Beijing is one of the few cities in the world where the past and the present come together to create a medley of visual experiences. Monuments from the Ming Dynasty hob knob with modern day structures and temples coexist in peace with Chinese symbols of military dominion in the region. The city offers a rare diversity that both astounds and fascinates visitors.

No visit to Beijing would be complete without making it to the gigantic and imposing Great Wall of China. A divide that once prevented incursions into the country from neighboring lands, today the Great Wall is not only an emblem of China’s might in the region but also an extremely popular tourist destination.

Dwarfed by the great Himalayan range, hiking up the mountains to reach the wall is an experience in itself that should not be missed. No longer the Spartan tourist attraction that it once was, today the wall houses several shops and restaurants to cater to the needs of its visitors.

The Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace should be next in line after the Great Wall. Every bit as spectacular as the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven Complex was once a religious center for the rulers of the land from the Ming and Qing dynasties. You can easily spend the better part of the morning exploring the area. From here, head over to the Summer Palace, the royals used this as a retreat to escape the scorching summer heat. While the architectural influence is distinctly Asian, the palace and its gardens have the same unmistakable mark of opulence as any other royal home in the world.