Today’s Summer Palace (Yíhe Yuan or “Garden of Nurtured Harmony”) owes a lot to late-imperial historical circumstance: after its predecessors, including the Old Summer Palace, were destroyed by marauding Anglo-French forces, first in 1860 (Second Opium War), and then again in 1900 (Boxer Rebellion).

The Emperor Dowager Cixi, while presiding over the downfall of imperial China, made certain that its final years wouldn’t go without a Summer Palace and poured resources—including silver earmarked for upgrading the Chinese navy—into rebuilding the ravaged pleasure grounds, completing the restoration in 1902, a scant decade before the ultimate fall of the Qing. Though she failed to keep China together, she did a bang-up job on restoring the imperial getaway.

Originally known as the “Garden of Clear Ripples,” the site was established in 1750 by the Emperor Qianlong. Kunming Lake was enlarged and shaped in imitation of Xi Hu (West Lake) in Hangzhou and Longevity Hill (Wan Shou Shan) was enlarged using earth excavated from the new lake bed. The gardens survived the two Anglo-French attacks, and the burned and looted buildings were rebuilt and expanded upon after both. Today, the Summer Palace grounds are the largest preserved imperial-era garden in China, occupying some 117 hectares (290 acres).

Once inside, a host of sights await exploration, from the Duobao Glazed Pagoda atop Longevity Hill, to the painting-lined Long Corridor, to the lake’s Marble Boat and temple-dotted Nanhu Island, reached by the elegant Seventeen Arch Bridge.

The Summer Palace in Beijing

Sightseeing at the Summer Palace

Summer Palace Beijing. Temple of Heaven Beijing

Red Pagoda, Summer Palace, Beijing

Its quintessential Shanghai retro-futurist architectural kitsch set the tone for much of the high-rise hijinks that have since come to define Shanghai’s active skyline (lots of flashing lights, rooftop ornamentation running from the sublime to the ridiculous). As Pudong’s more recent giants—the Jin Mao Tower and World Financial Center—show, Shanghai’s architecture is maturing, favoring cool international grays and sophisticated glass and metal claddings, but the pink glass orbs and rocket-ship base of the Oriental Pearl Tower will always remain dear to the hearts of true fans of Shanghai style.

Besides admiring the tower from afar, whether from the Bund across the Huangpu or from the observation deck of a nearby skyscraper, most tourists find that they simply must view the cityscape from inside one of the Oriental Pearls—there are 11 glass spheres, all told, threading the 468 m (1,535.5 ft) spire. Three of the orbs house observation decks served by six high-speed elevators.

The highest, known as the Space Module, sits 350 m (1,148 ft) above ground, with a second, lower “Sightseeing Floor” at 263 m (863 ft) and “Space City” sphere hanging at 90 m (295 ft). With all this, you might expect a revolving restaurant—and you’d be in luck: you can dine in rotating high style 267 m (876 ft) above ground. Finally, if you’re really lucky and call way ahead, you can stay in the 20-room Space Hotel, lodged between the tower’s two largest spheres.

Be ready for long lines and big crowds on weekends and holidays.

Night Shanghai. Orient Pearl TV Tower. Chenghuang Temple

Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai 468m

The Magnificant Oriental Pearl TV Tower

In the north of the Square is Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) where Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding the the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. The way to the Forbidden City is through here.

Side view of Tian'anmen gateway

Tian'anmen Square

Gorgeous Tian'anmen Gate

Tiananmen - Gate of Heavenly Peace

In the center of the Square stands the Monument to the People’s Heroes, which commemorates the martyrs who devoted their lives to the Chinese people. It reaches 37.94 meters (124 feet) which makes it the biggest monument in Chinese history. The body is made of hardy granite and is surrounded by white balusters. Engraved is the epigraph written by Mao Zedong, the founder of People’s Republic of China. Eight reliefs depict the crucial events which took place in modern times, showing a part of the centuries-old history of China.

