China - Beijing

China’s capital Beijing is full of the kind of iconic images it’s impossible not to hunt down. There’s the portrait of Mao staring down upon his mausoleum on Tiananmen Square, expanses of the Forbidden City, plates of roasted duck in the traditional pagoda restaurants and cups of green tea.

GREAT WALL

Construction of the Great Wall began in the 7th Century BC when China was controlled by feudal warlords. It was joined together (along with China) in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Rebuilt until the 16th Century, the Great Wall's purpose was to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from invaders. Many legends and myths exist regarding the building of this wall. One of the most famous is The Legend of Meng Jiangnü about love and devotion.

CHAOYANG THEATER

The Flying Acrobat Show at the Chaoyang Theater is an incredible feat of artistry and talent. Tickets range in price depending on where you want to sit and how many are in your group but can range from as low as 80 Yuan per ticket (a bad seat with more than 10 purchased) to over 800 Yuan (for a single seat in the best sections).

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Four kilometers south of Tiananmen Square, the largest park in Beijing, covering 675 acres. The buildings found here were built at the same time as the Imperial Palace, and they are noted for their exquisite architecture and harmonious placement within the park among rows of cypress trees, some of which are said to be 800 years old. The temple was designed to mark the meeting point between heaven and earth.

SUMMER PALACE
45 minutes outside of Beijing is where the Emperors and Empresses used to go to escape Beijing's oppressive summertime heat. Located at a higher elevation than Beijing and rebuilt after it was destroyed by European troops in 1860, it features many lovely temples, wooded hills, courtyards, gardens and imperial residences with red columns and wood panels painted with landscapes.