Beijing's temples, parks, and historic sites all sing wonderfully and powerfully of the dream that was Old Cathay, but in the same hallowed space there's a new Beijing taking shape.

Just outside the exquisite walls of Beijing's historic monuments, steel and concrete are steadily replacing silk and carved wood. Beijing is transforming itself every day -reborn as the capital of the most populous(and potentially most powerful) nation on earth.

Beijing is in the midst of remaking itself on a scale that can scarcely be believed, and this rapid modernization against a backdrop of ancient treasures gives Beijing a wild East-West flavor that is exhilarating. It is a city with two faces, both of which are fascinating to the foreign visitor.

With all its celebrated historical attractions, Beijing may well be the capital of China's past, but it is also the vibrant capital of China's future, and it is here that you can see in broad and determined strokes both what China has been and what it will become.

The Forbidden City still stands at the center of Beijing, its golden tiled roofs and vast, glittering white courtyards are truly a wonder to behold. The Summer Palace has survived, too, at the northwest edge of the city, as has the Temple of Heaven to the south, along with dozens of delicate monuments, old temples, and the courtyard houses in little alleyways or "hutongs", that were once the hallmark of ordinary city life.

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Below are some of our recommended highlights. Some tours and packages can be organized when booking your program, please see the program price page for more information.

city tour
A good place to start exploring the city is Tiananmen Square, where Mao Zedong declared the foundation of the People's Republic.The imposing square is home to the Great Hall of the People, China's parliament, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, where the body of Chairman Mao rests, and the Monument to the People's Heroes, an obelisk depicting major events of the revolution. From the square you can see the imposing majesty of the Forbidden City to the north and the vast portrait of Mao Zedong on the Tiananmen Gate. The city and its surrounds are historically and culturally rich. Other places of interest include, the Old Observatory, museum with an extensive collection of Ming and Qing dynasty bronze astronomical instruments. The Beijing Zoo, of course, is the world-famous home of the giant pandas and merits a visit.

tiananmen square
Located at the heart of modern Beijing - the scene of many historic events - Tiananmen Square was renovated during the first half of 1999, in preparation for the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It now has two green areas, trees and subtle ground-level lighting. Attractions in the square include the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where Mao Zedong's preserved body is on display, the Museum of the Revolution, and the Great Hall of the People.

forbidden city
Built in the fifteenth century, the Forbidden City (or Palace Museum) is a vast complex of courtyards, halls, pavilions and gardens, which was home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It now houses a vast collection of priceless relics including paintings, ancient pottery and bronzes.

temple of heaven
Just south of Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven (located within Temple of Heaven Park), is China's largest temple complex, built in the fifteenth century and used for prayer by the emperor to ask for good harvests. The architecture of the temple is exquisite and the roofs are covered with blue glazed tiles. The grounds of the temple also contain the Echo Wall, which carries the merest whisper.

lama temple
Located in the northeast of the city, the Lama Temple, built in the late seventeenth century, used to be a centre of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism. Today, there are about 70 monks (or lamas) in residence. The temple consists of a series of halls, connected by courtyards. An impressive 75-foot Maitreya, carved from a single sandalwood tree, stands in the furthermost hall, which is accessible to the public.

drum tower and bell tower
Every Chinese city once had drum and bell towers that were used to advise citizens of the time of day and announce curfews. The Beijing Drum Tower, in the north of the city, was originally built in the thirteenth century and reconstructed around 1420 when the Bell Tower was first built. The towers, which are quite different in style, offer good views across Beijing.

beihai park or jingshan (prospect park)
Beihai Lake covers almost half of the 67-hectare Beihai Park and is a popular place for skating in winter and boating in summer. Qiong Hua Island (Jade Flowering Island), in the southern end of the lake, is reached by an arched marble bridge and is home to a Tibetan Buddhist shrine (the White Dagoba) and the Temple of Eternal Peace. Located immediately to the north of the Forbidden City, Jingshan contains a hill, known as Coal Hill, which enjoys superb views over the golden rooftops of the imperial buildings. One of the five pavilions on the summit -Wan Chun Ting (Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs) - used to be the highest point in the city.

half day excursion - tour of hutongs
These are ancient areas of housing where small single-storey dwellings arranged around courtyards form a maze of narrow streets. The ideal way to see the hutongs is by bicycle or on foot. Taking along an English-speaking guide will ensure an opportunity to talk to the locals and maybe even see their homes.

one day excursion - great wall and ming tombs
The Great Wall extends for thousands of miles across China, the nearest section to Beijing being at Badaling. The wall stretches between watchtowers and is wide enough for five horsemen. Badaling Great Wall is open daily (0900-1630) and admission is approx. RMB25. The Ming Tombs 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 - at the Ding Ling tomb - is open to the public. The tombs are open daily and admission is approx. RMB20.

one day excursion - fragrant hills
Located more than 20km (12 miles) to the northwest of Beijing and best reached by taxi, the Fragrant Hills are thickly wooded with pine trees and were popular with the emperors as a hunting ground. Pagodas, temples and pavilions can be found dotted around the park, which is open daily. The summit of the highest peak can be reached by a chair lift.

one day excursion - summer palace
The Summer Palace in the northwestern suburbs, was used by the royal court as a retreat to escape from the heat of the city. The former imperial residences are located on the shores of Kunming Lake, which contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse.