| The best way to kick off your Asian travels | | | | |
| is in Chinas progressive and even tragically | | | | Although there are hundreds of historical |
| hip capital city of Beijing. Traditional | | | | sites in Beijing, the rapidly sprawling |
| relics like the Tiananmen gate stand | | | | metropolis is also overflowing with |
| juxtaposed against the imposing modernist | | | | contemporary wonders and luxuries. The |
| architecture of recent history, most notable | | | | National Zoo houses the largest inland |
| in the Dashanzi Art District. The Peoples | | | | aquarium in the world as well as Chinas |
| Republic of China has its financial | | | | famous pandas. Next to the Imperial Palace, |
| industries mainly in Shanghai and Hong Kong, | | | | the Wan Fung Art Gallery provides insight |
| but Beijing remains the nations true cultural | | | | into the artistic transition from regal and |
| and political center. | | | | traditional to cutting edge contemporary. |
| | | | Most interestingly, the suburban sprawl has |
| Orange County Meets Ming Dynasty in Beijing | | | | witnessed the creation of a $60 million |
| | | | American-inspired community called Orange |
| When many travelers think of Beijing, they | | | | County, complete with town homes and tract |
| imagine the dictatorial atmosphere of Mao | | | | housing. |
| Zedong or television images of protesting | | | | |
| citizens; however, Beijing has a tremendous | | | | Chinese Cultural Centrifuge in Beijing |
| history beginning as early as the 1st century | | | | |
| BCE and has persevered through Kublai Kahns | | | | Experience two cultural traditions in one at |
| Mongols, Japanese invasion, and the Communist | | | | the Laoshe Tea House where you will be both |
| Civil War victory in 1949. | | | | charmed by Chinese opera and soothed by a |
| | | | variety of traditional teas. For world-class |
| The Forbidden City is a fascinating journey | | | | shopping in Beijing, visit Wangfujing, or you |
| through 500 years of Imperial secrecy. The | | | | can find your way into the many enchanting |
| head of state no longer resides here and the | | | | smaller districts for traditional Chinese |
| beautiful buildings and breathtaking gardens | | | | shops and boutiques. Beijing is also home to |
| are open to the public year-round. The | | | | several notable temples like the Miaoying, |
| entrance to the Forbidden City is the | | | | and even a mosque that was built in 996. |
| infamous Tiananmen Square and gate, protected | | | | |
| by four formidable marble lions. Nearby, the | | | | With such dynamic experiences to offer and |
| Temple of Heaven is another sublime | | | | the immaculate preservation of its past, |
| representation of an era of dynasties and | | | | Beijing is truly an international city and |
| royal architecture. With airfare to Beijing, | | | | theres no wonder the cosmopolis has been |
| you also have the extra opportunity to see | | | | chosen for the Olympics. Get your airfare to |
| the Great Wall of China, which is only one | | | | Beijing now or wait for the 2008 Summer |
| and a half hours away by bus. | | | | Olympics in Beijing. |