Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Someinvitingdestinations,offeringbothcountrysideandculture,liewithinafewhours
of the capital. Most compelling is the Great Wall, whose remains, either crumbling or
spruced up, can be seen in a number of places in the hills a few hours north and east
ofthecity.Theundulating,woodedlandscapetothewestofBeijing,calledtheWestern
Hills, is the most attractive countryside in the city's vicinity, and easily accessible from
the centre. The Botanical Gardens, Xiangshan Park and Badachu - the last of these a
collection of eight temples - make for an excellent day-retreat. A little further out, the
strikingFahai,TanzheandJietaitemplesstandinsuperbruralisolation.Allareattheir
quietest and best on weekdays.
Though less scenic than the Western Hills, the area north of the city also contains the vast
AviationMuseum and the much-visited MingTombs . Further afield, and well worth at least
a couple of days, the city of Chengde is within easy travelling distance, and boasts some of
the finest imperial architecture in the country. There are fewer places of interest south of the
city, but the “wilderness valley” of Shidu is worth exploring.
The Great Wall
长城 , chángchéng
This is a Great Wall, and only a great people with a great past could have a great wall, and such a great people
with such a great wall will surely have a great future.
Richard M. Nixon
Stretching from Shanhaiguan, by the Yellow Sea, to Jiayuguan Pass in the Gobi Desert, the
GreatWall is an astonishing feat of engineering. Then again, the Chinese certainly had form
in this regard - the practice of building walls along the country's northern frontier began in
the fifth century BC and continued until the sixteenth century (see The wall's long history ).
 
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