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Badaling Great Wall- the Essence of Great Wall

The Great Wall is like a giant dragon through the north of China. The Great Wall is the crystallization of the industry and wisdom of the Chinese people and the Great Wall is also a symbol of the ancient Chinese culture.

The Great wall was built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. The purpose was protecting his borders from the intrusion of the northern nomadic tribes. And then, the Great Wall has been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced. Actually today's Great Wall only has small parts are from Qin Dynasty, the majority of it are from the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall has 6 famous sections include the Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Mutianyu, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling and Simatai.

The Badaling Great Wall is the best-preserved section of the Great Wall, and it is also the most representative of the Great Wall. Badaling Great wall is the outpost of the Juyongguan Pass, and its altitude is up to 1015 meters. On the Badaling Great Wall, the soldiers can monitor the enemy easily.

Today's the Great Wall has already lost military value, but it depends on its unique charm still to attracted a large number of Chinese and foreign tourists. Maybe you have come to know the famous Chinese saying, "he who does not reach the great wall is not a true man". I can't imagine if you go to Beijing but you don't climb the Great Wall. So far, many world well-known people have climbed the Badaling including Obama, Nixon, ClintonMrs. Thatcher ect.

Opening Hours:
06:30-19:00 (In summer);
07:00-18:00 (In winter)

Address:
Badaling Special Area, Yanqing Xian, Beijing

How to get there:

You could take buses at Deshengmen Arrow Tower to get there.

1. Take bus 877 get off at Front Hill of Badaling Station.

2. Take bus 880, 919 and get off at Real Hill of Badaling

The duration time is about 1-1.5 hours.


Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou

The Royal Garden Museum- The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is formerly Qingyi Park. It is located in the western part of Beijing and near to the Old Summer Palace. It was built in 1750 during the reign of emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty.

The Summer Palace was built by taking Hangzhou West Lake as an original version, using longevity hill and Kunming Lake as base, and combining Jiangnan garden design. The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace garden in China. It is also known as the "Royal Garden museum". 

The main attractions can be divided into three regions: First, The Renshou house as the representative of the political activities area, it is the main place for Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi to work by the end of Qing dynasty. Second, Jade Ripples as the representative of the living area, it is Emperor Guangxu’s living quarters. Third, entertainment area, it is composed of Rear Hill, West Mountain. There are many famous places in this area, such as: Long Gallery, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, West Causeway, Suzhou Market Street. 

Among these places, I strongly recommend Long Gallery. It is the longest gallery in all of the ancient gardens in China. It is 728 meters long. There, you can appreciate a lot of Qing Dynasty famous paintings and this gallery also can link most spots of the Summer Palace. 

By the way, the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace are not same gardens. The design styles are also different. The Old Summer Palace is a good combination of Chinese and Western garden. In the Old Summer Palace, it has a lot of Western architecture. However, the Summer Palace is pure Chinese ancient style. 

Opening Hours:
7:00-17:00 Nov.1 - Mar.31 (next year) 

6:30-18:00 Apr.1 - Oct.31

Address：
19 Xin Jian Gong Road, Haidian District, Beijing

How to get there:

By subway

Take Subway Line 4 get off at Beigongmen Station.

By bus

1. Take bus 209, 330, 331, 332, 346, 394, 712, 718, 726, 732, 696, 683, 801, 808, 817 or 826 and get off at Yiheyuan Station and then walk west to the East Palace Gate.

2. Take bus 469 or 539 and get off at Yiheyuan West Palace Gate Station.

3. Take bus 303, 346, 375, 384, 393, 634 or 834 and get off at Yiheyuan North Palace Gate Station.


Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou

Versailles of the East –Old Summer Palace

The Old Summer Palace is known as the Ruins of the Yuanmingyuan. It is located in the northern of Haidian District in Beijing. The garden was built in 1709 during the reign of emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty. The Old Summer Palace is famous for its gardens, buildings and arts works.

The Old Summer Palace is composed of halls, pavilions, rock hills, rivers, ponds, and exotic flowers and grasses from China different cities. It shows the essence of a Chinese ancient garden. It was also called the 'garden of gardens' or the 'Versailles of the East'.

The Old Summer Palace was made up of three gardens - Garden of Perfect Brightness proper, Garden of Eternal Spring and Elegant Spring Garden. There are many famous scenic spots such as the Dashuifa Waterworks and the Throne of the Guanshuifa.

However, the Anglo-French Allied Forces looted a large number of arts works in 1860, at the same time they also destroyed majority of the building. If you want to see the original buildings of the Old Summer Palace's heyday, please don't miss Panoramic Model Exhibition of Old Summer Palace in Heyday.

