The Capital Museum is a patriotic education base in Beijing. Located in No.16 Fuxingmen Outer Street, it is accessible by subway Line 1, buses No.1 or No.4. It is a large modernized comprehensive museum that reflects the past and present of Beijing in terms of history, construction, folk customs, and culture. It was open to public on May 18, 2006.

The museum, with 5 floors above the ground and 2 underground, covers an area of 24,800 square meters, with a total floor space of 66,690 square meters. The building itself is a work of art, combining classical and modern aesthetic concepts. The huge roof has traditional upturned eaves; the grey stone screen wall follows the style of traditional architecture of Beijing; the sloping road on the square suggests the grandeur of ancient palaces in the city. The danbi (a decorative slab of stone) that adorns the pavement outside the north gate and the archway in the hall exude the special charm of traditional Chinese architecture. The slanting, protruding wall of the elliptic bronze hall signifies the bringing to light of ancient relics.

The museum has a rich collection of cultural relics. Most of the exhibits are relics unearthed in Beijing and its environs. By adopting the latest findings in the history, relics, archeology of Beijing and related fields and learning from successes of museums at home and abroad, it has created a modernized exhibition system with distinctive qualities of Beijing. It is divided into three parts——basic exhibits, theme exhibition, and temporary exhibition. In the first part, “the history and culture of the ancient capital” and “the construction of the ancient capital”, core exhibitions at the museum, reflect the long history and age-old culture of Beijing and the splendid history of its growth. “Folk Customs of Old Beijing” shows in a vivid way the customs of Beijing dwellers between the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republican Period. “Bronze Art in Yan Region” and six other theme exhibitions, showing the best of the museum's collection, reflect the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Temporary exhibitions provide a platform for showing local cultures and for exchange between Chinese and foreign cultures.

The museum is not only a base for the protection and study of cultural relics in the Beijing area, but also a base for teaching patriotism, history, and science to teenagers. Visitors may see a rich collection, listen to lectures given by experts, and participate in various kinds of activities such as making pottery and New Year pictures. The 2,000-square-meter ceremony hall is an ideal place for celebrations or large-scale cultural activities. The bamboo courtyard, the souvenir shop, the bookstore, the teahouse, and the restaurant are good places to go for leisure.

With a rich collection, excellent furnishing, and high-quality service, the museum shows the culture of the ancient capital Beijing and promotes cultural exchange, thus contributing to socialist spiritual civilization.

Address:No.16 Fuxingmen Outer Street, Beijing

The Ancient Observatory used to be an imperial observatory in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. After the Qing fell as a result of the Revolution of 1911, it was called the Central Observatory, and served as the national observatory in the early Republican period. In 1929, observation stopped, and it was renamed the National Astronomical Museum. It was the first astronomical museum in China.

As one of the oldest observatories in the world, it was built in 1442, or the 7th year of Emperor Zhengtong's reign in the Ming Dynasty. At that time it was called Guanxingtai, or platform for observing the stars. When taken over by the Qing, it was renamed Guanxiangtai, or observatory. You may see three large characters “Guan Xiang Tai” inscribed in stone above its south gate. Observation went on for nearly 500 years, a record duration in the world.

Well housed and well equipped, the observatory saw important cultural exchanges between China and the West in the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty. Today it enjoys a good reputation at home and abroad for, among other things, the unique configuration and size of the ancient copper astronomical instruments. They are not only relics of ancient Chinese and western astronomical instruments, but also the legacy of metallurgy and mechanics in ancient China.

Address: Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Temple of Sun Park, also named Ritan Park, a national AAA tourist attraction and a historic site under national protection, is located on Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District, about 10 kilometers from the center of Beijing city.

It is a spot of cultural interest in classical garden. Ritan, or Temple of Sun, was built in 1530, or the 9th year of Emperor Jiajing's reign in the Ming Dynasty. Before the People's Republic was founded, many pieces of ancient architectures had been vandalized or stolen. In 1951, the government of Beijing decided to turn it into a park. In 1956, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks requisitioned surrounding lands and expanded the park to 206,200 square meters, and opened it to the public.

