Acrobatics
Acrobatics are the most exciting and accessible
form of traditional Chinese entertainment, and,
though the style may be vaudeville, the tricks are
breathtaking.
Temple of Heaven
One of the best Chinese temples to see is the
exquisitely designed and dazzlingly coloured
Temple of Heaven, set in its own tranquil park.
Summer Palace
The elegant Summer Palace park was created as a
retreat for the imperial court, and is still as
effective at providing relief from city stresses.
NASA Nightclub
An odd amalgam of Western and Chinese culture, the
NASA is a cavernous disco, packed out
nightly - striking evidence of how China is
changing.
Getting Lost in the Hutongs
The hutongs - the tangle of alleys between
the wide, straight streets - give a glimpse of the
city's more intimate, private face.
The Great Wall at Simatai
Unblemished with tourist chintz, this is the Great
Wall as it should be seen - a half-ruined lonely
road winding across purple mountains.
The Forbidden City
The old centre of the Chinese universe, the
Forbidden City was just that - ordinary people
were not allowed even to approach the walls of
this vast and awesome complex, the Gugong or
Imperial Palace.
Ancient Observatory
The quirky Ancient Observatory, lost among
highrise blocks, is home to a collection of
beautiful and bizarre Ming-Dynasty astronomical
instruments.