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Beijing Zoo – The big draw of the Beijing Zoo
is the giant pandas (which kids can't resist), but there are also golden
monkeys from Sichuan, Yangtze alligators, cranes and deer, unique to China,
and the Bactrian camel of Asia. Once the imperial gardens of a Ming dynasty
prince, in the early twentieth century, the park was called "Garden
of the Ten Thousand Animals." Today the zoo does have thousands of
animals, but this is not the most animal-friendly zoo. As one family described
it, "The pandas are treated like kings, and the rest of the animals
are distressing." |
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Boat ride to the Summer Palace – Take a pleasure
boat ride on the canals to the Summer Palace (you can pretend you're Empress
Cixi, who would spend days cruising on the water, starting from her Summer
Palace). On the 50 min. cruise, you'll float under bridges, past an old
temple, through the lakes in Purple Bamboo Park, docking at the Summer Palace,
near the Jade Belt Bridge (Camel's Back Bridge) on the western side of the
lake. Pick up the dragon boats in the lake behind the Bejing Exhibition
Centre, close to the Beijing Zoo. This boat ride is summers only. |
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Purple Bamboo Park (Zizhuyuan Park) – This one
of Beijing's prettiest parks, three lakes and two islands, connected by
lovely bridges. The lakes are densely filled with flowering lotus plants,
and park is planted with bamboo and other flowering plants. Popular with
local Beijing families, there's also a children's playground and small amusement
park. |
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Great Bell Temple (Dazhongsi) – The Great Bell
Temple houses a gigantic bronze bell, the biggest in China and one of the
oldest bells in the world. Climb up the tower to look down on this
46 ton " king of bells." Also, stop into the Ancient Bell Museum
to see tons of ancient bells, decorated with Chinese figures and dragon
handles (bells are struck with a stick). Buy a CD to hear what the bells
sound like – it's a great souvenir to bring home. |
