Beijing\n
What to do: There has been a city in the area now known as Beijing for centuries and the Chinese capital and surrounding districts have done a particularly good job of protecting its traditions and treasures. Visitors with an interest in cultural sightseeing, therefore, are able to see hundreds of temples and shrines as well as tens of thousands of ancient Chinese artifacts in the numerous museums and galleries. Explore the city limits to find one of China, and the World’s, most impressive displays. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.
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Must see: The extravagant opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing gave the world a mere taste for the scale of imagination behind much of Chinese musical performance. Interested tourists should explore further and sample the Beijing Opera. This combination of song, spoken dialogue, and codified action sequences involving gestures, movement, fighting and acrobatics is an experience unlikely to be forgotten easily.
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Where to stay: In a city of almost 20 million people it is essential to give yourself a sensible base. The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street is close enough to the main attractions (The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, White Pagoda Temple) but also provides transport to further afield essentials such as The Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. Even in skyscraper-packed Beijing the hotel’s sparkling modern glass and chrome exterior never fails to impress.
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The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street\n\n\n\n\n\n