Touring in Beijing

Beijing Dongcheng District
The optimum meeting point of new Beijing and old Beijing, culture essence of China nation with the representation of royalty culture is embodied in Dongcheng, Dongcheng District Is the most centralized district of Beijing cultural relics & historical site, so Dongcheng District should be the first object of your travel!

1. Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace is rectangle architecture. It is 961 meters long from south to north and 753 meters wide, there is city wall with 10 meters height around and moat outside of city wall is 52 meters wide. The Imperial Palace has 4 gates, the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) on the north, Meridian Gate (Wumen) on the south, the Eestem Flowery Gate (Donghuamen) on the east, and the Western Flowery Gate (Xihuamen) on the west. There are 4 corner towers at the 4 corners of city wall and the whole area is 724,250 square meters.
On the whole, the Imperial Palace is divided into two parts: front court and back bedchamber. Not only in the Imperial Palace, monarch bedchamber of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty is divided like so. Front court of the Imperial Palace mainly includes the 3 palaces of mid way, and the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian), the Pavilion of the Source of Literature (Wenyuange), Shang Si Court, Arrow tower, Imperial Hospital, Imperial Teahouse, Qing Embassy and Cabinet Warehouse of east way. And also Wu Ying Palace, Yan An Palace, Internal Affairs Mansion, Building Office and Nan Xun Palace of west way. Back bedchamber includes Back Three Palaces of mid way (the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), the Palace of Union and Peace (Jiaotaidian) and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong)), East Six Palaces, Feng Xian Palace, Ning Shou Palace and the Palace of Abstinence (Zhaigong) of east way, West Six Palace, the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian), Ci Ning Palace, Shou Kang Palace and Shou An Palace of west way. So you can choose one route or two routes among mid way (outside court, internal court travel route), west way (internal court west travel route) and east way (internal court east and external east travel route). If you are non-group tourist, suggest you rent multi lingual guide record at Meridian Gate (Wumen) and return when you go to the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen). After you visit the Imperial Palace, you go out of the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen), enter into Jingshan Park and overlook the panorama of the Imperial Palace. In addition, suggest you visit front-street of Jingshan Park by manpower pedi-cab at cool night of summer. Shining lights are bright and Forbidden City is brilliant. Colored lights from all directions lighten Meridian Gate (Wumen), the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen), turret, palace wall and other main palaces. Although we can't enter, we can feel romantic loneliness of Beijing survivals of bygone ages old and young remains of the old society in car.
- Address: No. 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District
- Directions: Take No.1, 2, 4, 5,10, 20, 52, 57, 22, 54, 120, 802, special No. 1 bus and get off al Zhongshan Park stop or Tian An Men stop. Take subway, No. 9, 17, 44, 48, 53, 59, 66,110, 803, 808, 819, 922, special bus No.4, special bus No. 7 and Tuanjie Lake special route buses and get off at Qian Men slop. Or take No. 101, 103, 103 express, 109, 812 and 814 buses and get off at the Imperial Palace stop.

