Top 10 things to experience on a visit to Beijing

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Top 10 things to experience on a visit to Beijing
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Jam-packed with history and culture, Beijing is a
city of extremes. Its dazzling skyscrapers push
toward the sky as the ancient gates of the
Forbidden City are opened to visitors. The Great
Wall snakes through the city, raising its
historic head unexpectedly in the middle of
urbanization. Exploring this complex ancient city
is a pursuit that could take days, so here are my
top 10 must dos while visiting Beijing.
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Must See
One of the greatest museums in the world today is
Beijings Forbidden City, the expansive palace
complex of erstwhile emperors. A UNESCO World
Heritage Site, this walled city is the physical
and metaphorical centre of Beijing. Opened to
the public after 500 years, a trip inside is
quite the eye opener. Though most of the site is
still off limits and the remaining buildings look
alike, a look-see of the former grand imperial
palace is not to be missed. Another way of
enjoying the Forbidden City is by climbing a
nearby hilltop or building to get sweeping views
of the magnificent complex.
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The Great Wall of China winds its way through the
city, throwing up a number of choices for the
visitor. Choose a less trodden section in a not
so touristy area so that you can have the Wall to
yourself. Theres the hectic section of
Badaling, for a picturesque experience head to
Mutianyu and for a nice hike choose Simatai. You
can walk the wall on your own or hire a Beijing
city travel guide for an organized tour.
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The next must see is the soon to disappear Hutong
area. Hutongs are narrow alleys formed by lines
of traditional courtyard houses to be found
mostly in Beijing. A majority of these have been
leveled to make way for urbanization but those
that remain must be explored, preferably on a
rented rickshaw for an authentic experience.
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And finally, Tiananmen Square. One of the
largest squares in the world, and possibly the
most notorious, visiting Beijings iconic
revolutionary space is an experience in itself.
Chairman Maos famous portrait stares down across
the Square that is home to his mausoleum, a
museum and a number of impressive government
buildings. Hundreds of people can be found
strolling around on any given day, mostly locals
clicking family pictures with the Chairman in the
background.
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Must Eat
Whats a trip to Beijing without having savored
the famous Peking duck? Avoid falling into the
touristy trap and head straight to Da Dong Roast
Duck Restaurant at Nanxincang. Crispier with
considerably less fat, these are the best ducks
you can get your teeth around.
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Get a taste of authentic cuisine from the
southern province of Yunnan at Dali Courtyard
Restaurant. Food from this region is heavily
influenced by the neighboring Vietnam and Burmese
cuisine, so what you get is a light and
sophisticated mix of unusual herbs and flavors.
Hot tip the place functions without a menu,
customers are served combinations of the freshest
stuff the chef managed to procure that morning!
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The Emperor Hotel is located near the east gate
of the Forbidden City. The rooftop bar of this
boutique hotel is quite the viewpoint for the
city of Beijing and especially for the
neighboring Forbidden City complex. Catch a
drink here and admire the nighttime view, sloping
roofs et al.
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Must Shop
If its retail therapy that gets you going, then a
must go place is the Nanluoguxiang hutong in the
Gulou district, endless rows of shops, eateries
and galleries. If your trip includes a weekend
in Beijing, then get up early on Saturday or
Sunday and head to the Panjiayuan flea market.
This is where you will come across merchants
selling everything from curios to antiques and
paintings, in short the perfect place to pick up
souvenirs.
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Sanlitun offers bargains in electronics, beauty
treatments and clothes during the day. By night,
this chaotic market transforms into tourist
heaven with food stalls and vendors jamming the
streets. Hawkers persuade you to part with your
money and buy random knick-knacks before you
enter the many bars brimming with expats.