Beijing – the capital city of the People’s Republic of China. Most travel itineraries for adoptive parents include a stop in Beijing. For Americans, it is typically the first city stop in their multi-city journey. For Canadians, it is the last stop as this is where their embassy is located. Beijing is a mix of old and new. It has approximately 19 million people. While your time in Beijing may be 2 days or 2 weeks, consider adding these sights to your travel plans.
Spend a few hours walking around the Forbidden City. It is a vast complex of temples, halls, and housing for the former Chinese emperors. Some believe it has 9,999 rooms. It is divided up into two sections: north and south. The northern section was the private residence and only a few were ever allowed to visit. The southern section was for parties, celebrations, and entertaining visitors. The Forbidden City is also known as the Imperial Palace.
Visit Tiananmen Square. It was once used as the front door to the Forbidden City. Now it is the most popular tourist site in Beijing and the world’s largest public square. Tiananmen Square is a large open space and is surrounded by government buildings. It is still used today for celebrations and annoucements by the government. For a few dollars, you can buy a ticket to go up into the balcony where China’s leaders address its citizens in the Square.
Spend half a day at the Summer Palace. It is the former emperors’ place for relaxation and recreation. The Summer Palace features a large lake with a long walkway encircling it. You can rent a small, electric boat and spend several hours relaxing on the lake waters. Or go with a group on one of the dragon boats. In 1998, UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site.
Visit the Temple of Heaven. It was built in 1420 AD by the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to heaven. Many of its buildings are traditional Chinese architecture. No trip to the Temple of Heaven is complete without visiting the Echo Wall. It is a long, smooth wall that carries sound – even a whisper – to people on opposite ends.
Stop by the Bird’s Nest. The Bird’s Nest, also called the National Stadium, was the site of the 2008 Olympic games. Now, it is used for international and national sports events and as a man-made ski resort in the winter.
Whatever you decide to do, your time in Beijing will be a memorable part of your adoption trip to China.
