It is China's second largest city after Shanghai, with more than 17 million population. It is also a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. The metropolis is recognized as the political, educational, and cultural centre of the People's Republic of China. The city hosted the 2008 Olympic Games.
Attractions :
Great Wall of China - It's generally believed that China began to build the Great Wall during the Spring and Autumn Periods when the country was in a great chaos, with rival states fighting for territory and power. To protect their states and people, independent walls were successively built along their states' borders by those states. However, it's not until the Qin Dynasty after the country was unified by Qinshihuang( king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE ), did the mass construction of the Great Wall took place.
In the Chinese history, the Great Wall built in four dynasties exceed 10, 000 li in length: the dynasties of Qin, Han, Jing and Ming. Among them, the Han Great Wall, from Liaodao in the east to Yanze in the west, is the longest: more than 10, 000 kms.
Forbidden City - The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It is recognized as one of the most important five palaces in the world (the other four are the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US and the Kremlin in Russia). The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment.
In 1961 the Forbidden City was listed as one of the important historical monuments under the special preservation by the Chinese central government and, in 1987, it was nominated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The Palace Museum is a real treasure house of Chinese cultural and historical relics.
Tiananmen Square - Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 10,000,000 people at one time. The square is a conglomeration of splendid and beautiful flowers and the red national flag which flutters in the wind. The raising of the national flag is something which should not be missed by visitors to Tiananmen Square.
With the towering Monument to the People's Heroes at the center, Tiananmen Square has the magnificent Tiananmen Tower in the north, the solemn Mao Zedong Memorial Hall in the south, the National Museum of China in the east and the Great Hall of the People in the west. Surrounded by these lofty buildings, the Square looks most splendid and majestic and attracts many tourists every day
The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel
The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel at Beijing is ideally located in the heart of the cultural and commercial center of China. The hotel provides an ideal base for shopping and exploring The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven and the famed Silk Market. Beijing Capital International Airport is just a 20-minute drive away.
The spacious lobby warmly welcomes you into the hotel. Warm and cozy, each of the 827 guest rooms feature the ultra-comfortable Sheraton Sweet Sleeper(SM) Bed and a host of other features. The hotel is home to three of Beijing’s finest restaurants, each unique in flavor and setting. The restaurants serve authentic Chinese, French, and Italian cuisine with a myriad of seasonal promotions offered continuously throughout the year. In the midst of your busy schedule of exploration, travel, and work, The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing remains your haven.
The hotel offers a range of facilities - Sheraton Fitness, a fully equipped gymnasium, indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor tennis court, steam and sauna rooms and aerobic and yoga sessions. You can wind down with a soothing massage from experienced chiropractors without leaving the comfort of the hotel. In-room massages are also available.
Apart from the 24-Hour Concierge Service, Express Check-Out, Multilingual Staff, Sun Deck, Indoor Pool, you will find a journey of culinary delights and moments to savour in the restaurants, bars, and lounges as you enjoy offerings from China, Europe, and Asia.
