Not only is Beijing one of the largest metropolises in China, it is also one of the greatest places to visit. Its long history as China's capital has bequeathed to the world a superb legacy of architectural and historical attractions.

The majestic Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest and most well preserved Imperial Palace complex in the world, and sits at the top of any visitor's itinerary. The Palace became a museum after the 1911 Revolution, and so vast is the collection of Imperial property and artifacts that only a small proportion of them can be displayed, despite the vast size of the complex.

In front of the Forbidden City is Tian'anmen Square, the largest square in all of China, which serves as a symbol of Beijing and the nation. This immense 44,000 sqm courtyard is home to various historical sites including the Chinese Revolution History Museum, Mao Zedong Mausoleum, Great Hall of the People, Tian'anmen Tower and Qianmen.

The Great Wall, another imperishable symbol of ancient China and one of the most recognizable monuments in the world, runs through the steep mountains to the north of the capital. The most popular and accessible (and therefore the most crowded and touristy) place to view the Wall is at Badaling. There are a number of other Wall sites a bit further afield. Two of the best are at Mutianyu, where it's possible to escape the crowds if you go early enough, and Simatai, which offers spectacular views and exhilarating hiking.

Beijing has many ancient sites including temples, parks, and streets. The Temple of Heaven was originally constructed for the Emperor to pay tribute to heaven and its gods. Originally built in the 1500's, the Temple complex includes some surpassingly beautiful buildings and structures. Those interested in checking out active temples may want to go to Yonghegong Lamasery and White Cloud Temple, which are Buddhist and Taoist temples respectively.

The Ming Tombs serve as the burial site for 13 Ming emperors, and three of them are open to the public. The tombs, each of which has its own walled complex and elegant buildings, are arranged according to fengshui principles around a picturesque and peaceful valley.

Grand View Garden is a mansion modeled after one of the most famous Chinese novels, ''Dream of the Red Mansion.'' This beautiful garden is adorned with buildings that adhere to the Ming Dynasty architectural style. In terms of ancient parks, the Summer Palace is considered the most celebrated. Originally, it was a summer imperial resort, and today it is one of the grandest museum gardens.

Those visiting the Forbidden City may also want to head to Beihai Park. The Park is one of the oldest (it has a history that spans 1,000 years), largest and most well preserved imperial gardens.
Liulichang Street is an ancient street of domestic and international fame for its curios, ancient books, calligraphy, paintings and other Chinese artworks. The street is dotted with major historical sites, some of which have been there since the Qing Dynasty. For those interested in a more modern site, you may want to head to the Underground City, which was built out of bricks from the city wall, and was to be used as a bomb shelter in the event of a nuclear war. Parts of the Underground City remain open to the public.

Beijing has numerous fine museums. In 2010, the finest of them will undoubtedly be the National Museum of China near Tian'anmen Square, but at the moment it is clsed for extensive redesign and renovation; meanwhile, pride of place goes to the newly-opened Capital Museum. The Beijing Museum of Natural Museum is near the Temple of Heaven and has an impressive collection of pre-historic artifacts and fossils. Those interested in art may want to make their way to the National Art Museum, which contains 100,000 modern and traditional pieces of art displayed in 20 halls. Contemporary museums include Beijing Lu Xun Museum and The former Residence of Comrade Soong Ching Ling. Both museums display artifacts from two renowned individuals. Ms. Soong Ching Ling was the widow of Sun Yat-sen. After his death, she remained on the Chinese mainland and contributed to the Communist cause. In exchange, she was able to reside in this beautiful home, which today is a celebrated place where her belongings and that of her husband are displayed. Beijing Lu Xun Museum served as the residence of Lu Xun, a novelist that aided the May 4th movement.

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