photo by gusto

The brash modernity of BEIJING (meaning Northern Capital) comes as a surprise to most visitors. Traversed by freeways (it’s the proud owner of more than a hundred flyovers) and spiked with high-rises, this vivid metropolis is China at its most dynamic. For the last thousand years, the drama of China’s imperial history was played out here, with the emperor sitting enthroned at the centre of the Chinese universe, and though today the city is a very different one, it remains spiritually and politically the heart of the country. Between the swathes of concrete and glass, you’ll find some of the lushest temples, and certainly the grandest remnants of the Imperial Age. Unexpectedly, some of the country’s most pleasant scenic spots lie within the scope of a day-trip, and, just to the north of the city, is one of China’s most famous sights, the old boundary line between civilizations, the Great Wall.