Monument to the People's Heroes

In the south of the Square is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. Mao Zedong, the first chairman of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is greatly admired by the Chinese People. The hall was built in 1977. It is divided into three halls: the main hall, the north hall and the south hall. The remains of Mao Zedong are laid in a crystal coffin in the main hall. From the exhibit in the north hall, you can learn something about Chairman
Mao, Zhou Enlai and other founders of the state. While visiting the main hall, it is necessary to observe a respectful silence.

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

In the east of the Square is the National Museum of China which is a great treasure trove. This museum was officially opened in 2003. Its predecessors are the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of the Chinese Revolution. It is a comprehensive museum with an emphasis on Chinese art and history. The National Museum of Chinese History has more than 3,000,000 precious articles which provide
a vivid portrayal of Chinese history. In the National Museum of the Chinese Revolution there are displays of over 4,500 articles, including literature, pictures, drawings and sculptures. These depict the people’s revolutions and movements to save China, which happened after the Opium War in 1840.

National Museum of China

In the west of the Square is the Great Hall of the People which was built in 1959 and occupies a construction area of 170,000 square meters (42 acres). It is so called because the National People’s Congress is held in this hall. When entering the building you will see the central hall which is decorated with white marble columns and crystal lights. At the back of the hall is the great hall which can hold 10,000 people. The banqueting hall in the north has 5,000 seats and grand banquets are conducted on important occasions. In the south are the offices of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

Great Hall of the People

]]> http://toptouristsites.com/tian%e2%80%99anmen-square-beijing/feed/ 1 http://toptouristsites.com/huang-shan-summit-peak-circuit-huang-shan/ http://toptouristsites.com/huang-shan-summit-peak-circuit-huang-shan/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:48:45 +0000 Tommy http://toptouristsites.com/?p=1058 The crowning glory of Huang Shan is the rough circle of peaks Purple Cloud Peak, Pine Forest Peak and Bright Summit Peak—arranged around Tianhai Lake and overlooking two of Huang Shan’s “seas” of clouds, the Beihai to the north and the Xihai to the west. Whether you arrive from the Eastern or Western Steps via the Taiping Cable Car, you’ll find yourself surrounded by stunning sights as you work your way along the trail.

In addition to the circuit that links up with the Western Steps on the south end and a pair of trails breaking east toward the northern terminal of the Cloud Valley Cable Car, several trails break off toward more isolated—and less crowded—points.

You can head north toward Purple Cloud Peak or cut east toward the more distant Shixin Peak, which affords a fantastic view of mountain streams cutting through pristine woods below spectacular rock spires.

Huangshan mountain in China

Anhui's Mt. Huangshan is one of China's most celebrated sights

Huang shan in winter

Huang Shan - The Yellow Mountain

Huang Shan mountain in cloud

Gu Shan is home to a restaurant, Louwailou Caiguan, Zhongshan Park and the Zhejiang Provincial Museum. One of the best ways to get around the lake and take in the sights is by bicycle—rentals are widely available.

West Lake Hangzhou

Sunset Over West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

West Lake walkway and pagoda

West Lake in winter

The tram drops you off at the foot of the Peak Tower. An oddly unnecessary addition to such a stunning spot, the eight-story wok-shaped mall in the sky looks a bit like a clunky party hat perched atop the head of an otherwise grand dame. Along with the neighboring Peak Galleria, the tower houses a slew of expensive shops, pricey eateries and a Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. Of far less questionable aesthetics is the historic Peak Lookout, a breezy colonial-era building that is home to a restaurant with a terrace perfect for a cup of coffee, a cold beer or a satisfying meal (seafood is especially recommended).

Exploring further afield, you’ll find four roads leading away from the tram terminal. Mount Austin Road leads to the actual top of the Peak (the tower sits below the real summit) and to the Victoria Peak Gar

Harbour lights as seen from Victoria peak

Entrance to Victoria Peak, Orchard Central

View of Kowloon and Central from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Panorama of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak.

