Beijing – Around Town : Western Beijing

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Xicheng, which in Chinese
means “West City”, is the central district west of the Forbidden City
and the lakes. Beijingers think of this area mostly as a seat of money
and learning – both the Financial District and the Haidian University
are located here. Western Beijing is best experienced as a series of
half-day expeditions: a visit to the Military Museum with a look at the
Millennium Monument afterwards and a walk through Yuyuan Tan Park, or a
trip to the zoo and aquarium followed by the Temple of the Five Pagodas.
Expect to make liberal use of taxis and the subway.

Buddhism in China

Buddhism, which
started in India, probably came to China along the Silk Route. The
earliest sign of the religion is associated with the founding of the
White Horse Temple near the old capital of Luoyang in AD 68. Buddhism
surged in popularity during periods of instability, when Confucianism’s
veneration for authority did not sit well with the populace. It was
eventually adopted by China’s rulers.





Top 10 Sights

  1. Temple of Heavenly Tranquility

    Home
    to Beijing’s most striking pagoda, the temple (Tianning Si) was built
    during the 5th century AD, making it one of the city’s oldest. The
    196-ft (60-m) octagonal pagoda was added in the early 12th century. The
    bottom of the pagoda is in the form of a huge pedestal decorated with
    carved arch patterns, symbolizing Sumeru, the mountain of the gods.
    Above are thirteen levels of eaves, very close together, with no doors
    or windows – the pagoda is with-out stairs inside or outside and is, in
    fact, solid.




    Temple of Heavenly Tranquility

    • Guanng’an Men Nanbinhe Lu

    • Subway: Nanlishi Lu, then taxi

  2. White Cloud Temple

    The
    first temple on this site was founded in AD 739 and burnt down in 1166.
    Since that time, it has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. It even
    survived being used as a factory during the Cultural Revolution. The
    shrines, pavilions, and courtyards that make up the compound today date
    mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Monks here are followers of
    Daoism and sport distinctive top-knots. Each Chinese New Year this is
    the venue for one of the city’s most popular temple fairs, with
    performers, artisans, and traders.




    Gateway at the White Cloud Temple

    • 6 Baiyun Guan Jie, off Lianhuachi Dong Lu

    • 6340 4812

    • Subway: Nanlishi Lu

    • Open 8:30am–4:30pm daily (Oct 8–Apr: to 4pm)

    • ¥10

  3. Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution

    Vast
    halls of Cold War-era hardware, including lots of silvery fighter
    planes and tanks, fill the ground floor. Upstairs has exhibitions on
    historic conflicts, including the Opium Wars and Boxer Rebellion.
    Unfortunately, there is little labeling in English. What is not
    mentioned is that the museum is close to the Muxidi intersection, scene
    of a massacre of civilians by the Chinese army during the 1989 democracy
    protests.

    • 9 Fuxing Lu

    • 6686 6244

    • Subway: Junshi Bowuguan

    • Open 8am–5pm daily

    • ¥20 (ID required)




    Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution

  4. Capital Museum

    The
    Capital Museum celebrates China’s civilization in general and Beijing’s
    history in particular. The five-story building is easily recognizable
    thanks to its huge bronze cylinder. Exhibits include examples of
    porcelain art and calligraphy, Buddha statues, furniture, and crafts.
    Entrance is free, so the museum is a popular destination.

    • 9 Yuyuan Tan Nan Lu

    • 6337 0491

    • Subway: Muxidi

    • Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sun

  5. Miaoying Temple White Dagoba (Bantaisi)

    Celebrated for its Tibetan-styled, 167-ft (51-m) white dagoba
    (stupa), said to have been designed by a Nepalese architect, the temple
    dates to 1271, when Beijing was under Mongol rule. The temple is also
    noted for its fascinating collection of thousands of Tibetan Buddhist
    statues.

