Beijing Hotel in the Heart of Must-See Attractions

This squat tower of primitive stargazing equipment peeks out next to the elevated highways of the Second Ring Road. It dates to the time of Genghis Khan, who believed that his fortunes could be read in the stars. The instruments in this ancient observatory were among the emperor's most valuable possessions. Many of the bronze devices on display were gifts from Jesuit missionaries who arrived in Beijing and shortly thereafter ensconced themselves as the Ming court's resident stargazers. They offered this technology in a bid to persuade the Chinese of the superiority of the Christian tradition that had produced it. The main astronomical devices are arranged on the roof; inside, the dusty exhibition rooms shelter ancient star maps with information dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

Distance: 5 km/15 minutes

This masterpiece of classical Chinese architecture was built in the exact center of ancient Beijing’s boundaries and was China’s Imperial Palace between the mid-Ming through the Qing dynasties. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, the Forbidden City is no longer occupied by royalty, but remains as a symbol of Chinese sovereignty and is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions.

Distance: 4 km/10-15 minutes

First Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), The Summer Palace is still regarded as having the most magnificent gardens in China, if not the world. The grounds consist of four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area. Visitors will find the same combination of serenity and awe as did the Imperial families who escaped the city each summer to take their respite among the tranquility and beauty of the “three hills and five gardens.”

Distance: 29 km/30-35 minutes