CCTV Headquarters

Introduction

The CCTV Tower is situated on East Third Ring Road, Guanghua Road in the Beijing Central Business District (CBD). The tower serves as headquarters for China Media Group (CMG). This 44-story skyscraper displays a queer and unique shape and has been nicknamed “the pants” and occupies an area of 550,000 square meters. The building was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhas and is among other provoking building designs such as the Beijing National Stadium “Bird’s Nest”, the Beijing National Aquatics Center “Water Cube” and the National Centre for Performing Arts “Giant Egg” which shouldn’t be missed either and are best visited at dusk when they are colorfully illuminated.

The construction project of the building commenced in March 2003 after a review of the design of the building by a panel of Chinese experts because the ground breaking design was in contravention to the city’s existing building codes. So construction began in September 2004 and it was under the Chinese Government because it was aiming to redevelop central Beijing with innovative and functional architecture while preserving historic buildings at the same time. The CCTV tower has over time changed the architectural image of Beijing city after it was completed right in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics since CCTV was the official broadcaster of the televised events. It mainly consists of the Main Building, the TV Cultural Center and other auxiliary comprehensive facilities.

Things to see and do on a visit

Outside pictures

Visitors can take outside photos from the nearby Rosewood Beijing and the terrace bars of China World Mall. Visitors can also take the elevator direct from the basement of the building to the 37th floor which is 100 meters high to get a birds-eye view of the CBD through a tough glass floor.

Structure

The building has a unique and stylish L shape structure that stands at 234 meters high with 54 floors. Two "L" shaped high rise towers are linked at the top and the bottom at an angle to form a loop that has been characterized as a "Z" crisscross. In addition, the inside structure of the building can be seen.

5-star hotel

Although the hotel has not yet been completed but it will have around 300 rooms, a lobby, restaurants, swimming pool and shops.

The Place

Introduction

The Place shopping mall is located in Beijing’s Central Business District in Chaoyang district and remains one of the largest malls in the city and also a very popular destination for dining, leisure and luxury shopping. The Place was designed by Jeremy Railton who is also the designer for the world's largest electric screen in Las Vegas. The digital canopy sweeping over its central outdoor plaza remains the biggest LED screen in Asia.

Things to see and do on a visit

Huge screen

The Place has a huge screen in the middle and two luxury buildings. Visitors always admire and walk under the screen enjoying its grandeur and beauty displaying high technique and lighting.

Shopping 

The place offers the ideal luxury shopping and gourmet experience with international stores like Adidas, MAC, Ferrari, French Connection, Zara, Aldo, Italian fashionable sports brand Robe Di Kappa, New Balance, Rolex, Folli Follie,i.t, Miss Sixty and D&G. The place also houses China’s largest watch boutique and English language bookstore Chaterhouse.        

Food

At the Place, there are restaurants serving both Chinese and Western buffets. There is the Golden Jaguar International Cuisine Collection which is the largest International buffet restaurant Chain in China, CJW (Cigar Jazz and Wine) offering high-quality dining and nightlife experience and new concept Fei Teng Yu Xiang Sichuan restaurant amongst many other restaurants. For coffee lovers, there is a Costa Coffee cafe and Starbucks.

Introduction

Tiananmen Square is also known as the gate of heavenly peace and is located in the center of Beijing, at Changan avenue. Tiananmen Square is named after Tiananmen Gate which is the entrance to the Forbidden City. The Square was originally built in 1651 and was later enlarged by four times when it was cemented with concrete in 1958.

It is enclosed by two imperial gates in the north and south with the north side being the Gate of Heavenly Peace also known as the Tiananmen Gate and the Front Gate towards the south known as Qianmen Gate.

As you approach Tian'anmen there is a Golden Water Bridge, a pair of columns made from white marble sculptured with lion and dragon designs that is not only for decoration but also the expect for the emperor.

Things and activities to do on a visit   

Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall   

Located on the southern side of Tiananmen Square, this hall is divided into three parts and in one of the halls is the place where peple admire Chairman Mao at his crystal coffin surrounded by fresh flower bouquets. People offer respect to the greatest founder of the modern nation of China.

