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Home - City Guide - Beijing - Excursions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Excursions For a Half Day Tour of hutongs: The hutongs are ancient areas of housing where small single-storey dwellings arranged round courtyards form a maze of narrow streets. The ideal way to see the hutongs is by bicycle rickshaw which makes it easier to negotiate the alleyways and see into the houses and courtyards. Taking along an English-speaking guide will ensure an opportunity to talk to the locals and maybe even see their homes. For a Whole Day Great Wall and Ming Tombs: The Great Wall stretches for thousands of miles across China and certain sections have been renovated, the nearest to Beijing being at Badaling. The wall stretches between watchtowers and is wide enough for five horsemen. Badaling Great Wall (tel: (10) 69 12 14 23) is open daily (0800-1700) and admission is RMB25. The Ming Tombs (tel: (10) 69 74 20 47) are reached by the Spirit Way, which is guarded by huge statues of animals and men. Thirteen of the Ming emperors were buried around the valley but only one of the underground burial chambers is open to the public. Relics of the tombs, including marble thrones, jewellery and garments that were buried with the emperors, are on display in the nearby museum. The tombs are open daily (0800-1600) and admission is RMB20. Fragrant Hills: Located to the northwest of the city, the Fragrant Hills are thickly wooded with pine trees and the summit can be reached by a chair lift. The area used to be popular with the Emperors and was used for hunting. There are many pagodas, temples and pavilions to be found dotted around the park, which is open daily 0800-1700 and entrance costs RMB10. Summer Palace: The Summer Palace (tel: (10) 62 58 11 44) in the northwestern suburbs, was used by the royal court as a retreat to escape from the heat of the city. The imperial residences are built on the shores of Kunming Lake, which contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse. The Summer Palace is open 0830-1800 and admission is RMB30. |
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