Big in Beijing
There are three letters in the name Beijing that define the travel experience of the city: B-i-g.
As a tourist, it's not too generous to reserve a full day for each attraction, simply because everything in Beijing covers so much space. Firstly, you need at least one shopping day to stock up on clothes and jewellery at the Silk and Pearl markets. If you take big money, you'll end up with big bags full of beautiful things. Then, remember to pack your walking shoes, your sunscreen as well as your camera and make sure you get to see these places...
The Great Wall
From Beijing it is possible to visit the Great Wall of China at different sections. It will take more or less an hour to get to Mutianyu or Badaling from the central areas of the city. Badaling is the most popular spot and is therefore busier so if you would like to have the grand structure all to yourself, choose Mutianyu and go early.
The stones on the wall are not even so you really need comfortable shoes to spend the day here, breathing in the fresh mountain air and photographing the spectacular view.
The Forbidden City
Back in Beijing, make sure you set aside at least half a day to visit the Forbidden City.
It is called the 'Forbidden City' because no one could enter or leave without the Emperor's permission, which meant that many people lived out their whole lives within these palace walls.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City is the largest collection of preserved wooden structures in the world. It is therefore an exhausting excursion. 720 000 sqaure metres of halls, squares and almost nine thousand rooms makes it the world's largest surviving palace complex. The palace was built during the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) and used as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Not all the rooms are open to the public and only a few of them hold treasures and art. Apparently Puji, the last Emperor of China, sold many of the original treasures to finance his extravagant lifestyle, while other valuable items were simply stolen.
What's more; a part of the former collection is now hosted by the Palace Museum in Taipei. That doesn't mean that there isn't much for the visitor to see here, but this complex is large and much walking needs to be done to see it.
Interestingly enough, the locals enjoy hanging out here with their children, sitting around on benches in the squares, walking through the gardens and having lunch. Spending the day here at leisure seems to be the status quo. The food prices are not tourist orientated and it seems that Chinese families really do relish their cultural heritage.
Tiananmen Square
From one big structure to the next, Tiananmen Square is the world's largest public square and a historical site worth seeing. Since there is no parking around the square, it takes some walking to get there, even with a taxi – but it's worth the photo opportunity even though it gets crowded and the smog fades out Chairman Mao's mausoleum and the many museums around the square.
Visiting Tiananmen Square can be combined with a trip to the Forbidden City, although all the walking could get a bit much. If museums are your thing, you could also spend a whole day here, just absorbing all the communist history and shopping for souvenirs around the square.
The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace, in turn, is a relaxing and invigorating outing. Prepare for a scenic, lazy day. Pack your own picnic lunch to have while appreciating the views or simply buy some Chinese food from the vendors here.
It was first built in 1750, then it was burnt down during British and French invasions before being rebuilt in 1886. Of all the structures here, the most cherished is the Long Corridor, an open air walkway with a roof to keep out the summer drizzle. It is the largest painted corridor in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. From here the scenery changes from lazy boats and water lilies on the left to traditional Chinese palace buildings on the right.
There are over 8000 paintings to be found on the Long Corridor, which is 728 metres long. Some of these cover history, myths and legends while others are delicate or whimsical depictions of birds, flowers and pristine landscapes from a bygone era.
The Pandas at the Beijing Zoo
Luckily for us, the panda is not from a bygone era. It is alive and well and lives in the Beijing Zoo. It is possible to buy an entry ticket only to see the pandas, but since it takes a good 40 minutes to walk to the panda den, you may want to stay and have a look at all the other animals here.
The zoo is divided into countries, where each section hosts animals from that specific area. In between the dens there are also a few open cages where animals can be viewed. My heart squirms for a white tiger pacing around inside a concrete hole with a bit of greenery inside. These wild animals need a lot more space.
Perhaps any kind of zoo is not the best place to go if you don't want to see caged animals. However, the new panda den built especially for the Olympics looks like a pretty decent home. Some of the pandas have also been chosen as mascots for the Olympics.
The Olympic Stadium
And finally – the Olympic stadium, barely visible through the smog. Local authorities have made may plans for the haze to lift in time for the Olympic Games. They have set numerous measures in place to help the sky to clear up, some of which include a complete halt on all construction in the city and a reduction in traffic.
The stadium is the brainchild of Jacques Hertzog and Pierre de Meuron. Its elliptical shape is meant to resemble a bird's nest. It has been given an honorary place on the ceremonial axis of Beijing which extends from the Forbidden City and is part of the ancient city's layout.
Beijing is a vast city with a rich history and an exciting present. Who knows what the future holds?
Just one word of warning: if you are planning to visit and you don't look Chinese, be prepared to pose for photographs with the admiring locals for whom the 'other' seem to take on a kind of celebrity status. If you are a celebrity, you are bound to be extra big in Beijing.
You can read more of Lize de Kock's writing at www.parisandpomegranates.blogspot.com.