Victoria peak garden

Victoria peak at night

With all the extras and the site’s popularity, those seeking a less crowded and commercialized experiences may want to head further out to Simatai, Jinshanling or other spots. But for those on a tight schedule who want to get in a visit to a prime length of the Great Wall, Badaling makes for an excellent day trip. Despite all the commercial trappings and crowds, a walk along the Badaling wall can be a stunning experience.

With a little effort (the climbs can be steep, hence the cable car), you can gain commanding views of the surrounding countryside and get a strong sense of the overall grandeur and expanse of the world’s most famous (if ineffectual) defense project. From Ming-era watchtowers, it’s a pleasure to take in views of the ancient wall as it snakes its way into distant, rugged hills.

An off-season visit can be a real delight, especially after a snowfall when the wall’s dark brick makes for a striking contrast against the white slopes and ridges.

Great Wall of China view from tower and many many steps disappearing up and ...

The Great Wall, surely China's most famous feature, at Badaling

Traditionally known to the Chinese as the "Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li", the stretch of formidable defensive structures built to ward off invasion of the Celestial Empire by barbarians is most often called the "Great Wall" or the "Wall of China" by Europeans.

Crowded Great Wall in Badaling

The location is reputed to have been a temple site since 242 AD; Longhua Temple (Longhua Si) itself goes back to 977 AD and the Song Dynasty. Many of the complex’s buildings are more recent still, dating from the rule of Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu (1871-1908), and the entire site was renovated in 1954. In addition to the pagoda, the 20,000 square meter area contains five main halls, a bell tower and a drum tower. The grounds bustle with monks and the faithful as well as throngs of tourists, though the seven-tiered pagoda, dating from 249 AD, is generally closed to the public because of its age and fragility.

Longhua Temple is dedicated to the Maitreya Buddh

Longhua Temple, Shanghai

Longhua Pagoda

Fast-forward thirty-some years and the emperor’s underground army has become an enormously popular tourist destination, even as archaeologists continue to painstakingly excavate and preserve the fragile statues.

Qin created his empire by brutally smashing the armies of rival kings, and the the life-size warriors are testament to a dynasty founded on and ruled by force of arms. Standing in ranks as if awaiting a battle, each is unique, featuring different facial expressions and sculpted hands, which held real weapons, many of which survive today, albeit in decayed form.

They were also fitted with leather armor, long since rotted away, and painted in bright colors which time and exposure to oxygen have reduced to a slate gray. In addition to the warriors, a number or exquisitely crafted horses, once hitched to war chariots whose bodies have turned to dust, stand at the ready.

Three separate chambers have been discovered, each with different arrangements of soldiers, as well as chariots and weapons. After the initial discovery, archaeologists quickly realized that oxidation was damaging the long-buried figures they had unearthed, and today portions of the site are sealed off from the public for controlled excavation intended to better preserve the original colors of the painted figures. Also on site are relics

Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors

Along with the Great Wall, the Forbidden City is one of the  must-see sites in Beijing. In the afternoon sunshine, the red walls and golden roof tiles cast a glow across the vast courtyards of this symbol of China’s mighty imperial past.If pressed for time, try to spend at least half a day exploring; if you have more time, consider return trips—the Forbidden City’s stately spaces and myriad treasures are best lingered over.

Try to avoid weekends and holidays when crowds peak. If you’re in a hurry, a tour guide can help you understand the significance of what you’re seeing; if you have time, you might choose to explore on your own with a guidebook.

The world’s largest palace complex, the Forbidden City (Gugong or Zijincheng) covers 720,000 square meters (0.3 square miles). The southern Tiananmen Gate—one of four gates connecting the palace to the outside world—serves as the main entrance.

After passing through it, you’ll come to an interior gate, the Meridian Gate (Wumen) that leads to the heart of the complex. Beyond the Meridian Gate, a vast courtyard extends toward the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

Forbidden City Beijing Shenwumen Gate

Forbidden City Beijing at night

Forbidden City, Beijing