历史的年轮，在这座集沉雄沧桑与雍容华贵于一身的帝王之城，已经生生不息地碾过了3000多年。时光在红墙黄瓦间穿梭，余韵在殿宇楼阁中流转。沉积的文化底蕴，使得一砖一瓦都浸透着神奇，一草一木都焕发出青春。如今，历史又以光与电的速度鸟瞰着这座风情旖旎的现代都市，使她生机勃勃，妩媚迷人。这就是北京。 拥有的太多、太多……古老与现代在文化的催化下，构成了北京这座辉煌的东方大都市，使人魂萦梦绕。《放飞心情逛北京》牵引历史文化的主线，增添游逛京城的新元素，让你放飞心情，品其厚味，享受惬意而快乐的时光。

The wheel of history has rolled for three thousand years in this grand and royal city. Time has rendered the red walls and yellow tiles of the palaces, temples and pavilions an atmosphere reminiscent of the long past. The culture accumulation has flavored the bricks and tiles with magic power that never fades. Today, a reforming China open to the outer world is making this ancient municipality even more vigorous and attractive. This is Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China.
For thousands of years, Beijing has served as the capital of the Chinese empire, bestowed by the Heaven. Known as You State over three thousand years back, Beijing enjoys a heavenly location, seated against Juyong Pass of the Great Wall in the north and facing the Huanghe River and Jishui River in ancient times, with a vast sea on its left, and Taihang Mountain on its right.
Legend goes that Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang once fought in the wildness of You State in Beijing Bay for the control of the empire. That was the first time present Beijing is recorded in writing.
Historic record of Beijing reveals that more than 3,000 years ago, King Wu of Zhou Dynasty established two feudal states in this land of present Beijing, namely Ji State and Yan State,launching Beijing on its development as a city. Beijing was formally established as the capital of the Chinese empire in 1153, when Hailing King of Jin Empire chose this land as the capital in the name of Zhongdu, which opened a new page of the history of Beijing as a political center.
King Kublai Khan renamed Zhongdu as Dadu of Yuan Dynasty and expanded the territory of former Zhongdu in 1274, and the basic outline of Beijing came into existence. Zhu Di, the third emperor of Ming Dynasty moved to Beijing in 1421 and the city gained its current name. It was in this period that the landscape of Beijing as the grand capital of China began to form and the culture elements began to accumulate in this holy land for the following centuries.
Hundreds of years has passed with dreams of everlasting empires forever gone, leaving us the prideful cultural legacy and abundant treasures.
Here ancient melodies composed by the hand of history are still resounding in the grand castle and splendid palaces, reminding of its long-past glories.
Here the holy kindling of the Chinese nation sheds the light on the tracks of Chinese civilization, filling the offspring of the Chinese nation with pride and confidence.

Preface
Touring Beijing
Historic Scenery Spots: Accumulation of Luxury, History and Culture
Tian'anmen and Tian'anmen Square: Signature of the People's Republic of China
The Palace Museum: A Silent Witness of History
Beihai Park: Heavenly Scenery in a Dreamlike Atmosphere
The Temple of Heaven: Worshipping the Heavens for the Sake of the Nation
The Summer Palace: a“Royal Garden Museum”with Splendid Natural Wealth and Rich Cultural Accumulation
Yuanmingyuan Garden: Majestic Royal Garden Reduced to Ruins, Reminiscent of the History
The Ming Tombs: Magnificent Tombs in the Fog-veiled Mountains Telling Long-past Stories
The Great Wall: The Chinese Dragon Witnessing a History of Thousands of ears
Marco Polo Bridge: Solemnity of the Stone Lions Doubled by the History
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian: Origin of the Chinese Civilization
The Tomb of Matteo Ricci: A Pioneer Introducing the Western Culture to China
Temples and Churches: Purifying Souls and Praying for World Peace
Yonghe Lamasery: An Imperial Mansion Converted into a Grandest Tibetan
Buddhist Temple
The Imperial Ancestral Temple: Ancestral Temple Converted into a Cultural
Paradise of Working People
The Great Bell Temple: Powerful Bell Vibrating Across Beijing
The White Cloud Taoist Temple: Realizing the Truth and Understanding the
