Beijing Zoo – A Family Favorite

As a lover of both animals and boats, I've often imagined myself traveling 3,000 or so years back in history to Noah's Ark, where I could spend my days feeding and watching all sorts of animals aboard that enormous floating zoo.  Now, I live in Beijing which is no boater's paradise, but it has an awesome zoo where, if I don't mind paying a little extra, I can even feed some of the animals.

After my family returned home from this week's zoo visit, I decided to surf around and see what people on the net were saying about the Beijing zoo. There were positive comments about some animals and the park-like environment, but I was surprised to see so much criticism.  Let me reiterate, I'm an avid lover of animals and I loathe any kind of abuse.  I cringe when I see live chickens in the market stuffed into tiny cages. But what I see in the Beijing Zoo is anything but abusive.
Frankly, the animals in the zoo are better fed than many people in the world. My kids were amazed to see plates of fresh cut fruit and vegetables being carried to the monkeys and birds. Pelicans wade through more fresh fish than they could ever eat in a day.  The extra fee to enter the “kids' zoo” area includes a handful of fresh greens to feed the geese and peacocks (pictured at left).  Ponies weren't even interested in the wad of lettuce in my daughter's hand because their feeder was already filled with hay. I don't know which gives me the most delight; seeing the smile on my kids' faces when they feed their little friends, or watching the animals enjoy the feast.
Some of the more favorable online comments applauded the zoo for its environment as a beautiful park. I agree. We used to live within walking distance of the zoo. In those days we always bought annual passes. Taking our kids there just like taking them to any park in town. Although kids never tire of watching animals, we made some of our most precious memories just relaxing and playing in the remote wooded areas of the zoo.  With our pass, the zoo was no longer a novelty, but more of a back yard to enjoy as often as we liked. We no longer live in the neighborhood of the zoo, so we don't have the annual pass, but the entrance fee is about the same as some public parks, so even if we weren't animal lovers it would be worth the visit.
The zoo also makes a great photo studio. There are lots of great backgrounds for family, couple or individual photos, like the picture on the right of my kids in front of a waterfall.

Xuanwumen Church

Southern Church is the oldest Catholic Church in Beijing, the Southern Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is located at 181 Qianmen West Street in the Xuanwumen area. The church was first erected in the middle of the 16th century on the former site of the Donglin party, a political clique active in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
When the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci came to China during the reign of Emperor Wanli in Ming Dynasty, the emperor provided him with a residence which stood slightly west of the cathedral. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1657 during the reign of Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty. The cathedral was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1775 and 1900, and was rebuilt in 1904 to its present form. The main components of the 100-year-old building remain unchanged with one exception-its wooden support columns have been replaced by brick-and-mortar columns decorated with stone mosaics.
Today the cathedral remains in excellent condition. Masses conducted by more than 10 Chinese Fathers attract an increasing number of Chinese and foreign worshipers every Sunday, and the church is always crowded during Easter and Christmas.

The Wudaokou Hotspots City Brief of Beijing

The Wudaokou hotspots aren't flashy or fashionable. They are, with few exceptions, cheap and welcoming, playing host to hipsties, pop-and-lockers and
hip-hoppers, rochers and ballers, and the jocks and the nerds all at once. Over the past few years, the student crowd and their drinking holes have developed a unique style and neighborhood snobbery. Old cornerstones near the light-rail station like Lush-with its weekly Sunday open-mic night and sinfully scrumptions hangover breakfast-and propaganda-with its grinding meat market-still flourish.

Great Feeling in Badaling Great Wall

My friends and I we four friends really have a wonderful day trip in Beijing this time. One day tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs did leave us a deep impression.
Early in the morning, the English speaking tour guide picked us up at my hotel and started the trip. The first destination is Ming Tombs. On the car, the tour guide told us about the history of Ming Tombs: Ming Tombs is the Chinese emperors mausoleum building with better preserved and was classified as "the world's largest intact burial Emperor Tombs". Until the last Ming emperor buried into the tomb, during 230 years, there has built thirteen emperors tombs.
Dingling and Changling are both opened to the tourists. Dingling is the only one underground palace. And among 13 tombs, Changling is the most famous one. It is the largest and the earliest tomb of the thirteen with the ground buildings most intact and well preserved. It is the mausoleum of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor.
After the short discussion, we decided to visit Changling. The way lead to the Changling is called the Sacred Road. It means the road leading to heaven is lined with 18 pairs of stone human figures and animals which are important decorations of the mausoleum. I am very interested in them.

