Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are located on an area measuring roughly 40 kms square. The mausoleum houses 13 Ming emperors. Of the tombs only two are actually open to the public. The most famous and perhaps the most thrilling is the Dingling - practically an underground palace.
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Great Wall
Well recognized throughout the world, China's Great Wall is a symbol of the ancient Chinese culture and civilization. Originally the wall was built as a means of defending the city. They say it's visible from space, but we've not been... Yet...
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Museum of Chinese History
6512-8986
Located just off the northeast corner of Tian'anmen Square, the museum of Chinese History displays more than 9,000 ancient Chinese relics, including bronze pieces dating back 5,000 years. The museum shares the same building as the Museum of the Chinese Revolution.
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Beihai Park
Noted as one of the oldest of the Chinese gardens, the Beihai Park was the imperial garden of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
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Chinese Geology Museum
15 Yangrou Hutong
Xisi Nandajie
6617-6387
Minerals, gems and fossils of Paleozoic plants and animals. A great place to take the family!
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China Art Gallery
China's national museum of art offers permanent displays of works by Chinese artists and frequent shows by foreign artists.
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The Central Park of Beijing
1 Wenjin St
Xicheng District
6404-0610
Beihai Park has an 800-year history as the royal garden of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The park is grand and sprawling, with beautiful plantings, a lake and paddleboats for rent.
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Beijing Museum of Natural History
126 Tianqiao Nandajie
Chongwen District
6702-4431
The Beijing Museum of Natural History is the largest of its kind in China, and houses fossils or specimens of nearly every plant and animal found in China.
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Yuanmingyuan
Ruins of an impressive imperial palace built during the Qing Dynasty, the grounds of Yuanmingyuan are well preserved and open to the public.
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Blue Zoo Beijing
(Gongti Nanlu), Chaoyang District
6593-5263
This international-class aquarium is great for the kids. The main attraction is a moving walkway that swirls around underneath the main tank, with sharks swimming overhead. The museum focuses on such marine issues in China as the damming of the Yangtze River and the slaughter of sharks for shark fin soup.
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Beijing Recreation Center
Beisihuanzhong Road, Andingmenwai
6499-3434
Family fun including wave pool, simulated river, water slides and a sports complex featuring bowling, squash, tennis, roller-skating, disco dancing, billiards and sauna.
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Yonghegong Lamasery
Yonghegong Lamasery was built in 1694 and remains one of the largest lamaseries in Beijing. Yonghegong also houses the largest wooden statue in the world, an 18 meter tall Buddha carved from a single sandalwood tree.
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Contemporary Art Gallery
123 Longfusi St
6401-7659
A great place to view the national museum's collection of China's leading contemporary artists.
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Summer Palace - Imperial gardens
Yiheyuan Street
Haidian District
6288-1077
The Summer Palace is known as one of the most tranquil places in the city of Beijing. Lakeside gardens and elegant pavilions adorn this grand imperial palace. It was originally built as a summer home for the emperor. Nowadays the gardens, pavilions, bridges, and towers receive hundreds of thousands of visitors. A curious feature in the Summer Palace is the marble replica of a Mississippi steamboat.
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Temple of Heaven
Tiantan Road and Chongwenmenwai Street
Chongwen District
6702-8866
Located on Tiantan Park, this dazzling temple built in 1420 is said to be the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would pray to Heaven. As stories tell it, the emperors would perform ceremonies in honor of the god of harvests. The Temple's primary structure has become a well-recognized symbol of Beijing.
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