The Forbidden City is the palace once home to the emperors of China

The Forbidden City, the palace once home to the emperors of China, was built by workers sliding giant stones for miles on slippery paths of wet ice, researchers have found.

 
The Forbidden City is in much better condition today than it was on my first visit several decades ago. The government has been making a major effort in renovating the palace, bringing it back to its former architectural grandeur. Welcome to China, Chinatourguide.com is pleasure to provide service for your China tours or indochina tours.

Forbidden City consists of 980 buildings, chiefly in red and yellow colors, enclosed by a wall of 32 feet high and a moat of 171 feet wide. This complex palace is a must see view for every visitor to Beijing. You should be careful about the horde of people who pay visit to this complex palace on public holidays or weekends. For your suitability and convenience, you can pay visit to this palace on weekdays.  On such peak days, this complex remains so crammed with the people that you will not be able to enjoy yourself. Most of the tour groups move about with their colored caps, banners and whistles. At many times, you need to elbow your way for seeing taking the pictures. You are recommended to come here during wee hours of the morning or later in the afternoon to overcome the rush of crowd and enjoy this complex place before people turn up and spoil your pleasure.

-- Beijing tour guide

Prince Gong’s Mansion is the best preserved mansion in China

  Prince Gong’s Mansion is the best preserved mansion in China, including the mansion and the park. Prince Gong’s Mansion covers an area of 61,120 square meters and has more than 30 buildings. Specifically, the mansion takes an area of 32,260 square meters and the park occupies the construction area of 28,860 square meters. It is 330 meters long and 180 meters wide.

  The main building on the East Road is the opera stage. It is a large building which covers an area of over 6895 square meters. It is where the owner of the mansion and his selected guests would watch Peking Opera during festivals and weddings.
  This theater is lofty and spacious, with subtle lighting, and on its walls Chinese wisteria and green leaves are painted, giving the audience the feeling they are sitting beneath trellises. The floor is paved in pseudo-gold brick, and the seats consist of old-fashioned wooden armchairs furnished with square tables. The performers and the audience are in close proximity, so there is no need for audio amplifying equipment. Here, people can enjoy kunqu, Peking Opera and imperial music, a unique experience full of Qing historical significance.

The history of the roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty

  The history of the roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) when it was listed among the imperial dishes. During the Qianlong period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, roast duck was a favorite delicacy of the upper classes. Over a long period of development, a consummate and precise procedure for cooking Peking Roast Duck has been firmly established. Tourist like it in China Tours.

  Over a long period of development exceeding some 140 years, a consummate and precise procedure for cooking Beijing Roast Duck has been firmly established:
First, a suitable White Beijing Duck will be chosen for preparation. After the bird has been plucked, air is pumped between its skin and flesh. A small incision is made for the removal of the entrails.
Secondly, and once the bird has been thoroughly cleaned, a wooden skewer is inserted through it to facilitate its hanging and ultimate heating; the body cavity is filled with water and the incision that had been made is closed.
Thirdly, the skin of the duck is air dried and brushed with a layer of sugar.
Fourthly, the duck is then put into a large oven, using a smokeless hardwood fuel and heating to about 270 degrees Centigrade for 30 to 40 minutes. The duck is turned frequently during the roasting process to ensure even cooking.
Then the delicious roast duck is ready! It will be a shining date-red in color and unique in flavor; Beijing Roast Duck is characterized by its crispy skin and tender texture. Besides the traditional roast duck, many restaurants offer an All Duck Banquet - various dishes cooked with the offal and juices of the duck, surrounding the main dish. It will be sure to give you satisfaction and enjoyment when dining.

Shichahai is composed of three man-made lakes

  Speaking of Beijing, what effortlessly comes to thoughts could be the Forbidden City with its red walls and green tiles, the Beijing dialect within the quadrangle houses, as well as the undulating and majestic Outstanding Wall. The weight of its history accumulated as time passes has offset the image in the modern city that it has turn out to become.

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  Anytime you walk about Shichahai, a sense of its history inevitably hits you. Composed of three man-made lakes, Qianhai ("Front Sea" Lake), Houhai ("Rear Sea" Lake) as well as the lesser-known Xihai ("West Sea" Lake) as soon as formed element of a technique of waterways that fed in towards the Imperial Capital. For centuries wooden boats carrying produce within the south would make the journey up the Grand Canal and enter the city by way of these waterways.
  These days are lengthy gone. Following a period of decline, the lakes, are now a prime recreational placemany secluded corners, it is also a delightful area to unwind much more than a drink while watching life on and off the water.

  Within the south finish of Qianhai Lake and opposite the North Gate of neighboring Beihai Park's North Gate is truly a lately renovated square precisely exactly where flowers in total bloom serve since the perfect background to gorgeous rock sculptures. The square is well-liked with locals who come correct right here to physical physical exercise, fly kites, play cards or maybe have their hair cut. Curios are also on sale while pedicab drivers chat as they wait for passengers wanting to turn out to be carried about the neighboring hutongs. This truly is almost a scene out of a film set in "Old Beijing".
  Since the paved track winds about the eastern side in the lake it passes a dock lined with motorized pleasure boats. About the other side, the floating Romance Bar provides dinner about the lake towards the accompaniment of traditional string instruments. Hidden behind some trees towards the right are numerous fine new restaurants while offshore a small island with its round pavilion has been transformed into a secluded bar.

The two most famous sites are Changling and Dingling

  Changling, Chang Tomb, is the largest and oldest of the tombs located approximately 4km from the entrance. It was built in the 15th century and serves as the burial ground for Emperor Zhu Di and his empress. In total, Changling occupies 120,000sqm. Structures around the central axis include Front Gate to the Tomb, Gate of Eminent Favor, the Hall of Eminent Favor, the Dragon & Phoenix Gate, Soul Tower and Wall-circle Earth Mound. Hall of Eminent Favor, its interior brackets and columns made out of a single nanmu trunk piece, is the most striking architectural piece that graces the grounds. The hall serves as a museum that displays artifacts unearthed on the premises.

  The two most famous sites are Changling and Dingling. Changling is the tomb of Emperor Zhu Di and his empresses. This is the most magnificent of the tombs. The succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around Changling. Only the Changling and Dingling tombs are open to the public. Changling, the chief of the Ming Tombs, is the largest in scale and is completely preserved. The total internal area of the main building is 1956 square meters. There are 32 huge posts, and the largest measures about 14 meters in height. It inhumes Emperor Zhudi, the fourth son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The Lingsi Palace in its second yard is really deserves a visit. This is unique as it is the only huge palace made of camphor wood. It covers about 1956 square meters. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor was decorated with gold bricks.
  Unlike Changling, Dingling is under ground and about 27 meters deep. And Dingling is the only one of the thirteen Ming Tombs excavated so far. Excavation of the tomb occurred from 1956 to 1958, the underground chamber was discovered through sheer luck when Archeologists discovered a stone tablet left by the original builders. The stone Tablet gave instructions on how to find the tomb. And this was necessary when the tomb was reopened for the burial of the emperor. Entering the gate of Dingling, tourists can see two sketch maps. One gives a beautiful panoramic view of the thirteen tombs, and the other shows Dingling Tomb and the Underground Palace. The Underground Palace is 27 meters deep with a total floor space of 1,195 square meters. It consists of 5 chambers, the central chamber, the rear chamber and two annex chambers on the left and right of the middle chamber. The vaulted halls were built of stone, without a single beam or column.