Bird Eye View of Badaling

After lunch and a short rest, we went to see the famous Badaling Great Wall. Oh, it is really incomparable. Having the overlooking, it just likes a dragon getting ready for flying. If energetic, we would like to climb to the top. But after a half day traveling in Ming Tombs, we were already tired and had to take the cable car. Thanks to the sunny weather, having a bird's eye view is really wonderful and the beautiful scenery beyond my words. I really like the feeling. We took a lot of photos on the top and overlooking the mountains in distance. Though here is very crowed and full of local tourists, it did not disturb us enjoying!
He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man! Today I got a deep understanding about this word. At last, thank you very much to our patient guide.

Article Resource : http://www.beijinglandscapes.com/beijing-travel-blog/badaling-ming-tombs-tour.html

Travel around Beijing Great Wall ?

The Great Wall a unique wonder of the world and a bridge of friendship linking up all lands. There are many sections of the Great Wall and the sections closest to Beijing are Juyongguan, Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling Tourists can choose one or more for your Great Wall tour.

 

Badaling Great Wall

More than 60 kilometers northwest from Beijing, Badaling Great Wall is the most famous and best-preserved section of the Great Wall. Each year, there are lots of tourists come to visit Badaling Great Wall. While hiking at Badaling, tourists can appreciate the splendid scenery. 

Juyongguan Great Wall 

Juyongguan Great Wall provided impregnable protection to northwest Beijing and was one of the most important fortifications of ancient limes. And it witnessed many important and significant events in Chinese.

In addition, Juyongguan Great Wall is also famous for its charming and beautiful scenery. If you have enough time, Juyongguan Great Wall is really worth visiting.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Most visitors who visite Mutianyu Great Wall are allured by its incredible picturesque scenery, with verdant plants and trees densely covered the mountians. Northwestern part of the Mutianyu Great Wall is its essence. Built along the rising and falling ridges, it is one of the most dangerous parts of the Great Wall.

Simatai Great Wall

As a strategic pass in the eastern part of the Great Wall, Simatai section was known for its steepness, ingenuity and unique. Ingeniously conceived and uniquely designed, Simatai has different characteristics, densely dotted with beacon towers. Its structure is unique in that it contains single and double walls and assumes a trapezoidal shape. 

Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall is close to Simatai, a site tourists can reach on foot in just a few hours. Without being greatly renovated, Jinshanling Great Wall remains its original feature. It has the advantage of being still broadly walkable and relatively less busy. Generally speaking, the level of difficulty can be said relaxing though certain parts are tricky.

When having a Great Wall tour, tourists should not miss the chance to enjoy the beautiful and splendid scenery.

Booking Badaling Great Wall Bus Day Tour Itinerary

As the saying goes' He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.' So Great Wall is a must for your Beijing tour. Also there are many other famous attractions in Beijing such as Ming Tombs. This time I would like to take you to visit Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs.

Badaling Great Wall

Almost everyone who tour in Beijing would come to visit Badaling Great Wall. With grand and magnificent scenery, it attracts large number of tourists from home and abroad.

About more than 60 kilometers northwest from Beijing, Badaling Great Wall is the most famous and best preserved section of Great Wall. It has a long history that can be date back to the 18^th year of the reign of Ming Emperor Hongzi. In the history, it was used as an important defense system. So it built for the purpose of defense, the mountains around are steep. And the base of the wall, built with large rectangular slab of granite stones, is about 6.5 meters wide on the average. The top floor is wide enough for five horses to gallop abreast and ten people march shoulder by shoulder.

Whenever you hiking on Badaling Great Wall, you will stunned by its unique magnificent and the splendid scenery around will not let you down. 

Ming Tombs

With such a great scale, Ming Tombs is the largest clusters of imperial cemeteries in China. Changling, the tomb of Emperor Yongle, was the earliest of the tombs, and the succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around it.

Ming Tombs has become one of the key attractions in Beijing. While you visit Ming Tombs, tourists will both enjoy the ancient architecture style and learn more about its long history. 

