Beijing is the capital as well as the second largest city of the People's Republic of China. Beijing, whose name in Mandarin literally means Capital of the North, has for centuries been the most populous city in the world. Located in the north of the country, Beijing is famous for the Forbidden City (in Mandarin, 紫禁城; zǐ jìn chéng), a collection of Chinese emperors' palaces built in the 15th century.

The city was the capital of the Chinese Empire from 1421 to 1911. In 1912, the capital was transferred to Nanjing, and Beijing took its name from Beiping (Wade-Giles: Peiping) (literally "Peace of the North" in Mandarin); Occupied by the Japanese between 1937 and 1945, Beijing became once again the capital of the People's Republic of China in 1949 under the current denomination.

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Over the red walls of the Forbidden City, now guarded by the giant portrait of Mao Zedong, lies the luxurious Hall of Supreme Harmony, from which the emperors of the dragon throne dispatched orders to their domains. The impressive network of palaces, gardens and gates make us immediately plunge into the scenes of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, a world where intrigue, politics and grandeur reigned. This immense palatial complex is the ideal starting point for getting to know Beijing (Beijing) - and one can spend well over a full day here.

Just across the street is Tiananmen Square, famous for student protests and military demonstrations. Around the palace moats are the traditional hutongs, popular neighborhoods full of life, smells and sounds. Its formation in alleys, long corridors and courtyards refer us to the Forbidden City, but obviously on a smaller scale. If you want more architectural gems, visit the expansive Summer Palace, with its uncrowded lakes and buildings, or the symmetrical and harmonious Temple of Heaven.

But today's China is not just a tradition. In the Olympic park you will see new icons of the urban landscape, such as Bird's Nest Stadium, which together with the CCTV headquarters - Rem Koolhaas project, and the National Grand Theater, describe the current ambitions of the country. Today, bicycles begin to thin, giving way to wide five-lane avenues, hutongs are demolished, and its inhabitants sent to the suburbs and friendly family restaurants that sell steaming baozis have already given way to huge shopping centers . Even the friendly little Pekingese dog is not seen often anymore. Fortunately, however, restaurants serve dishes from the north of the country - little known outside the region, as well as the delicious Beijing Duck, whose lacquered, super crispy skin is enveloped in delicate pancakes. Simply unmissable. For other gastronomic experiences, be sure to visit the Wangfujing street stalls (seahorses and scorpions are on the menu) or the busy houses in Sanlitun.

From one meal to another, enjoy programs such as watching a colorful Beijing opera show or a performance of the gorgeous imperial circus, the latter sure to entertain the whole family. Popular tours from the capital are visits to stretches of the Great Wall, ranging from original ruins to fully rebuilt sections, and the tombs of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

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Chinese cuisine is one of the richest, due to the ancient culinary tradition that is associated with it and is widely represented throughout the world. It can be said that originally it came from various regions of China, and that later expanded to other parts of the world, from Asia, the American continent and Europe.

China is a country still unknown to the West, full of magic and secrets to discover. The Chinese gastronomy has many varieties, 8 to be more precise, they are: Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan and Anhui.


The variety of Chinese food is such that even the different cuisines and regional cuisines have their own endless lists of different specialties and traditional culinary styles, from Cantonese to the cuisine of Shandong, Yangzhou, Sichuan, Xinjiang or Yunnan.

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