Stay : The quintessence of the Chinese capital
Beijing can be discovered at its own pace. Slow for some, at a breathless pace for others. Never mind that you are alone, as a couple, as a family or as a group, there are always things to do and see, desires to satisfy; and you will then discover the diversity of the capital of Empire du Milieu with your eyes open wide.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
6 days
€ - Good and cheap
Detail of the stay : The quintessence of the Chinese capital - 6 days
Day 1: The heart of Beijing: Forbidden City
Steps: Pekin
Flights from Paris arrive early or at mid-morning in Beijing. The afternoon can therefore be spent in the heart of Beijing: Tian'tiananmenn Square, and the unmissable Forbidden City, with its 72 hectares of rooms, apartments and interior courtyards. You can then admire the sunset on the glazed roofs of Forbidden City from the coal hill. A Beijing opera show, or a condensed version of opera, acrobatics and magic at Lao She's tea house will recreate the atmosphere of the Imperial China.
Day 2: A getaway to the Great Wall and the alley of spirits
Steps: Pekin
You will continue discovering Imperial China by visiting the Ming tombs, north of Beijing. These latter offer a beautiful destination for walks outside the city. Scattered over an area of about forty km², the tombs are those of the thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty. We can get there through the alley of spirits: surrounded by animal statues and high figures of Chinese history, it is the beginning of an initiatory journey leading to the tombs. This visit is generally coupled with that of the Great Wall of China, which can be visited on the site of Badaling (the best known) or on the site of Mutianyu (the most popular).
TOMBEAUX DES MING
Day 3: The spirit of Beijing: Temple of Llamas
Steps: Pekin
Visit the historic heart of the city for a spiritual morning at the Temple of Llamas. An unmissable place of pilgrimage for Buddhist practitioners, its successive courtyards, its multiple pavilions, its prayer and study rooms give an overview of the activities of the monks living in the temple and belonging to the " yellow hat" cult (the one represented in Tibet). A few steps away, the quiet Confucius temple and the Imperial College museum which will light you on the system of the imperial exams of Classical China. A very beautiful tea house, located just opposite the temple of Confucius, can be a pleasant step before going into a shopping afternoon. The silk market, or its equivalent - the Village - of Sanlitun's chic neighbourhood, offers its batch of clothing and accessories at competitive rates. But be careful, favour the brands of Chinese creators, not counterfeits!
In the evening, dine in a restaurant to taste the true Pekinese roasted duck (for example, Li Qun).
Day 4: The lungs of Beijing: Summer Palace and Beihai Park
Steps: Pekin
In the morning, visit of the Summer Palace, a summer residence of the Mandchous Qing emperors, north of Lake Kunming. Skating on the frozen lake in winter, canoeing on the blue waters in summer: The Summer Palace is a relaxation place privileged among the Beijinger all year round. The afternoon can be spent on a walk in the heart of Old Beijing, between Beihai park and its Jade Island, and the lively shores of the Shishahai district. The half-open doors still allow you to discover beautiful siheyuans, these traditional square courtyards, valiantly resisting the invasion of bars and restaurants that have besieged the neighbourhood. The evening can end in beauty, in a typical snack bar of this quiet city centre or in a black artery of young people (on Guloudong Dajie for example) looking for a drink or a cocktail (at Mai for example)..
Day 5: The soul of Beijing: Temple of Heaven
Steps: Pekin
To end the discovery of the city's architectural jewels, visit the Temple of Heaven - the symbol of the Chinese capital since it hosted the Olympics - which is in the south of the city, in a huge park of 27 hectares. Dating back to the Ming dynasty, this complex offers architectural forms directly referring to the themes of the heaven (circle) and the earth (square). It is also the only temple in the capital to be topped with blue tiles. The park itself allows you to learn about the lifestyles of the Beijinger (try to make this visit priority one day of weekend): morning taiqi, birds walk, Erhu players (a kind of Chinese violin) and opera singers. Liulichang's antique shops will delight bargain hunters, who will find antique objects, brushes and calligraphy papers. A few steps away, a stroll between tradition and modernity between the traditional streets of the famous Dazhalan district and the new pedestrian street in the district of Qianmen will immerse you in the capital issues. You should not miss: the pharmacy of Tongrentang, with impressive facade, offering all sorts of products each of them more enigmatic than the last. In the evening, the jugglers and acrobats of the circus in Beijing will delight children... and adults.
Day 6: Beijing's portfolio: Wangfujing
Steps: Pekin
Last Beijing day to discover the modern facet of the city. Wangfujing, the capital's Champs-Elysées, is very a lively testimony of the country's exploding modernisation. The constant hustle and bustle of the district of Xidan or Dongsi Street, extremely commercial but less luxurious than Wangfujing, can make it possible to finish the last shopping before departure. Those who love contemporary art will leave shopping to explore the art galleries of the Dashanzi neighbourhood, the huge centre of contemporary art on the airport road (including a visit to the Paris-Beijing gallery and the Ullens centre).
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Pekin 北京
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