Beijing holidays

On its northwestern periphery, Chongwen encompasses the southern strip of Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Concert Hall, and runs south to the expansive Tiantan Park and impressive Ming Dynasty Temple of Heaven. On the park’s outskirts, meander through Hong Qiao traditional silk market (a major tourist magnet) and the Museum of Natural History, which houses a collection of some 200,000 items.

An historical district, Dongcheng is home to a concentration of major sights and treasures including Tiananmen Square   and the Forbidden City (Palace Museum). To the south, discover Wangfujing Street, a famous shopping boulevard that sees mostly foot traffic only. Here, more than 200 old Beijing brands still reign supreme including the Wuyutai Tea House and Shengxifu hat store.

An industrial and financial center, Fengtai is also home to the southern zone of China’s equivalent of Silicon Valley, Zhongguancun Science Park. What used to be a rural community until the 1950s, has fast been replaced by high-rise offices and apartments. For a taste of tradition, visit White Cloud (Taoist) Temple (Baiyunguan), with a 1,000-year history and popular fair, held in late January.

Also referred to as the University District, Haidian encompasses varied landscapes—from the rural to the high-tech. Discover scenic mountains, commercial orchards, a concentration of universities and high-tech headquarters. Make time for a visit to the Summer Palace Museum. Only 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from central Beijing, it’s considered the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in the country.

The embassy district offers a healthy nightlife and well-developed department store culture. Commerce, high finance, and international corporations are established here. The popular Sanlitun bar strip pulsates through the night and Chaoyang Park offers 320 hectares of recreational distractions by day. The World Trade Center, International Exhibition Center, and Agriculture Exhibition Center are also found here, and Jiuxianqiao electronics town is on the northwest fringe.

North Chaoyang is a center of commerce, recreation, and conventions. Home to a large number of Beijing’s foreign businesses, the district also hosts the International Convention Center, and the 12.5-square-km (8-square-mile) National Olympic Stadium and Park, which will be officially unveiled at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics.

South Chaoyang encompasses an ever increasing number of high-rise offices, modern apartments, and hotels. The chaotic yet festive Panjiayuan weekend flea market features 3,000 stalls of traditional crafts, antiques, pottery, trinkets, and jewelry. Just as alluring is Beijing’s Curio City of second-hand stalls stacked with antiques, pottery, paintings, carvings, furniture, and jade.

Tianzhu is an industrial zone with a focus on export-oriented businesses. Here, warehouses, transport services, export houses, and high-tech industries rub shoulders. The Beijing Capital Airport is approximately 1–5 kilometers (0.6–3 miles) away and downtown Beijing approximately 17 kilometers (10.5 miles).

A few blocks from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, Xicheng is a commercial and financial district boasting key attractions. Take in more than 600 species, including the Giant Panda, at Beijing Zoo, enjoy face painting of the Peking opera style (and much more) at Capital Museum, and stroll through Beihai Park’s imperial gardens. Try the Xidan area for plazas, supermarkets, and department stores.

Xuanwu offers glimpses of the Beijing of old. Liulichang (culture) Street, restored to its Ming Dynasty splendour, is full of treasures, as is the equally intriguing 580-year-old Dashilan Street—the city’s oldest shopping strip. Other recommendations include the Wansheng Acrobatic Theatre, ancient Zhengyici Theatre, and Tianning Temple (the oldest standing structure in Beijing).