Park Hyatt Beijing

Beihai Park
Once the preserve of the Imperial court, Beihai Park is a tranquil place where local residents come to stroll and relax. The lake, which occupies half of the park, is filled with paddleboats in the warmer months. There are also many colourful pavilions and temples dotted throughout the park, including the famous 36-metre high White Dagoba (White Pagoda) built on the Jade Islet in the middle of the lake.

Forbidden City
Built between 1406 and 1420, the Forbidden City is the largest ancient palatial structure in the world and has been declared a World Cultural Heritage Site. The complex, comprising temples and imperial buildings, served as the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors over two dynasties covering 491 years.


National Stadium
Known as the Bird's Nest, the National Stadium will be the official venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. With eye-catching structure of twisted steel beams, the 91,000-seat stadium is reckoned a lucky sign by the Chinese with meanings of hope and future.


Summer Palace
The vast Imperial playground of the Summer Palace was where the Qing court escaped to during the summer months. An example of the late Qing Dynasty’s (1644-1911) wealth and opulence, the park is filled with extravagant landscaping and ornate structures. Kunming Lake, the centrepiece, takes up three quarters of the park and is adorned with a dazzling array of flowers during spring and summer.


Temple of Heaven
Dating back to 1420, the Temple of Heaven, a World Cultural Heritage, was believed to be a place where wishes could be conveyed to heaven. The park’s circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, held together with 28 wooden pillars, is a near-perfect example of Ming Dynasty architecture. The four central pillars represent the seasons, the next ring of 12 pillars denotes the months of the year, and the final 12 pillars signify the 12 watches of the Chinese day.

The Great Wall
The Great Wall, listed as a World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world, is a symbol of China’s ancient civilization. Construction of the Wall first began in the 7th century BC. In 221 BC, after defeating the other warring kingdoms, the first emperor Qin Shihuang began linking separate wall sections to ward off enemies. When finished in 206 BC, the Wall was more than 5,000 kilometres long.

Tiananmen Square
Covering a total area of 44 hectares (190 acres), Tiananmen Square is the largest city centre square in the world. Built in 1417, it served originally as the main entrance to the Forbidden City. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Tiananmen was where important State ceremonies took place.

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