Importance of Natural Laws and Virtues
Source of Dharma Temple: A Solemn and Stirring Temple Nurturing Fragrant Lilacs
Ordination Terrace Temple: Soothing Ordination Terrace, Spectacluar Pines and Ancient Cave
Tanzhe Temple: An Immortalizing Temple with a History Outdoing Beijing
Yunju Temple (the Cloud Residence Temple): Most Valuable Century-old
Collection of Buddhist Sutras
Niujie Mosque: An Ancient Mosque as Old as Beijing
Church of the Sacred Heart (North Cathedral of Beijing): A Witness of the Century-old History of Mission
Hutong and Courtyards: A Window to the Folk Customs and Life of the Common People
Hutong Culture: Learn Some Beijing Dialect and Taste the Original Customs
Feature Hutong: Visiting Quiet and Meaningful Hutong by Rickshaw
Courtyard Houses: Appreciating the Brick Carvings, Touching the Gate Piers and Hearing the Stories Inside
Natural and Cultural Feature Spots: Getting Close to Nature and Appreciating the Cultural Elements
Xiangshan Park: Best in Autumn
Longqing Gorge Scenic Area: Parrellel to the Three Gorges and Lijiang River
China Century Altar: Commemorating the 5,000-year History of and Representing the 5,000-year Civilization
The Grand View Garden: The Dream of the Red Chamber Found in the Real World
Beijing World Park: Give Me One Day and I Will Give You a Whole World
Minghuang Wax Figure Palace: Can We Visit the Past?
Technological Scenic Sports: Internal Spirits of Beijing
National Library of China: An Ocean of Books for Readers
National Museum of China: A Chance to Appreciate the Best of Historic and Cultural Relics of China
National Art Museum of China: An Art Palace Promoting the Culture
The Capital Museum：A New Building Housing the Culture of the Capital
The Old Beijing Observatory and Beijing Planetarium：Learning about the Universe and
Reaching out in Space
Beijing Museum of Traditional Operas：A Bright Cultural Landscape with Traditional
F1avors
The Imperial College and Beijing Confucius Temple：Continuing the Tradition of
Respecting the Wisdom．the Aged and Confucious Doctrine
Top Universities in China：Cradles of Future Pillars of the Nation
Constructions and Facilities for Beijing Olympics
2008
National Stadium：A Nest of Hope
National Aquatics Center：Dreamlike Colors Creating a Charming
Atmosphere
National Indoor Stadium：A New Landscape Created with a Huge Foldable
Fan
Olympic Sports Center Stadium：A Magnetic Field with Fresh Attractions
Olympic Water Park：A Chinese Ink Painting of Clear Water,Green Grass
and White Waves
Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center：An Representation of the New
Notion of Integrating Sports．Culture and Recreation
Feature Markets
Great Fences(“Dashila”)：No．1 of the Ancient Brand in Beijing
Wangfujing Street：A Commercial Street
Liulichang Cultural Street：A Cultural Street
Maliandao Street：A Tea Street I
TraditionaI Food
Ancient Brand Restaurants：Rich Food Culture
Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant：The First Restaurant Tower of China
Producing Roast Ducks for over 1 00 Yeors
Donglaishun Restaurant：Hot Pot with Lingering Taste
Shaguoju Restaurant：Boiled Pork Reputed in Bejing for 300 Years
Hongbinlou Restaurant：the First Muslim Restaurant Tower Offering Whole Sheep
Banquets
Fangshan Restaurant：Former Imperial Food Now Available for Commoners
Duyichu Steamed Dumpling Restaurant：Hidden Delights
Kaorouwan Restaurant：An Arresting Flavor
Traditional Snacks：Favorites of Commoners
Ruibinlou Restaurant：Golden Shoulder-bag-shaped Baked Wheaten Cakes
Xiaochang Chen：Wheaten Cakes Boiled in Meat Broth．Tasty but Not Greasy
Wonton Hou：Fine Stuffing．Tasty Soup and Paper-Like Dough Wrappings
Baodu Feng：Fresh．Crisp and Tasty Fried Cow／Sheep Stomach
TianxingjU Restaurant：Stir-fried Liver with Thick Taste
Recreation and Entertainment
Peking Opera：Enticing Century-old Treasure of China
KTVs：Experiencing What It Feels Like to be Stars．Better with Some Fans
Discos：Exercise Your Body and Relax Your Mind
Tea Houses：The Medium Between Life and Arts and the Holy Land Free of
Worldly Affairs
Bars：Where Flames Meet with Waves
……