| The best way to kick off your Asian travels is in | | | | Although there are hundreds of historical sites in |
| China's progressive and even tragically hip capital | | | | Beijing, the rapidly sprawling metropolis is also |
| city of Beijing. Traditional relics like the Tiananmen | | | | overflowing with contemporary wonders and |
| gate stand juxtaposed against the imposing | | | | luxuries. The National Zoo houses the largest inland |
| modernist architecture of recent history, most | | | | aquarium in the world as well as China's famous |
| notable in the Dashanzi Art District. The People's | | | | pandas. Next to the Imperial Palace, the Wan |
| Republic of China has its financial industries mainly | | | | Fung Art Gallery provides insight into the artistic |
| in Shanghai and Hong Kong, but Beijing remains | | | | transition from regal and traditional to cutting edge |
| the nation's true cultural and political center. | | | | contemporary. Most interestingly, the suburban |
| Orange County Meets Ming Dynasty in Beijing | | | | sprawl has witnessed the creation of a $60 million |
| When many travelers think of Beijing, they | | | | American-inspired community called Orange |
| imagine the dictatorial atmosphere of Mao Zedong | | | | County, complete with town homes and tract |
| or television images of protesting citizens; | | | | housing. |
| however, Beijing has a tremendous history | | | | Chinese Cultural Centrifuge in Beijing |
| beginning as early as the 1st century BCE and has | | | | Experience two cultural traditions in one at the |
| persevered through Kublai Kahn's Mongols, | | | | Laoshe Tea House where you will be both |
| Japanese invasion, and the Communist Civil War | | | | charmed by Chinese opera and soothed by a |
| victory in 1949. | | | | variety of traditional teas. For world-class shopping |
| The Forbidden City is a fascinating journey | | | | in Beijing, visit Wangfujing, or you can find your |
| through 500 years of Imperial secrecy. The head | | | | way into the many enchanting smaller districts for |
| of state no longer resides here and the beautiful | | | | traditional Chinese shops and boutiques. Beijing is |
| buildings and breathtaking gardens are open to the | | | | also home to several notable temples like the |
| public year-round. The entrance to the Forbidden | | | | Miaoying, and even a mosque that was built in |
| City is the infamous Tiananmen Square and gate, | | | | 996. |
| protected by four formidable marble lions. Nearby, | | | | With such dynamic experiences to offer and the |
| the Temple of Heaven is another sublime | | | | immaculate preservation of its past, Beijing is truly |
| representation of an era of dynasties and royal | | | | an international city and there's no wonder the |
| architecture. With airfare to Beijing, you also have | | | | cosmopolis has been chosen for the Olympics. |
| the extra opportunity to see the Great Wall of | | | | Get your airfare to Beijing now or wait for the |
| China, which is only one and a half hours away by | | | | 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. |
| bus. | | | | |