China Sites List China Map Beijing Emei Shan Great Mosque of Xi'an Leshan Giant Buddha Longmen Caves Mogao Caves Shanghai Shaolin Temples Song Shan Tai Shan White Horse Temple Beijing City Guide Beijing Map Beijing Hotel Reviews Beijing Travel Forum Niu Jie Mosque Tibetan Lama Temple Temple of Heaven White Cloud Temple
Beijing and Shanghai


Frommer's Beijing


The Rough Guide to Beijing

Beijing

Beijing (formerly Peking) is the political and spiritual capital of China. With a population of 15 million, it is China's second largest city after Shanghai.

Now a very modern city, Beijing is full of imperial history. For a thousand years, the emperor sat enthroned here, at the center of the Chinese universe. He lived with his empress and giant harem in the gilded cage that was the Forbidden City and made offerings on behalf of the people at the Temple of Heaven.

There is also the famous Tian'anmen Square, the Mausoleum of Mao, and many fascinating temples to visit (Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Muslim and more). For the traveler interested in religion or history, Beijing is a must-see. It has long been a favorite with most visitors to China, thanks to its mix of traditional and modern, its great sights and proximity to the Great Wall, and its many creature comforts. And thanks to its hosting of the Summer Olympics in 2008, the city is currently undergoing even more restorations and improvements.

Beijing Map Our interactive satellite map of Beijing. Beijing Hotel Bookings Find and book your hotel in Beijing. Beijing Hotel Reviews Read unbiased reviews and compare prices on hotels in Beijing. Beijing Travel Forum Get travel advice and insider tips on Beijing from fellow travelers. Beijing Travel Beijing travel information, Beijing map, weather in Beijing, attractions for travelers to plan a trip to Beijing.

Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) Completed in 1420, this magnificent temple was considered the meeting point of Earth and Heaven. For five hundred years the emperors performed sacrifices and prayed for a good harvest at the winter solstice. Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong) This temple is fairly touristy, but well worth a visit for its colorful, 17th-century architecture. It is an active Tibetan Buddhist center, but one that is officially sponsored by the Chinese government. Niu Jie Mosque There are around 200,000 Muslims in Beijing. This mosque in the Muslim Quarter of Niu Jie is a colorful building in Chinese style, with text in Chinese and Arabic. White Cloud Temple (Baiyun Guan) Once the most influential Taoist center in China, this recently renovated temple is now the home of 30 monks and the China Taoism Association. It is a lively place that is popular with pilgrims and devotees.

Sacred Destinations Home    Contact Us    About Us    About Images    Photo Prints    Advertise    Travel Blog    Spiritual Tours    Travel Blog    Timeshares    Privacy Policy
Except where indicated otherwise, all content and images © 2005-08 Sacred Destinations. All rights reserved.
Free content for your Google homepage or website! Get our photo gadget.
Sacred Destinations is an online travel guide to sacred sites, pilgrimages, holy places, religious history, sacred places, historical religious sites, archaeological sites,
religious festivals, sacred sites, spiritual retreats, religious travel and spiritual journeys. We are a Yahoo Pick!
Popular categories: Ancient Mysteries, Biblical Sites, Cathedrals, Catholic Shrines, Dead on Display, Footsteps of Jesus, Luther Sites