Three Famous Beijing Sites

Posted by Kay Wong, No Comments 28/11/2011

Beijing, one of the most famous cities in China. It’s no wonder many thousands choose to enjoy Beijing tours in this inspirational city, with its impressive history, beautiful ancient monuments and bustling culture. The city is one of the only ones in China to play a part in nearly every significant recorded Chinese event. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most important historical sites in the city, so you to can experience some of Beijing’s unique, historic past.

We start with one of the most famous monuments in Beijing: the Forbidden City. This enormous palace played home to the Chinese Emperors and their families for almost 500 years, a tradition that only ended in 1911. The name comes from the fact that the entry to the city was forbidden to everyone apart from the imperial family and those on official imperial business. Some of the most impressive buildings in the complex include monuments such as the Golden Water Bridges and the Gate of Supreme Harmony. It’s the large, traditional pavilions that draw the biggest crowds though.

Just beyond the Forbidden City is our next site, Tiananmen Square. This expansive open square is the third largest in the world and has been centre stage for many important events in China. Most will know the square from its role in modern history. You can experience much of this past in the two museums just off the square: the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History. It’s worth taking a moment to just stand in the middle of the square too, to just absorb the feel of one of the most significant, historical locations in China.

Our final site is perhaps the city’s most famous: The Great Wall. It’s been a major draw to the city for millions of visitors due to its unique status. The wall was constructed over the course of almost 2,000 years and is made up of over 3,700 miles of stone walls. Access to the wall from Beijing city is a short trip to the northwest of the city centre. The monument is an impressive structure up close, although it can get crowded so it’s worth visiting early in the morning.

India’s Must-See Sights

Posted by Kay Wong, No Comments 14/11/2011
Delhi Red Fort 006 300x224 Indias Must See Sights

Red Fort, Delhi

Taking a trip to India is an increasingly popular choice for a holiday and it’s no wonder with so many amazing tours to India available. However, for many people it’s their first time in this beautiful country; this blog takes a look at some of the countries most famous sites, to give the first timers out there a taste of what they can expect in this culturally rich destination.

The first of our three sights is the impressive Red Fort, set in the bustling city of Delhi. The site, also know by its more popular Indian name Lal Quila, is one of the biggest draws in the city. The massive fort sits on the bank of the river Yamuna; with its thick red sandstone walls, stout bastions and fantastic turrets it has a real sense of presence. The site is also one of the oldest and largest monuments in the country; its outer wall covers just over 2 kilometres. The citadel was constructed in the 17th century by Shahjahan and serves as a link to Delhi’s imperial past.

Next we have the magical Hawa Mahal Palace, located in the city of Jaipur. This prominent building is one of the most impressive in the region, mainly due to its unique architecture and bright terracotta red colouring. The Hawa Mahal was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 and draws its design influences from both Rajputana and Mughal architecture. The building is comprised of five main stories, which taper towards the top of the building. Each of the stories features hundreds of tiny windows, cut out to form a lattice work. The building really is a must see if you’re visiting the city and is best viewed as the early morning sun catches the building.

Finally, no list of famous sights in India would be complete without a mention of the Taj Mahal. This beautiful, and iconic, monument is synonymous with love and romance. Standing proudly on the banks of the River Yamuna in Agra, the monument makes for a breathtaking sight. With its pearly white walls, exquisite carvings and murals formed of gemstones; the building itself is a mausoleum that was constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in 1653, in memory of one of his wives, Mumtaz Mahal. Today the site is widely recognised as one of the masterpieces of the world’s heritage.

Experience all these fantastic attrations and more on a Wendy Wu tour.

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