beijing is famous for include:

1. Beijing Roast Duck – a visit to Beijing is never complete without a taste of its Roast Duck. Many have called the Roast Duck as the “No. 1 delicacy on earth”­. No one can get enough of its tender succulent meat under the bronzed thin, crispy skin.

2. Instant-boiled Mutton – also known as the Mongolian Hotpot. Frozen mutton is cut into deli-thin slices and placed individually into the hot cooking broth. The cooking pot is often placed above or sunk on the table. With the use of chopsticks, one can instantly taste the instant-boiled mutton that is tender and delicious. Aside from mutton, other kinds of meat can also be used. Vegetables are often cooked in the same way.

3. Zhajiang Mian (Fried Sauce Noodles) – a dish made up of thick wheat noodles and topped with stir-fried ground pork, cucumber and fermented soybean paste. Some people call this dish as “Chinese spaghetti”.

4. Shaobing (Roasted Pastry or Huoshao) – baked flat bread with sesame toppings. Shaobing usually comes in two flavors—sweet or salty. During winter, Shaobing is often served with hotpot. In northern China, Shaobing is eaten with hot soybean milk for breakfast.

5. Beijing Pea Cake (Wan Dou Huang) – a traditional Beijing snack. It is usually available during spring when ripe Pea is plentiful. A special herb is often added to enhance the flavor of the cake.

6. Mung Tofu (Extra-thin Beancurd Skin) – More than a hundred years ago, Mung Tofu was already a part of the Chinese diet. However, today’s Mung Tofu has a slightly different taste compared to the past. Vegetable oil is now used instead of Caproic oil, the one commonly used during ancient times.

7. Ai Wo Wo (Sticky Rice with Sweet Fillings) – During the Yuan Dynasty, Ai Wo Wo was considered a popular court snack. It is often prepared during the Chinese Spring Festival until the late summer months. Preparing Ai Wo Wo is quite a complicated process. It is first steamed, pounded, and shaped into a ball before being filled with sesame and white sugar, jujube paste, melon paste or walnut meat. The filled ball is then coated with rice flour.