Lonely Planet - Travel to Beijing

If You Are In Beijing

If your visions of Beijing are centred around pods of Maoist revolutionaries in buttoned-down tunics performing exercise in Tiananmen Square, put them to rest: this city has embarked on a new millennium rollercoaster and it's taking the rest of China with it.

Famed for its sheer size, the ancient and magnificent fortification known the world over as The Great Wall, with its several branches, runs about 4,500 miles (7,300 km) from east to west through northern China. From Shanhaiguan Pass to Jiayuguan Pass, the Wall snakes across ridges and deserts via Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia and finally ends in Gansu. The mighty presence of the Great Wall stands as a witness of the country's enthralling history.

Today's youth are more interested in MTV than Mao, rhetorical slogans from the Cultural Revolution have given way to butchered English splashed across designer-copy T-shirts, and expats, tourists, foreign investors and a mobile phone-toting hip-oisie are mixing it up with the bureaucrats.

More park than temple and fairly overrun with tour groups, the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) is well worth a visit for its exceptional Ming buildings. This sight has become a symbol of Beijing, decorating tourist literature and loaning its name to products ranging from tiger balm to plumbing fixtures.

The temple was built in 1420 as a vast stage for the solemn rites performed by the Son of Heaven (aka Emperor), who came here to pray for good harvests, to seek divine approval and to atone for the sins of the people. Similar ceremonies were performed as early as 2600BC and remained an important part of imperial life through to the early 20th century.

The spinsterish Beijing of old is having a facelift and the cityscape is changing daily. Within the city, however, you'll still find some of China's most stunning sights: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall, to name just a few.

Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum or Gugong, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties carried out their administration and lived. Now it is open to the public as a palace museum where people can see the great traditional palace architecture, enjoy the treasures kept in the palace, and learn of the legends and anecdotes about the imperial family and the court.

Beijing food or Northern food is a combination of different areas varieties namely Hebei, Shangdong, Lower Yangzi River area, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. Peking Duck, Mongolian Hot Pot with Lamb or Beef, Sauteed Mutton with Scallion, Muslim Skewered Mutton, Shandong Chicken with Abalone and Cabbage, to mention but a few of Beijing famous dishes. In order to enjoy tasting all this cuisines of Beijing, learning to use the chopsticks might bright out more taste and flovour.

Beijing is definitely a great place to see, a city fills with lots of histories, food and beautiful experiences.

A link for everyone to learn about Chinese Cuisines - http://www.west-meet-east.com/food.htm

Lonely Planet Website http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ is a source of information you can get and prepare yourself before you go.

Great Travel, Sean!

Experience Rome

The Eternal City, Rome

Rome is called the Eternal City and is known as the cradle of one of the greatest civilizations in world history. Modern Rome is a big city with a population of about 4 million and it’s the most visited city in Italy.

The old proverb says "all roads lead to Rome". Today the world grew bigger and many roads lead to other places, but the glory of the ancient Rome still excites and inspires.



Rome is the largest city in Italy; the comune or municipality is one of the largest in Europe with an area of 1290 square kilometers. Within the city limits, the population is 2,823,807 in 2004; almost 4 million live in the general area of Rome as represented by the province of Rome.

There is a lot to see in Rome. Rome witnessed many historical events. Almost every building in city center seems to be several thousands years old. The most known ancient must-sees of Rome is Colosseum, Pantheon, Capitoline Hill and the Forum.


Other beautiful monuments of those times are St Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel. The magnificent Palaces, the residences of Popes and kings are reminders of the medieval times.


Fountains adorning Rome are real art masterpieces. The most famous are the Trevi Fountain and Fontana del Triton.




Rome has several squares that are worthy tourist's attention. Piazza di Spagna is possibly the most charming square in the city. Piazza Navona is also a truly wonderful square to see. Piazza Venezia got its name in honor of the Republic of Venice that opened up its embassy in this very square.

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater was begun by Vespasian, inaugurated by Titus in 80 A.D. and completed by Domitian. Located on marshy land between the Esquiline and Caelian Hills, it was the first permanent amphitheater to be built in Rome. Its monumental size and grandeur as well as its practical and efficient organization for producing spectacles and controlling the large crowds make it one of the great architectural monuments achieved by the ancient Romans.

Vatican is a unique state. It occupies a small part of Rome but it's one of the most powerful and flourishing countries. For Catholics all over the world it's the most significant place on the Earth.

The most famous dish of Italian cuisine, known as pasta, has more than 400 different forms. There are also many different varieties of sauces which are undisputed counterparts of pasta dishes. Each sauce, cream, tomato, cheese, meat or fish has a matching form of noodle. Pizza is also a very famous dish of Italian cuisine. Pizza also comes in different varieties.Most of the great Italian dishes come from peasant heritage and the common characteristic is that they can be prepared very quickly and economically. Finally, nearly all Italian dishes are high in vegetables and carbohydrates and low in animal fat. Especially, when it is accompanied with a nice bottle of red Italian wine, it is probably the best known approach to a health conscious life-style without sacrificing from pleasure.

Italians are warm, welcoming people who enjoy sharing the pleasures of life with others: a comforting meal, an inspiring sunset, and yes...a clever joke.Italian Fashion is world-renown. Dressing is a matter of status, and demonstrates mature, sophisticated elegance. You will be surprised if you see awell dressed bus driver in Rome. Gucci, Valentino, Ungaro, Versace and Armani are just a few whose inspirations fill boutiques from Milan to Rome. Italian leather is highly prized for its quality and shoppers enjoy stocking up on fine purses, belts, jackets and shoes. Fashion and style can also be seen in Italian home furnishings and architecture.

If you are looking for some of the most selected Rome hotels, you can check out this link & book through the internet before you go.

http://www.hotelsrome.net/

For Information about Rome, you can the click following link to gather your information.

http://www.informationitaly.info/

Last but not least, enjoy your stay in Rome. Have a good day, mate and grazie!