Please drive me to: Around Beijing

executive summary by darmansjah

Forbidden city; Built 1406-1420 by a million labourers & home of emperors, concubines, eunuchs & servants till 1925.

Temple of heaven; Magnificent temple & park where emperors offered sacrifices, featuring circular ‘Hall of prayer for Good Harvest’.

Tian’an Men Square; World’s largest public square bordered by Mao’s Mausoleum, History Museum, Great Hall of the People & Forbidden City.

Summer Palace; Imperial retreat from Beijing’s summer heat, with gardens, lakes hills, the 728 meter elaborately painted Long Coridor & Empress Cixi’s marble boat.

The Ming Tomb; Burial grounds for 13 Ming dynasty emperors (from 1413-1644) set in beautiful countryside ideal for picnics.

Lama Temple; Tranquil home of Tibetan Buddhism, with working monks & an 18-meter statue of the Buddha carved from a single sandalwood tree.

Hongqiao Pearl Market; Indoor market for food, electronics, luggae, shoes, jewellery, jade, porcelain & of course, pearls!

Panjiayuan Weekend Antique Market; Saturday or Sunday market for all things old, or apparently so from Ming vases to Mao memorabilia.

Silk Market; Beijing’s most famous indoor market with all types of garments, bags, shoes, fabrics. Restaurants on the top floor.

Yashow Clothing Market

Ladies Street (Bar & Shop Area)

Houhai Bar Area

Sanlitun Bar Street

Great Wall Badaling; Fortitled against northern invaders 2700 years ago, the most popular site for overseas guests.

Great Wall Mutianyu; A steep path or cable car wall section. Fewer tourists than Badaling. Chalenging but safe.

Great Wall Simatai; Spectacular unrestored section of 500-year old mountain top wall: quiter and further from Beijing Wild and cahlenging!.

Beijing Aeronautical Museum

Beijing Capital Museum

Ditan Waxworks Museum

Military Museum

Museum of Chinese History

Natural Ancient Architecture

Where to drink : Houhai Bars-Stroll around the nearby hutongs or drink and eat along the banks of the picturesque andromantic qianhai, Houhai and Xihai lakes. Sanlitun Street-Sanlitun Lu and surrounding streets and alleys are filled with dozens of small bars and many restaurants. Wangfujing Walking Street-Formerly home to ming and Qing dynasty aristocracy. Wanfujing is now Beijing’s premier shopping street. Some of the city’s most famous stores are here.

Where You Stay : www.shangr-la.com or e.mail : thb@shangri-la.com

A favourite venue for mingling with a signature cocktail in had. Live band performance in the evening. Savour the delights in the international buffets at Traders Café which specializes in Asian Cuisine. Home style Cantonese and regional Chinese cuisine is served in The Oriental.