My mom wanted to visit this shopping strip in Beijing (Wangfujing) with the thoughts that it was still the same old shopping strip as before. She said this used to look very traditional..with small shops like there in Yu Yuan Shanghai but alas commercialization took the best of the yester-years.

We passed by the exotic food section which I dared my small siblings to try (yet no one brave enough to swallow gross looking insects/bugs).

I was dwarfed by the huge buildings that surrounded me. I vaguely recall this much shopping centres last time I went here (which mainly because it was still pre Olympics 2008). I still miss Singapore malls though where I prefer the brands better. Chinese fashion is very peculiar for me. Not that it’s not fashionable, but sometimes it looks too extravagant for every day use…maybe I’m a laid back dresser.
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I haven’t round up some places tourists must definitely check out when they visit Beijing, the capital of China. For sure, nowadays, it must be jam packed with the Olympic games going on there. They have heightened security for those who plan to disrupt anything.

Well, let me recall those places that left an impression on me.

1. Great Wall of China - For sure, you should visit this great world wonder. It’s an experience stepping into a magnificent product of history (sweat and blood of a lot of people like Egypt’s pyramid). The great wall itself is a long stretch and only few sections are open because some haven’t been safely reconstructed. I visited only 2 sections, one was full of tourists which was very very uncomfortable (Badaling) so I advise you to try the other section (Mutianyu). For those adventurous hearts, you can visit Simaitai for an amazing view of the sunrise.

2. Temple of Heaven- this is now the signature landmark of Beijing for the Olympics 2008. It is a must see because it looks so majestic especially in a bright sunny day. You can see how the place seems to shine and reflect some golden glow.

3. Summer Palace - You can just imagine how big this place is. It is one of the ancient royal gardens of Beijing as the capital of China long ago. With emperors and empresses who had walked the gardens during the olden times, it does feel like you’ve been transported into history but with so many tourists nowadays, I doubt it’s possible now
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During Chinese New Year, there is a tradition in China which celebrates by having temple fairs. Celebrated in temples around the city, people gather around to pray for luck, good fortune, health and all possible good tidings that one can ask. One of the temple we visited is Bai Yun which means White Cloud. It’s actually fun to see a lot of people burning incense and praying to Taoist saints. They also have a lot of activities like this one which I tried. You will need to buy gold plated huge coins to aim and throw on the big bell on the middle. It’s said that it will bring luck but I’m more into trying out cultural activities like this. And I hit the target! (not captured in the video though)

Here’s a peak of throwing coin activity…

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Yu Yuan actually means Contentment according to one travel site I saw.

Yu Yuan Garden is a “five-acre garden consists of six sections separated by boundary walls: Grand Rockery, Ten Thousand-Flower Pavilion, Hall of Heralding Spring, Hall of Jade Magnificence, Inner Garden and Lotus Poo located in Shanghai.”

The place has a magnificent colorful architecture. The vibrance of red makes you feel “China”. But amidst its beauty, the place really attracts a LOT of tourist/people! It was literally full and I was finding my way to places I need to meet my friends.

There was a lot of shops, food inside the Garden. This is where I got to try the HUGE Xiao Long Pao. I was literally shocked that I had to sip the soup inside the big pao. It was really hot! I wondered why the straw didn’t melt. The xiao long paowas actually cheap (around 5rmb). We ate at some famous restaurant inside garden, we saw pictures of Clinton and other famous personalities inside the restaurant. But the food…I wasn’t impressed and it’s really expensive! Our cafeteria restaurant in BLCU was even better. Their jiao zi (dumpling) was sticky and starchy. Din tai fung’s xiao long pao is way better!
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Paris? Pyramids? Close…for budget tourist like me, I’m estatic seeing almost ‘real’ world attractions at World Park. These life-size replicas ignite the historical curiousity in you. Imagine seeing mythological scruptures from “ancient” Greece/Rome! Or the Japanese temples and gardens! or life-size Angkor Wat!

The World Park in Beijing is located in southwestern Fengtai District, and is about 17 kilometers from the City center and 40 kilometers from the Capital International Airport. The park opened in 1993 and is estimated to receive 1.5 million visitors annually.

When we went there, it was so gloomy that I was depressed seeing the cloudy sky. Although the weather was not with us that day, we managed to go around the place and take lots of pictures as usual! My favorite is the Eiffel Tower replica! I do dream of Paris…so hopefully one day, I’ll be in the real one!
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This is one of the anticipated architectural masterpiece designed by the French architect Jean Andreu. Formally known as National Grand Theatre, Beijing Center for Performing Arts opens to the public this December 22, 2007.

An inaugural concert will be given by the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. Soloist Li Yundi, a young Chinese pianist, will play a piece by Maurice Ravel, said Deng Yijiang, deputy president of the National Center for the Performing Arts, during a news briefing.

The Mariinsky Theater Opera Company (known until 1991 as the Kirov), from St Petersburg, Russia, will perform Alexander Borodin’s Prince Igor on December 25. It will be the first foreign art troupe to give a performance in the building.

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“How can something so beautiful be destroyed?”

That was what I thought when we visited the Old Summer Palace in Beijing near Beida University. This attraction is not usually famous spot for tourists but it serves a very sound reminder of the humiliating past of China.

It was originally the Imperial Garden that was built by the Emperor Kangxi in the early 1700’s for his son. It was greatly expanded during 1725 by Emperor Yongzheng, adding up ponds, lakes, streams to compliment the gardens.

The Imperial Gardens were made up of three gardens: the Garden of Perfect Brightness proper, the Garden of Eternal Spring (Simplified Chinese: 长春园; Traditional Chinese: 長春園; Pinyin: Chángchūn Yuán), and the Elegant Spring Garden (Simplified Chinese: 绮春园; Traditional Chinese: 綺春園; Pinyin: Qǐchūn Yuán); together they covered an area of 3.5 km² (865 acres). They were almost 5 times the size of the Forbidden City, and 8 times the size of the Vatican City. They had hundreds of halls, pavilions, temples, galleries, gardens, lakes, etc.From: Wikipedia

There were European styled Palaces built inside with thousands of national treasures once a sight to behold.

Sadly, this astounding beauty was destroyed during the Second Opium War when troops of the Great Britain and France launch to full force to destroy where it would hurt China the most. It took almost 3500 soldiers to destroy this in just three days. They looted the place and let it to rut. Sad sad….This would have been the grandest sight that China can boast around the world. (more…)