Beijing, or Peking as it is perhaps better known to the majority of Europeans, is the capital of China and home to approximately 15 million inhabitants.

Beijing, or Peking as it is perhaps better known to the majority of Europeans, is the capital of China and home to approximately 15 million inhabitants.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Peking suffered a long time from many wars. But despite the great destruction, the city still has many tourist attractions with a rich history. For example, about 70 km from the city centre, you can discover the Great Wall. This wall, the largest man-made structure in the world, is at least 5,000 km long and stretches from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi desert.

Other top tourist attractions include the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Marco Polo Bridge. One thing that you should definitely not miss, is the Square of Heavenly Peace with the famous Great Hall of the People and the entrance to the Forbidden City. This is a walled palace complex with a rumoured 9,999 rooms that date back to the Ming period. It was once only accessible to the emperor and his entourage.