Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Sàikèlè Kǎogǔ Yǔ Yìshù Bówùguǎn; Peking University; 9am to 4.30pm; East Gate of Peking University)
Excellent collection of relics brought together on the campus of Peking University (enter
via west gate), although some English captions would be nice. Exhibits include the Jīn-
niúshān Man, a 280,000-year-old skeleton, bronze artefacts, jade pieces and a host of oth-
er relics from primordial China. Bring your passport for free entry, and afterwards make
sure to wander the pleasant campus, a great way to tune out from Běijīng's frantic may-
hem.
GREAT BELL TEMPLE
( Dàzhōng Sì; 6255 0819; 31a Beisanhuan Xilu; ticket ¥20; 9am-4.30pm Tue-Sun; Dazhongsi)
Origin-
ally called Juéshēng Temple, this famous shrine was once a pit stop for Qing emperors
who came here to pray for rain. Today the temple is named after its massive Ming-dynasty
bell (6.75m tall and weighing a hefty 46.5 tonnes), which is inscribed with Buddhist sut-
ras, comprising more than 227,000 Chinese characters, and decorated with Sanskrit in-
cantations. The bell was cast during the reign of Emperor Yongle in 1406, with the tower
built in 1733. To transport the bell from the foundry to the temple, a shallow canal was
dug, and when it froze over in winter the bell was shunted across the ice by sled.
|BUDDHIST TEMPLE
If you're bell crazy, you'll be spellbound by the exhibitions on bell casting and the col-
lection of bells from France, Russia, Japan, Korea and other nations. Also on view are
copies of the bells and chimes of the Marquis of Zeng and a collection of Buddhist and
Taoist bells, including vajra bells and the wind chimes hung from temple roofs and pago-
das.
|PARK
YUÁN-DYNASTY WALLS RELICS PARK
( Yuán Dàdū Chéngyuán Yízhǐ Gōngyuán; admission free; Xitucheng)
The name is an ambitious mis-
nomer as there are not many genuine Yuán-dynasty relics here, but this slender strip of
parkland, running alongside the Little Moon River (Xiǎoyuè Hé), commemorates a strip
of the long-vanished Mongol city wall that it is built upon. At 9km in length, this is
Běijīng's longest parkland and a relaxing place for a stroll.
MILITARY MUSEUM
( Jūnshì Bówùguǎn; 9 Fuxing Lu; adult ¥20; 8am-5pm, last entry 4.30pm, Tue-Sun; Military Museum)
Milit-
ary enthusiasts may get a rush at this hulking monolith of a building topped with a com-
munist star. Cold War-era F-5 fighters, the much larger F-7 and F-8, tanks and HQ-2 (Red
|MUSEUM