The Great Hall of the People  

Situated on the west of Tiananmen Square is where the Great Hall of the People is located. This building was constructed in 1959 and is the site where congress meetings and diplomatic activities take place. Twelve marble posts are in front of the hall which has three parts the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling.

Monument to the People's Heroes   

At the center of Tiananmen Square is a granite and marble monument that weighs over 10,000 tonnes that is known as the Monument to the People's Heroes built in 1952 and is one of the largest monuments in China's history. On the monument, Chairman Mao engraved “Eternal glory to the People's Heroes”, and visitors can testify the gradual development of Chinese modern history. It serves as a memorial to heroes who lost their lives in the revolutionary struggle and conflicts of the early 19th and 20th centuries from the First Opium War to the Civil War.

Tiananmen Tower  

Built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty at the north end of the Square, this tower has been built and rebuild through the course of time until 1661 during the reign of Emperor Shunzi when it was remodeled, rebuilt and named the Tiananmen Tower. It measures 38 meters in height and 66 meters in length and has five arched gates, only royalty was allowed to enter from the middle gate. Today the tower is widely recognized by the Chairman Mao portrait which hangs above the archway gates.

China National Museum

The China National Museum location is right in front of the Great Hall of the People and was constructed in the year 2003 with a set up of a mix of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. It occupies close to 200,000 square meters in exhibition space and is the third largest museum in the world with over a million priceless relics dating back to 1.7 million years. The museum is home to cultural relics, material objects, books, pictures and models to present the growth of China through its long history and rich culture of China. Get into concise Chinese General History, and visit remains of the prehistoric Yuanmou Man.

Flag Raising and lowering Ceremony  

This is one of the focal points in the Tiananmen Square attractions flying high in the sky above Tiananmen Square. A seven-ton flagpole that is renowned for the raising ceremony takes place very early in the morning and lowering takes place in the evening and many tourists both from home and abroad look forward to seeing the guard of honor raise the flag and change guard. The reviewing stands flanks were opened on the west and the east sides to watch the ceremony. The flag is affixed and raised in time to the rising sun and the lowering is at dusk over an approximate two minutes and seven seconds after which the national anthem plays afterwards.

Statues

Situated at the back of the Monument of the People’s Heroes there are a couple of statues that pay tribute to workers, soldiers and just normal people who took part in China’s revolutions; the eastern statue represents the New Democratic Revolution period and the western side statues pay homage to those who contributed to the construction of chairman Mao’s leadership structure.

Magnificent Flower Beds

Tiananmen Square is home to the most extraordinary and ever-changing colorful floral displays according to seasons and it gets into its peak during special occasions and national holidays.

Houhai Lake

Introduction

Houhai is a large artificial lake in northern downtown Beijing located 4 kilometers north of the Forbidden City that derives its name from a Chinese name meaning back sea. The lake belonged to the royal family during the Yuan Dynasty and the surrounding area has always been a successful commercial site with workshops, opera stages and shopping centers. It is now open to the public.

The lake covers an area of 87 acres and to the front side, it is bordered by Qianhai (Front Sea) and to the west by Xihai (West Sea). It was perceived according to Daoism that the waters of the lake are connected to the “dragon vein” which is an integral and invisible artery that can maintain tranquility, prosperity and peace. So many monks set up temples in the area, nobbles and other government officials also built their gardens and vacation mansions and around the lake area,

Things to see and do on a visit

Sightsee

This lake has the most scenic area surrounded by willow trees and Hutongs. Visitors can stroll or take a rickshaw to explore the sights and sounds of the area that is laid back and has a completely relaxing atmosphere. The Hutongs are lined at the back streets and have a variety of stores that give shoppers to experience the cultural alleyways as they search for unique souvenirs, jewelry and antiques.

