Beijing

Beijing, which has been the capital of China for more than 800 years, is based in the North and the name literally means "Northern Capital"

Not only is Beijing the political capital of China, it is also the cultural capital. Residing both inside and outside of the city are some of the world's most amazing man made wonders, including The Great Wall of China and The Forbidden City.

Click on the attractions to find out more information about entrance fees and how to get there.

Top Things To Do/See:

• The Forbidden City - The former imperial palace where it was forbidden to enter without the emperor's permission, hence the name. 

• Temple of Heaven - Centre of worship for the emporers of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

• Beihai Park - A large imperial park located in the city centre first built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), with a beautiful lake covering most of it.

• Tiananmen Square - A famous square with a lot of history, where you can visit the National Museum and Chairman Mao's resting place.

• Beijing Zoo - Has over 5,000 animals from 450 different species, inckuding the popular pandas, monkeys and tigers.