Traders Upper East Hotel by Shangri-La, Beijing

The Great Wall - The Great Wall is perhaps China’s most famous site, and stretches some 6,000 kilometres from Shanghaiguan fortress on the Bohai Gulf in the east to the Jiayuguan fortress in the west. Several sections of wall are accessible from Beijing, including Badaling and Mutianyu, about 70 kilometres northwest and 90 kilometres northeast of the city, respectively. Built to guard against Mongol forces to the north, the Beijing section of the Great Wall dates back to the Ming dynasty and was built to take up to six horsemen riding abreast. The Wall today serves as an iconic symbol of China’s cultural and national identity.
The Forbidden City - The Forbidden City at the city centre is the Imperial Palace complex that housed 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors. Known as the Purple Forbidden City in imperial times, it is surrounded by ten-metre-high walls and a 50-metre-wide moat. The Forbidden City was in Imperial times inaccessible to ordinary people, but was well populated by Imperial family members, servants and staff, officials and guards. Within the City are found ceremonial buildings, Imperial libraries and studies, and private living quarters of the Imperial family, including residences of empresses, concubines and princes.
Tiananmen Square - Tiananmen Square is the largest inner-city square in the world and can hold up to a million people. Built in 1958 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, the Square and its adjacent buildings soon became symbolic of the socialist state. The Chairman Mao Mausoleum was erected within the Square to contain the leader’s body following his death in 1976.
Temple of Heaven - Located in the southern part of the city, the Temple of Heaven is where emperors performed priestly as well as ruling functions, making Beijing not only a political capital but also an important ritual centre. Today the Hall of the Year Gods houses the Museum of Chinese Architecture.
Summer Palace - Fifteen kilometres northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace, covering 716 acres of parkland, was formerly an Imperial retreat from the summer heat of Beijing. Surrounded by hills and lakes, the site dates back to the mid-12th century.
Ming Tombs - The Ming Tombs are mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Fifty kilometres northeast of the city, the mausoleums and necropolis of each emperor have been perfectly preserved. The site is culturally and historically valuable because of its long history, and palatial and integrated architecture.
The Hutongs - Cycling or walking around the interesting old hutongs, visitors can witness the beauty of Beijing’s history, hutong life, customs and architecture. An antique market, teahouses and pubs around Houhai are among the interesting sights to explore.
Shopping - Beijing has its fair share of shopping malls and supermarkets dotted all over the city. The hotel is within ten minutes?taxi ride of the nearest shopping malls. Shopping in Beijing is never complete without a visit to the Silk Street where all manner of goods are available at bargain prices. Beijing is also famous for antiques, both real and replicas. Other good buys include pearls, jade and semi precious gemstones.

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