Taste local snacks and cuisine

Houhai is home to many restaurants, cafés and teahouses where visitors can savor local cuisine and snacks in the lakeside dwellings dotted in the hutongs. There are delicious tasty roasted duck, mutton and chicken meals prepared exquisitely in a mix of authentic southern China dishes. In addition, there are many tasty snacks such as Rice Cake, Sesame Seed Cake and Pea Flour Cake

Nightlife

The Hutongs bordering Houhai are renowned for its active nightlife since the early 2000s. Many residences along the lakeshore were converted to bars, restaurants and cafes. It is a hit amongst foreign tourists, expatriates and young hip locals who gather here to unwind and interact after a long day of work. Houhai become popular in 2003 after the modern establishments on the Lotus Lane with the bar street

Boat riding and skiing

There are boat rides on the lake except during winter when the lake becomes frozen and people can ski and skate. The most popular of the wintry skate is the loved chair-skate.

Former Residences

The Hutongs neighboring the lakeside were homes of several famous Chinese officials and are worth visiting such as court officials and celebrities such as Sun Yat-sen's wife, Soong Ching-ling, the famous poet Guo Moruo, Prince Chun and Prince Gong.

Introduction 

Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huairou County at least 1.5 hours drive from downtown Beijing and from Peking International Airport it is 1 hour 20 minutes. It covers a total length of 3.4 miles and is made up of a total of 23 watchtowers which are densely distributed. This section of the Great Wall connects with Gubeikou towards the east and Juyongguan Great Wall section towards the west. This section of the wall attracts thousands of visitors because of its easier hiking conditions in addition to a range of convenient facilities including chairlift, cable car and toboggan. 

The wall was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty and during the Ming Dynasty Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang: two patriotic generals, reconstructed to further strengthen its defensive capabilities. Mutianyu was the northern protective screen and it guarded the capital and imperial mausoleums for so many years. The material used to construct the wall is mainly granite slabs measuring 8 meters by 4 meters by 5 meters. On both side of the wall are parapets that were used for the purpose of defense against enemies. Their normal shape is rectangular while others are unique and are saw tooth shaped.

Hiking from the base of the wall to the top watch towers takes around 40 to 60 minutes while exploring and walking the entire wall might take approximately 2 to 3 hours factoring in time for resting, relaxing and admiring the fortification.

Things and activities to do on a visit

Hiking

Mutianyu Great Wall is the best place for hiking as it has a smooth terrain. The section between tower 1 and 6 are very vertical and steep while from tower 19 to 20 the approximate 450 steps get too steep and most visitors find climbing these vertical steps quiet thrilling and exciting. The section between tower 4 and 19 is generally flat and suitable for visitors with less hiking capabilities and people with limited mobility abilities. For a much tough climb, hiking to tower 1 or Tower 23 is highly recommended. 

Entering from the northern entrance, visitors start hiking to tower 10, from the southern entrance the hike starts at tower 8 or 6. 

Scenery 

This section of the wall is particularly famous for its natural and breathtaking beauty offering very beautiful scenery as it is well restored and has unique views throughout the year. Woods dominate ninety six percent of the total area and flowers can be seen dotting the area in spring beautifully decorating the scene. Green grass dresses the hillside during summer. In autumn trees bear the sweetest fruits before they turn golden yellow and red. In winter, the area gets dressed up with white snow in the most magical way. The section between tower 14 and 23 bears the most stunning Great Wall views. Standing on tower 4 which is named Zheng Guan Terrace, a unique structure of the wall can be seen here with three watchtowers arranged on a terrace, two small towers standing on either side of one large tower. Beyond these towers, the wall is completely unrestored parts and is also not open to tourists but you can still see just how beautiful the wild Great Wall can get. 

Cable car and Chair lift

The cable car in Mutianyu Great Wall takes visitors straight to tower 14 while the chairlift goes to Tower 6. The section between Tower 14 and Tower 23 has the most stunning views of the Great Wall. The cable car and chairlifts offer safe and smooth rides compared to the toboggan and are highly recommended for senior tourists and also children.

Toboggan slide 

This long and thrilling ride is perfect for thrill seekers and is one of the most preferred ways of descending the wall. It is perfectly safe and its speed can be controlled with the availability of both single and double cars for parents who wish to ride together with their kids. 

Nearby Village

Back in nearby Mutianyu Village, there are rustic restaurants where you can enjoy the popular local specialty made with fresh trout, the perfect end to your Great Wall trip.