The Great Wall of China
The most recognized and most visited historic relic in the Beijing, China area is of course, the Great Wall of China. One of the great wonders of the w and enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. The Great Wall encompasses over forty-one hundred miles from the eastern to the western parts of China. The wall seems to flow along the topography. It meanders through valleys, climbs up and down mountains and covers grassy areas and desert landscapes. It seems to go on forever. The Great Wall was built over 2000 years ago and is probably one of the most impressive sites in the world. The building of the Great Wall was as amazing as any pyramid or modern tower. Most of what survives today and is visited by tourists was built during the Ming Dynasty. A visit to the Great Wall of China in any capacity is a must during your visit to the capital city of Beijing, China
The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven was built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420 AD. The complex was erected as a sacrifice to heaven and was build in the design of ancient Chinese philosophy that heaven is high and earth is low. Heaven was thought to be round and the earth was surely square. So, the northern wall is built in a semicircle that mimics the heavenly world and the south section of the wall is square to represent the earth. This is a beautiful architectural design of Chinese genius and is amazing that this has survived for centuries. It is dramatic and worth the visit.
The Forbidden City
The Chinese Royal palace erected during the Ming Dynasty is located in the center of Bejing, China. It was the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty and is now the Palace Museum. It was constructed from 1406 to 1420AD and has 980 surviving structures. The Forbidden City was the home of the Emporer of China and his family and it was inside these walls that government was conducted and traditional Chinese ceremonies were practiced. This complex has the greatest amount of wooden buildings in the world. During an Emporer's rule, no one could enter or leave the Forbidden City grounds without his permission.The Forbidden City is divided into two areas with the inner court being the home of the Emperor and the outer section where ceremony was practiced. This is a must for any visitor to Beijing and just the historical value of the site is immense. The feeling of ancient ways and the people who walked within the walls of the Forbidden City is overwhelming and a truly memorable experience.
Modern Beijing
Today, Beijing is a combination of the ancient and the ultra-modern one next to the other. The few remaining historical structures are now protected from destruction bya a historical group that designated several sites in 1987 as historic sites and valuable to keep for posterity. The group named Unesco has been reviving a pride in China's valuable historic significance and are protecting these ancient sites. Within all this majesty, is another world of Glass and Metal that towers over the old relics from the past. Some of the new office buildings and residential dwellings of modern Beijing are remarkably beautiful in a new era.
Since the Olympic committee granted Beijing would host the 2008 Olympic games, Beijing has been bustling with construction sites and almost a metamorphosis. The views and architecture that tourists will witness in August 2008 will be awe-inspiring. From the Birds Nest building that houses the site for water sports to the square water bubble that is an intriguing design of futuristic quality, the visitors of Beijing for the 2008 Olympics will also take a step back in time to see the Great Wall that protected the city of Beijing, China in centuries past.
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Beijing 2008 will take place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Olympic Games in Beijing will host the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic programme. Around 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games, with a huge media contingent bringing the Games to the world.