Beijing

Other places of interest are the Summer Palace, residence of the 19th century Empress Cixi with a classical imperial garden. Within the Palace grounds are Kunming Lake, meandering paths and hills and the Long Corridor, a wooden lakeside covered walkway, exquisitely painted with landscapes and Chinese legends. Another important Beijing landmark is the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties made sacrifices for a good harvest and worshipped Heaven.

However the most magnificent man-made project on earth, stretching more than 6,000 kilometres is the Great Wall, built 2,500 years ago to keep out the barbarians who threatened the Chinese Empire. It is not just a single fortification, but a whole system. In places it divides into two or more lines, with many outlying and unconnected sections. Silk Road and Beyond take you to the less crowded section at Mutianyu, for a walk along the Great Wall.

There are many wonderful sights to see both in the heart of Beijing and the surrounding area. In the city centre is Tiananmen Square, the largest square on earth covering 40 hectares and surrounded by the Great Hall of the People and Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum. Through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, topped by a giant portrait of Chairman Mao is the extraordinary Forbidden City, a mighty Imperial Palace for the emperors and their families during the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1911) dynasties. Not just a palace but a small town, entry was forbidden to ordinary people for over 500 years.