2. Tian An Men Square
Tian An Men Square is the heart of Beijing and is the largest square in the world. Tian An Men, which is on the north of the square, is originally the frontispiece of the imperial city of Ming and Qing Dynasties, established in the fifteenth year of Ming Yong Le. The original name of it is the Gate of Heavenly Succession (Chengtianmen), which means shouldering the duty from the Heaven. In the eighth year of Emperor Shunzhi, Qing dynasty, it was reconstructed and acquired its name as Tian An Men Rostrum. Tian An Men Rostrum is 33.7 meters high, it is a peak city gale lower with double eaves. The Rostrum is nine Ying wide and five rooms deep. Numbers nine and five symbolize the most superiority. There are 60 huge and lowering columns on the rostrum where floor is paved with gold brick. There are chestnut lattice Ian gate on south and north. There painted Chinese traditional auspicious picture and gold dragon colored painting on Tian Hua Gate and girder. There are five arch passages in the face of the Rostrum and the path in the very middle is especially reserved for the Emperor himself. Tian An Men is the place of issuing imperial edcit by emperors ol Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasties. It is used when there are important celebration activities, such as ascending the throng of new emperor, marriage and sacrifice, and the parents of the emperor come into the Palace. In addition, before the emperor personally led his soldiers in a military operation or senior generals go out for a battle, they should hold sacrifice in front of Tian An Men and pray for victory. There is the outer golden water in front of city gate tower and seven jade stone bridges run across theriver. The most spacious bridge in the middle the "Imperial Bridge", which is used by the Emperor exclusively. The "Royals' Bridges" on the two sides of the "Imperial Bridge" are used by imperial relatives, and "Ministerial Bridge" on the two sides of the "Royals' Bridges" is used by officials above rank three. Official and soldiers below rank four and servant could only use the "Common Bridge". Common Bridges run across before the Imperial Ancestral Temple (nowaday the Working People's Cultural Palace) and the State Temple (nowadays Zhongshan Park). Tian An Men has been repaired lour times after liberation. Opening time is from 8:00 A.M. to 17:00 P.M., and the price is 15 Yuan.
Go out of Tian An Men, and then enter into the largest city-central square of the world-Tian'anmen Square, whose area is forty-four hectare, It is 500 meters wide, 880 meters long and the ground is paved with light granite slate disposed through special technology treatment. The flag-raising ceremony at sunrise and flag-lowering ceremony at sunset are the most magnificent rites. When look at vivid five star red flag in rosy down, there is heat and excitement in the heart.
There is the Great Hall of the People on the west and the meeting place of national people's congress of the People's Republic of China. The Great Hall with huge and complicated engineering was established within ten months. Possess central hall, great hall, banqueting hall with 7000 square meters, office building of people congress standing committee and hall named with all provinces and autonomous region. The whole area is 172,000 square meters and there are 25 huge columns at the front of frontispiece. Visiting time is from 9:00 to 14:00, and the price is 15 Yuan. You can enter to visit from east gate. The east is The National Museum of China, and visiting the exhibition is like reading concise China General History. Here is state special museum of collecting, exhibiting and researching China ancient and neoteric cultural relics. There is Museum of Chinese Revolution adjacent to it mainly exhibiting China modern history alter Opium War. Opening time is from 8:30 to 16:30, the ticket price is 5 Yuan and the student ticket is 2 Yuan.
There are Monument to the People's Heroes and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum on the south. Monument to the People's Heroes was established according to the resolution of the first plenary session of China People Politics Consultative Conference in 1949. Its external design adopts the project made by Professor Liang Sicheng. Monument body is composed of 413 granites and monument base is paved of 17,000 granites and white marbles. There are eight white marble sculptures on the monument seat: including a series of important history events, such as Opium-burning in Humen, Jintian Uprising, Wuchang Uprising, the May 4th Movement of 1919, the May 30lh Movement of 1925, Nanchang Uprising, War against Japan and Successful Crossing of the Changjiang River. Design of the tower represents perfect quintessence of socialism practical art and symbolizes Chinese revere and memory for revolution martyr.
Construction design projects of China State Theatre is put info the plan of Tian An Men Square. Tian'anmen Square will embodies the status of Beijing as political and cultural center and we fry to bring more valuable history cultural relics for posterity on the crossing of modern times and history.
- Directions: Take No.1, 2, 4, 5,10, 20, 52, 57, 22, 54, 120, 802, special No.1 bus and get off at Zhongshan Park stop or Tian An Men stop. Take subway. No.9, 17, 44, 48, 53, 59, 66, 110, 803, 808, 819, 922, special bus No.4, special bus No.7 and Tuanjiehu special buses route and get off at Qian Men stop.

3. Zhongshan Park
Zhongshan Park is located on the west of Tian An Men. It is a perfect city garden with thick nation style. Zhongshan Park originally is Xing Guo Temple of Liao Dynasty, which is changed into the Altar of Land and Grain (She Ji Tan) in the nineteenth Ming Yong Le year (1421). The Altar of Land and Grain (She Ji Tan) is paved with supernatural five colors earth imported from all over the country. Zhonghuang (Yellow in the center), Dongqing (blue in the east), Nanhong (red in the south), Xibai (white in the west) and Beihei (black in the north), which represents "all the earth in the world belong to the Emperor". Here is the place where the emperor of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty sacrifice earth god and corn god. It is explored into Central Park in 1914. After Dr. Sun Yat-Sen died in 1925, coffin was put in original Bai Hall. In 1928, to remember the great revolution forthgoer, Central Park is changed into Zhongshan Park and Bai Hall is changed into Zhongshan Hall.

4. Imperial College
Imperial college is the highest institution of Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty and also is the highest government office by which court mastered state learning and political command. "PiYong" is the center of Imperial College, next is three courts and the architecture on the two sides of axis is orderly and the place where the emperor of Qing Dynasty gave lectures. The largest honor of literati and scholar who buck for developed official career is that graduating from Imperial College and successfully became a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations and his name is carved on Kong Temple. Imperial College is also called North College. Imperial College now is Capital Library.

