Over the past two decade, China has emerged as the most important emerging economy in the world. The economic development of the country has attracted significant attention to its many other attractions including its numerous tourist sites. Many people have come to discover that the country offers many fascinating views for the tourist.
The capital city of China is Beijing, a city that has a long and rich history. The city has many historical and cultural attractions that would appeal to the visitor. There are many fascinating sites that will impress a person including the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. Beijing is a crowded city and one can compare its heavy traffic flow to that of New York. However, it is easy to navigate around this city by use of the modern subway system. The Beijing subway offers a convenient and relatively cheap means of traveling while in the city. While moving around the city, you will encounter numerous stalls selling the delicious Beijing duck snacks. You should not leave the city without trying this enticing delicacy.
The two major sites that you must visit during your two-week vacation are the Great Wall and the Palace Museum. The Great Wall of China is arguably the country’s most famous tourist attraction. This imposing wall is located in the Northern part of the country and it stretches for an impressive 6,700 kilometers. The Chinese refer to it as the “10,000-li Great Wall” (Fang 13). Many tourists are intrigued by how the Ancient Chinese were able to construct this massive wall. Historians reveal that the wall has a history of about 2000 years and it was constructed by different dynasties between 7BC and 14AD (Fang 13). The wall has become a defining symbol of China’s proud history as well as its present strength. Visitors to the Great Wall are allowed to climb it at certain sections of the wall. There are staircases and passageways that make the climbing process easy and safe. From the top of the wall, one is able to enjoy the expansive natural scenery spread out below.
The other major site that one must visit is the famous Forbidden City, which is officially called the Palace Museum. This vast and impressive palace is located at the center of Beijing. The Forbidden City has a rich history, as it was the extravagant palace used as the official home to many Chinese Emperors. Emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties used this palace, which is the largest and most complete ancient wooden-structure building complex in the world. Knell documents that the Palace Museum houses a vast collection of imperial art treasures (150). The impressive imperial throne, which was the center of China’s administration in the monarchial era, can be seen in the Palace Museum.
In addition to these two major sites, you can also visit the Tiananmen Square, which is one of the largest city squares in the world. At this site, you can purchase kites and fly them in the square. You can also visit the Bird Nest, the name given to China’s impressive National Stadium. This stadium is regarded as an engineering marvel and it is the largest steel structure every constructed. The stadium is very colorful especially at night when its lights are turned on. One can enjoy the amazing architecture of the structure even as he/she walks around the stadium.
Works Cited
Fang, Lee. Tourist Chinese. Peking: Ping Makarsky, 2010. Print.
Knell, Simon. World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. NY: Marshall Cavendish, 2007. Print.