Itinerary of One Day Beijing Great Wall Tour

First of all, we will pick you up and drive to the Ming Tomb. You will visit Changling. The sightseeing on the Ming Tombs takes about 1 hour. By the way, you will have 45 minutes for a short visit of Jade Carving Factory. The jade carving is a famous special Chinese product, a blend of the excellent skill on carving and Chinese traditional cultures.
Second, We shall move to the Badaling Great Wall that takes about 2 hours. After that, we will drive by the "the Bird's Nest,water cube" on the way to your hotel.
Lastly, you will have a chance to enjoy the Chinese traditional Silk arts. Then we drive to your hotel or airport, see off.

Hope you full enjoy this Beijing tour.

Have an Amazing Walk along the Great Wall

If you tour in Beijing, them Great Wall you should not miss. As the saying goes, he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man. This saying shows that a true man can overcome any difficulties. We shall take you to visit Badaling Great Wall and Mutianyu Great Wall during your Beijing tour.

Badaling Great Wall 

Nearly all the foreigners who tour in Beijing would come to visit Badaling Great Wall. As the most famous and best-preserved section of the Great Wall, it threads its way through a jumble of mountains like a giant dragon.

From its name, you can guess it gives access to every direction. In ancient times, Badaling Great Wall was an important military fortress and its function was to protect the Juyongguan Pass. The top floor of Badaling Great Wall is paved with square bricks which made the floor very orderly and smooth. It is wide enough for five horses to gallop abreast and ten people march shoulder by shoulder.

In addition, there are many watch towers and beacon towers on the top of Badaling Great Wall. The beacon towers were used to transmit military message.

Large numbers of tourists are stunned by its dangerous mountain slopes, splendid scenery, and distinctive four seasons. So Badaling Great Wall is a must during your Beijing tour.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Located in Huairou District, Mutianyu Great Wall was used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs during the Ming Dynasty.

Built along the rising and falling ridges, Mutianyu Great Wall is mostly in good condition at present and it is one of the most dangerous parts of the Great Wall. There is a close cluster of watchtowers in unique shapes and diverse structures. Totally 22 watchtowers have been built at Mutianyu Great Wall indicate its military and strategic importance, with a good view regular intervals along its 2,000-odd-meter span.

Mutianyu is a beautiful section of the Great Wall with less crowded. The surrounding natural environment of Mutianyu Great Wall is most attractive. The mountains around Mutianyu Great Wall are densely covered by verdant plants and trees. About 90 percent of this area is covered with vegetation, green pines and cypresses. You could visit Mutianyu Great Wall at any time for that the scenery here is beautiful all year round.

Besides, there are other parts of Great Wall you can visit, but the two are the most representative. Wish you enjoy this hiking Beijing tour.

Let’s Enjoy a Hiking Adventure - Great Wall

Have you ever been to Beijing? Have you ever climbed the Great Wall? As the proverb says, he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man. Action now! Better late than never! Let’s enjoy a hiking adventure Great Wall tour. Ready, we shall start our Beijing tour to Badaling Great Wall and Juyongguan Great Wall.

Badaling Great Wall

As one of the wonders that Chinese people have created, Great Wall is the symbol of Chinese civilization. And the most representative part of Great Wall is Badaling. Every year, shoal of tourists come to visit Badaling Great Wall during their Beijing tour.

The section with an average altitude of more than 1000 meters is the outpost of the Juyongguan Pass. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous. These feature made it a military stronghold. The wall is like a giant dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges.

In the history, Badaling Great Wall functioned as a fortification. A number of small holes have been drilled on the wall to allow archers to shoot arrows.

Besides, the signal fire platforms were an important part of the whole fortification of ancient China. They are built on the top of the wall and were used to send warning signal.

Badaling Great Wall has witnessed many significant historic events. Also it witnessed the rise and fall of this country. Badaling Great Wall has distinctively four seasons, whenever you hiking on the wall, you will never disappoint. With long history and grand scenery, Badaling Great Wall is a must for your Beijing tour.

Juyongguan Great Wall

Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, Juyongguan Great Wall has long been a military stronghold. Many fierce battles were fought here.

Juyongguan Great Wall was steeply each side of a fortrified gate. Juyongguan Great Wall also features some life-size Terracotta Warriors. The presently seen Juyongguan Great Wall was initially built in the Ming dynasty and received much renovation later. It is a very important strategic place connecting the inner China and the area near the northern border.

Juyongguan Great Wall is not just a military stronghold, but also a beautiful scenic spot. Beautiful flowers and lush trees dot the mountains. You will be amazed by its majestic scenery when you hiking on Juyongguan Great Wall.

During this Beijing tour, you could not only know the history of the Great Wall but also amazed by this incredible legacy.