5. Lao She Memorial Hall
Lao She Memorial Hall occupies 400 square meters and was purchased by Mr. Lao She in 1950. Mr. Lao She has lived here for 16 years and wrote many enduring works. The memorial hall is a common courtyard with building on 3 sides-Dan Shi Court. There are 2 tall persimmon trees planted by Mr. Lao She himself that are sleek and fruitful at the front of north house. There lie three north houses and penthouses on two sides just like before that exhibit Mr. Lao She's former living appearance to people. There are east and west wing rooms in the courtyard explored as memory exhibit room. With abundant valuable libraries, pictures, manuscripts and relic before his death, people can exhibit childhood and creation experience.
- Address: No.19 Feng Fu Hutong, Deng Shi Kou West Street, Dongcheng District

6. Ancient Observatory
Beijing Ancient Observatory was built in the 7th year of Ming Zhengtong (A.D. 1442) and is one of the oldest observatories in the world and is also the imperial observatory of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. It is history witness of east and west astronomy communication during the period between Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. There lies 8 ancient astronomy instruments with majestic vigor and fine carve on the table. There lies elegant, simple and charming outbuildings group under the table. Until now, as history testimony, government mugwump and government official of some countries and worldwide famous scientists and astronomers all come here to visit the chronometer palace with China civilization of 5000 years.
- Address: South of Jian Guo Men subway station, Dongcheng District

7. Lama Temple
Lama Temple was built in the 33 Qing Kangxi year (1694), is the largest and best-preserved Lamasery of Yellow Sect in Beijing. It was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng before his ascending to the throne. In the 3 year of Emperor Yongzheng (1752), it was granted the name of "Yong Zheng". The whole temple sits from north toward south. The following architectures line from south to north orderly-the Arch Courtyard (Pailouyuan), the Gate of Zhaotai (Zhaotaimen), the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Hall of Harmony and Peace (Yonghegongdian), the Hall of Eternal Blessing (Yongyoudian), the Hall of Dharma Wheel (Falundian), and the Ten-Thousand-Happiness Pavilion (Wanfuge) etc. 500 Arhat Mountain in the Hall of Dharma Wheel (Falundian) is carved with rosewood, 3 meters wide, 5 meter high and thirty centimeters thick. The Five -hundred-arhat Mountain is carved with rosewood, which is 3 meters wide, 5 meters high and 30 centimeters thick approximately. The five hundreds arhats is made of five metals-gold, silver, copper, iron and tin-and it is one of "three masterpieces" of Lama Temple. The huge wood-carved "Maidala Buddha" worshipped in the Ten-Thousand-Buddha Pavilion (Wanfoge) is 18 meters high, and 26 meters high all together if plus with the 8 meters buried under the earth. It is also one of the "three masterpieces" of Lama Temple. The rosewood huge Buddha has been listed into the Guinness World Record in 1990.
- Address: No.13 Imperial College Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Directions: take subway or No.62, 13, 116, 44 and special 2 bus and get off at Lama Temple

8. Temple of Earth
Temple of Earth is also called Fang Ze Temple and it is the second big Temple of the five temples in Beijing. It was established in the ninth year of Jia Jing of Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1530) and occupies an area of 37.3 hectares. It is the place where emperors of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty sacrifice. There exist Fang Ze Temple, Emperor Mansion, Butcher Pavilion, the Palace of Abstinence (Zhaigong) and Spirit Storeroom. Recently establish China Rose Garden and Peony Garden again. Every year there is temple fair in Spring Festival (the ticket of temple of fair period is 6 Yuan). With higher culture taste, abundant culture meaning and bright nation characteristic, it owns honor in China and at overseas and attracts numerous domestic and foreign tourists.
- Address: East of Andingmenwai Street, Dongcheng District
- Directions: Take subway and get off at An Ding Men station, then go north or take No. 44, 104, 108, 328 and 406 bus and get off at Temple of Earth stop

9. Confucius Temple
Beijing Confucius Temple is the place of sacrificing Confucius in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and also called Ancestral Teacher Temple. Now it is the site of Capital Museum. Confucian Temple was originally established in the sixth year of Da De in Yuan Dynasty (1302), and it has a history of more than 600 years. Confucian Temple occupies an area of about 20,000 square meters and has four rows of courtyard. Main architectures in turn include Ancestral Teacher Gate, Da Cheng Gate, Da Cheng Palace and Chong Sheng Temple. There are Tablet Tower, Sacred Kitchen, Animal Pavilion and Well Pavilion on the east of front yard. There are Tablet Tower and Zhi Zhai Suo on the west. Chijing Gate connects with the Imperial College. There are 198 stele nominated by a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations of Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Da Cheng Palace is the place of sacrifice before. There are east and west rooms on the two sides and west room is Beijing Brief History Display Room. There are fourteen stone pavilions of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty in Confucian Temple and epitaph is valuable history information.
- Address: No. 13 Imperial College Street, Dongcheng District

10. East Church
East Church, also called Wangfujing Catholic Church, is one of 4 major Catholic churches in Beijing. It was built by 2 priests Louis Baglio and G. de Magalhaens (Portuguguese). Inside the East Church, Catholic Church is built in the middle, width of its fade is 25 meters: 3 crosses are installed on the top of church and a number of paintings alongside both side of hall of the church. This church has become a highlight of t Wangfujing Golden Street and first choice for exterior view of wedding filming.
- Address: No. 74 Wang Fu Jing Street, Beijing