    • 171 Fucheng Men Nei Dajie

    • 6616 0211

    • Subway: Fucheng Men

    • Open 9am–4:30pm daily

    • ¥20

     

  6. Lu Xun Museum

    Lu
    Xun is regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature, responsible
    for ground-breaking works such as “Diary of a Madman” and “The True
    Story of Ah Q”. This is the house in which he lived from 1924 to 1926.
    The rooms display artifacts relating to his life and there’s also an
    adjacent exhibition hall with more than 10,000 letters, journals,
    photographs, and other personal objects.

    • 19 Gong Men Kou Er Tiao, off Fucheng Men Nei Dajie

    • 6616 4168

    • Subway: Fucheng Men

    • Open 9am–3:30 pm Tues–Sun

    • ¥5

  7. National Library of China

    One
    of the five biggest libraries in the world, the National Library of
    China was recently expanded to accommodate its collection of
    approximately 12 million books. The building’s floating roof houses the
    Digital Library. Most books are reference only, but visitors can request
    a reader’s pass.

    • 33 Zhongguancun Nandajie

    • 8854 5426

    • Open 9am–9pm Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat, Sun (except pub hols)

  8. Beijing Zoo

    Visit
    for the pandas, the rare bears that are native to China and nowhere
    else. The zoo has several, housed in a new “panda house.” However, most
    of the other 2,000 animals here are not so lucky; their cages are tiny.

    • 137 Xizhi Men Wai Dajie

    • 6831 4411

    • Subway: Xizhi Men

    • Open 7:30am–6pm daily

    • ¥20

  9. Beijing Aquarium

    Located
    in the northeastern corner of the zoo is this conch shell-shaped
    building. It’s reputedly the largest inland aquarium in the world, with
    massive tanks containing thousands of weird and wonderful fish, plus a
    shark tank, coral reefs and an “Amazon rainforest.” There are also
    several dolphin and seal shows held daily at 11am and 3pm.

    • 108 Gao Liang Qiao Xijie

    • 6217 6655

    • Open 9am–5pm daily

    • ¥100 adults, ¥50 children


    • www.bj-sea.com




    Beijing Aquarium



    Beijing Aquarium

  10. Temple of the Five Pagodas

    Just
    north of the zoo, this temple displays obvious Indian influences. It
    was built in the early 15th century in honor of an Indian monk who came
    to China and presented the emperor with five golden Buddhas. The pagodas
    sport elaborate carvings of curvaceous females, as well as the
    customary Buddhas. Also here is the Beijing Art Museum of Stone
    Carvings, with 2,000 decorative stelae.

    • 24 Wuta Si Cun

    • 6217 3836

    • Subway: Xizhi Men

    • Open 8:30am–4:30pm daily

    • ¥15




    Temple of the Five Pagodas



    Temple of the Five Pagodas


War and peace


Morning

Even if you’re no big fan of mechanized heavy armor, the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution
is a fascinating place. Exhibits begin with the technology that made
China one of the world’s first military superpowers, including the
“Flying Dragon,” an early form of missile launcher. There’s one room
devoted to the wonderfully tacky gifts that have been bestowed on
China’s army chiefs and leaders, such as a pistol presented to Chairman
Mao by Fidel Castro. Mao’s limousine is displayed on the ground floor
and there’s one hall devoted to statues and assorted representations of
the Communist Party’s great and good. It all makes for a fascinating
insight into the mentality of late 20th-century China.

Afternoon

Leaving the museum, walk west along Fuxing Lu and take the first right.You will see the
Millennium Monument and, behind it, Yuyuan Tan Park,
with a large lake at its center. The vast park is a relaxing place for a
stroll. Afterwards, for some refreshments, walk east to the pleasant
Hong Hao Ge Teahouse
 before continuing on Fuxing Men Wai Dajie toward Muxidi and the Capital Museum.
Audio self-guided tours in Chinese and English are available at the
entrance. Don’t miss the Peking Opera exhibition on the top floor, or
the short film on Beijing’s urban development, screened in the
auditorium on the ground floor.