Page 11 - 23 Day China Sample

Modern Beijing lies on the site of countless human settlements which date back half a million years. The name Beijing is by Chinese standards a modern term. It dates back to the 15th century, when the Ming emperor, Yongle, planned and built the city in its present form. One of the city's earlier names was the City of Swallows (Yanjing), a name given in the Liao Dynasty (947-1125). The name is still appropriate, for in a land where few birds are seen in cities except in cages, Beijing boasts a large summer community of swallows, which make their homes in the capacious eaves of the ancient wooden buildings. At twilight, Qianmen Gate, which stands on the south side of Tiananmen Square, is circled by roosting swallows. Good Restaurants in Beijing include Lan Club, Green T House, The Courtyard, Made in China (Grand Hyatt), Wangfujing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant: (Peking Duck restaurant), Heaven and Earth, Fangshan Restaurant, Shun Feng Restaurant, Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant and the China Grill (Park Hyatt). Late this afternoon enjoy a visit the Summer Palace. The fabled Summer Palace is the resort of the Empress Dowager. Royal families as far back as a thousand years ago came here for rest and recreation. Walk slowly along the famous Long Corridor with its Painted Gallery (each archway depicts a different scene) and enjoy the peacefulness of Kunming Lake, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Longevity Hill, and the famous Marble Boat, commissioned in 1888 by the Empress Dowager Cixi (using foreign aid intended to modernize the Chinese Navy). The reconstructed Suzhou Street, with its colorful shops and tea gardens, following the old traditions of service, takes you back to China's imperial past. Overnight: The Four Seasons Hotel – Deluxe Room