Opening Hours:

07:00-19:00 (May-August)

07:00-18:30 (April, September and October)

07:00-17:30 (January, February, March, November and December)

Address:
28 Qinghuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing

How to get there:

• By Subway:

Take Subway Line 4 get off at Yuanmingyuan Station and get out of the station from Exit B (northeast exit).

• By Bus:

1. Take bus 365, 432, 562, 664, 681, 982, and get off at Yuanmingyuan Dong Lu Station. (East Gate)

2. Take bus 319, 320, 331, 438, 498, 601, 626, 628, 690, 696, 697, and get off at Yuanmingyuan Nanmen. (South Gate)



Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou

Works Cited:

Old Summer Palace (Ruins of Yuanmingyuan),<http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/yuanmingyuan.htm>

YUANMING YUAN, THE GARDEN OF PERFECT BRIGHTNESS,No. 8, December 2006,<http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/editorial.php?issue=008>

We launched the podcast now！

We launched the podcast! 

The podcast's name is Beijing Fun Guide. 

We will update every Friday evening. 

If you want to know more about Beijing tourist information, don't miss our podcast.

See whole Shanghai in Shanghai World Financial Center

Shanghai World Financial Center is the one of best places see whole Shanghai. The Shanghai world financial center is a skyscraper located in Shanghai Lujiazui. It was completed in August 29, 2008. Shanghai world financial center is the second tallest skyscraper in China and the world's highest flat-topped style building. It is 492 meters tall, and has 101 floors and basement 3 floors.

Floor plan：

Basement two to F3: shopping malls.

F3-F5: Meeting facilities

F7-F77: Offices

F79-F93: The Park Hyatt Hotel

F94-F100: Sightseeing

SWFC-Observatory:

F94: Located at 423 meters. It is not only can see whole Shanghai, but also can held a variety of exhibitions and events.

F97:Located at 439 meters. It is like bridge across the sky. In good weather, the skylighted ceiling can be opened.

F100: Located at 474 meters. It provides a 55 meters corridor, and it is the highest in the world sightseeing hall.

By the way, you can buy SWFC-Observatory tickets in Basement 1, and take the elevator directly to the sightseeing platform.

Opening Hours: 08:00-23:00 (last entry at 22：00)

SWFC-Observatory Ticket Fare：

Ticket Types	Price
F94	CNY 120
F94, F97 and F100	CNY 150

Phone：

021-38672008; 4001100555

Website：

http://www.swfc-shanghai.com/

Address：

No.100 Century Ave, Pudong, Shanghai, China

How to get there:

By bus:

Take bus 1, 85, 454, 584, 783, 798, 799, 992 and get off at Century Ave. East Hospital Station. Walk about 300 meters to SWFC.

By subway:

Take Subway Line 2 get off at Lujiazui Station and get out of the station from Exit 6. Then walk 10 minutes towards the building.



Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou

Shanghai Landmark-Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of Shanghai landmark. It is located in Shanghai Pudong Lujiazui River. Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower is 486 meters high, and it is the fourth in Asia and the sixth in the World. 

There are 11 spheres. It is including three large spheres known as the space module, and five smaller spheres and three decorative spheres on the tower base. The tower comprises a shopping mall, revolving restaurant and exhibition facilities.

I strongly recommend visiting the Shanghai Municipal History Museum. The Shanghai Municipal History Museum displayed the old Shanghai municipal building and street. In there, you can see the nearly hundreds years of Shanghai development history.

Opening Hours: 08:00-21:30

Ticket Fare:

Ticket Types	Price
Combo Ticket (the upper sphere, Shanghai Municipal History Museum and Huangpu River Cruise)	CNY 180
The Space Module, the upper sphere, the lower sphere, and Shanghai Municipal History Museum	CNY 220
The upper sphere, the lower sphere and Shanghai Municipal History Museum	CNY 160
The upper sphere and Shanghai Municipal History Museum	CNY 120

Phone:

021-58798888; 021-58791888

Website:

http://orientalpearltower.com/

Address:

No.1 Century Ave, Pudong, Shanghai, China

How to get there:

By bus:

Take bus 81, 82, 85, 774, 789, 795, 870, 971, 983, 985, 993, Cai Lu Special Line or City Sightseeing Bus and get off at Dong Fang Ming Zhu (Oriental Pearl) Station.

By subway:

Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Lujiazui Station. Get out from Exit 1 and you can see the tower.

Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou

Go to next stop- Shanghai

Are you enjoying your travel in Beijing?


I will leaving for Beijing and go to the next stop shanghai.

Last week, I posted a discussion to help me choose the next stop on my Facebook Page China Fun Guide.

