City: Beijing
Top Things to do in Beijing
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8 Government Buildings in Beijing That You Shouldn't Miss
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market. A visit to the Great Wall, the longest manmade structure in the world, is absolutely essential.
Restaurants in Beijing
1. Temple of Heaven
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,200 reviews
Built in 1420 with a total area of 270 acres, this is the largest building for religious worship in China, which was originally used by the Ming and Qing emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of rich harvest.
Reviewed By abchester - Chester, United Kingdom
A fascinating place to visit and marvel at the woodwork and painting, all set in beautiful grounds with locals happily playing cards, exercising or knitting.
2. Great Hall of the People (Renmin Dahuitang)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 188 reviews
Built in the Soviet neoclassical style, this imposing building on Tiananmen Square is where the People’s Congress meets and other important government and diplomatic meetings take place.
Reviewed By 863SueM - Williamsburg, United States
Crystal Cruises arranged a banquet, including entertainment for the 800 plus passengers that were participating in the Beijing excursion that the cruise line had arranged. A bit challenging to get everyone through security first, but wow, what a huge place and best of all, we were allowed to take photos of the interior spaces. We were led to a huge banquet hall, the room was still empty even w/ tables to seat 800 diners. The banquet hall is the same room that Nixon, Kissinger, and Chou En-lai toasted each other in 1972. The ceiling is very distinctive and my husband has a book that shows a picture of Nixon & Chou En-lai toasting each other w/ that distinct ceiling in the background! It was quite an honor to be able to have dinner there. According to our local Beijing tour guides, they liken it to having dinner at the White House. I wouldn't go quite that far but it was very impressive to be in this historical building. We learned that Crystal is the only cruise line that has a banquet in the Great Hall of the People for their passengers so kudos to them for this! The meal itself was unimpressive Chinese food (and I'm Chinese American) but watching the wait service come out in unison to bring the food for 800 was impressive. The entertainment was excellent, examples of operatic singing, Kung Fu demonstrations, children singing and dancing, Beijing Opera, etc. It was well orchestrated. As my husband said, if you would have told him as a young man in the '60's that he would be dining in the Great Hall of the People, he would have questioned your sanity. China was closed to Westerners until relations improved in the '70s. It would have been great to have toured the building more but this was impressive enough. It was quite a special evening.
3. Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 52 reviews
4. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
5. Beijing Meteorological Bureau
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
6. Ziguang Pavilion of Beijing
7. Minguo Parliament Capiton Site
8. Print House of Minguo Ministry of Finance
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