"Except Beijing, which city do you think is the most representative of China? Why?"

Most replies are Shanghai.

"Shanghai. It is a bridge to mingle the west and east culture." Yang Yu.

"Shanghai! It's the most developed city in China. Its history and geographic position allow it to combine various cultures together and by no means the most modern city in China." Rachel Liu.

And, I got an interesting reply.

"Well, if you ask some foreigner which city is Chinese capital, they will tell you, Shanghai. Trust me, I ask this question before. And Shanghai is the best city that mix Chinese and Western culture, modern and classical culture." DaLu Li.

For me, if I need to choose U.S. city to describe Shanghai, I think it is New York. Shanghai is the economic center of China, and it is one of the most representative cities of the modern China.

Shanghai, we’re coming! If you want to know more, don't miss the next blog!



Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou & China Fun Guide

Beijing Nightlife part 2- Sanlitun Pub Street

Sanlitun Pub Street is the first and the most popular pub area in Beijing. More than 60 percent of bars in the Beijing are here, it is the origin of pub culture, and it is also the representative of modern Beijing’s nightlife. It is located in the east of Sanlitun Road of Chaoyang District, the east of the Workers' Gymnasium, and near to the embassies area. Because of this street, some embassies change their address name from Sanlitun road to Sanlitun Pub Street.

Because the Sanlitun Pub Street close to the Beijing embassies district, many foreigners like to come here, so it is like a “Foreign Town”. It also attracts the local white-collar and young people get there to relax. In recent year, many celebrities also like to come here, so you may find some famous stars sit next to you.

Most of bars’ business hours are from every afternoon to the next morning. You can come here and spend your own modern nightlife in Beijing.

How to get there:

By Bus:

Take Bus 115, 406, 416, 431, 701, 758, and get off at Sanlitun Station.

By Subway:

Take Line 10 and get off at Tuanjiehu Station through Exit A, and then walk westwards.


Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou & Qianggen

Beijing Nightlife part 1- Liyuan Theater

Beijing Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture. Watching Beijing Opera is one of the thing you must do in your Beijing nightlife. Today I will recommend you a great place to watch Beijing Opera, Liyuan Theater.

Liyuan Theater is the first tea house style theater in Beijing. It was founded by Beijing Qianmen Hotel and Beijing Opera Theater in 1990 October. It won the best night activity place in Beijing tourism for 7 consecutive years.

Liyuan Theater has become a symbol of Beijing nightlife. It is the only theater in Beijing that has a Beijing Opera performance every night of the year, except Chinese New Years Eve.

You can enjoy snacks and Chinese tea while enjoying the performance. After show, you can go to the exhibition room to see Beijing opera history, the famous Beijing Opera artist stills or buy Beijing opera costumes, masks, instrument and other products.

Show Time: 19:30-20:40 every day except Chinese New Year Eve

Ticket Fare: CNY200/280/380/480/580

How to get there:

By Bus:

Take bus 6, 15, 822, and get off at Yongan Lu Station.

By car: 

It is located in No.175 Yongan Road, Xuanwu District.







Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou & Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

Beijing Night Life

The night of Beijing is colorful. It has not only the traditional Beijing opera, but also has famous bar street. If you want to know more, don’t miss the next blog!

 

Video Attribution: Xiaoyang Gu, 2013 Beijing tourism campaigns

Beijing culture trip Part 2- 798 Art Zone

798 Art Zone is the most famous and mature Art District in China. It located in Jiuxianqiao streets Dashanzi area in Beijing Chaoyang District, so it is also called Dashanzi Art District. The size of 798 Art Zone is about 600 thousand square meters.

Here was old factories of 798 factory and other electronic industry. With artists and cultural institutions bring in; gradually reform a distinctive and creative art zone. It is including gallery, art center, artist studios and design companies.

At here, you would strong feel the magic power of arts through the contrast between past and future, classical and avant-garde, reality and fantasy. Hutong shows is the history of old Beijing culture, the 798 Art Zone witness is the new landmark of Beijing culture.

Open： 10：00 - 17：00

How to get there:

By Car:

Enter the Airport Expressway via the Sanyuan Bridge or Siyuan Bridge, and leave the expressway at the Jiuxianqiao Road Exit.

By Subway:

Take Subway Line 10 and alight at Sanyuanqiao Station. Leave from Exit C and find the Sanyuanqiao Bus Stop. Get on Bus 401 and off at Dashanzi Lukou Nan (Dashanzi Road Crossing South) Station.

By Bus:

Take Bus No. 401, 402, 405, 445, 909, 946, 955, 973, 988, or 991 to Dashanzi Road Crossing South or Wangyefen Stop.

Image Attribution: All images from Baidu lvyou