Ritan (Temple of Sun) is one of the five altars, famous historic sites in Beijing. It was the place where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the god of the Sun. It covers an area of 206,200 square meters, of which 124,273.36 square meters are covered by greenery, 4,700 square meters covered by water, and 10,357 square meters covered by ancient architectures. There are 44 ancient trees in the park. In the past few years, while maintaining its cultural traits, the park has been updated with modernized facilities.

The park has completed and opened to the public a children's amusement park and a fishing area. Since 1992, it has attracted large numbers of tourists with activities that are rich in culture, such as music festivals, flower shows in the spring, morning exercises performances, and adoption of ancient trees.

The major attractions of the park are: the Altar,West Heavenly Gate, North Heavenly Gate, Divine Depot and Divine Kitchen, Slaughter Pavilion, Dressing Hall, sacrificial mural, the southwest scenic area, China Rose in Round Ponds, Yuxin Garden, Peony Garden, and senior citizens' area. The altar to the sun is a west-facing square platform built of white stones. There are three Lingxing gates built of white stones on its due west, and another three respectively on its east, south, and north. Between the outer altar, which lies directly opposite the west Lingxing gates, and West Heaven Gate is a sacred road that used to be taken by the emperor when he came for offering sacrifices.

Dressing Hall: This is a square courtyard, with a three-bay south-facing main hall in the north, which is flanked by a three-bay east-facing wing hall and a west-facing one. The halls, surrounded by palace walls, were for the emperor to change his clothes or rest.

The southwest scenic area: This blends the view of South China courtyard and the plain elegance of the northern garden. In its vicinity is a 4,700-square-meter lake, on the bank of which are ancient-style waterside houses, a stone boat, and little pavilions. A curved bridge and an arch bridge span it from north to south. It is girt with a meandering path; a eastward stroll along which leads to a secluded place. The cliff beside the lake commands a view of the lake blended with the hills.

YuxinGarden: This 3,000-square-meter garden has pleasant scenery. A tortuous path runs across it in the cool shade of 40-year-old chinars with a diameter of 1 meter.

Senior citizens' area: This area covers an area of 5,000 square meters. There are 6 stone sculptures based on folklore that stand on its west side, in keeping with the cultural atmosphere in the park. There are many kinds of trees and 300 peonies of famous species, whose fragrance pervades the area when they are in blossom. This is a beautiful, quiet, and comfortable place for senior citizens to rest and exercise.

Address: No.6 Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Taoyuan Xiangu (peach-garden paradise) Scenic Area is a national class-AAA scenic zone and an ecological tourist and scenery area. It is located 90 kilometers from downtown Beijing, is eight kilometers long from the western bank of the Miyun Reservoir in the east and to the top of the Guanfengtai Peak in the west.

The total area of the scenic zone is 16 square kilometers. In the valleys of the scenic zone, the forests are thick, the mountain peaks are high and imposing, there are numerous ponds and waterfalls, and the most well-known ones are the one lake, six waterfalls and 13 ponds. In winter, it becomes a wonderland of snow and ice, with more than 80 tourist attractions dotted in this wonderland. All natural sceneries together form a natural landscape corridor, like a paradise out of the bustling world.

In the scenic zone, there is a water recreation area: the Taoyuan Lake, where visitors could go fishing, boating or diving and ride a boat to have a panoramic sightseeing of the lake. There is also the “land of paradise”, which is surrounded by water in three directions—west, south and east, and is encircled by mountains in the four directions. Here on this land of paradise, flowers give off fragrance, birds are singing, and everything is thriving, giving visitors an unforgettable experience.

The Qinglong Pond is 80 meters long, 10 meters wide and 2-6 meters deep, covering an area of about 800 square meters, and visitors would find they are absorbed by its beauty and reluctant to return home. Climbing up the skywards ladder from the pond area, visitors would find a stunning view—the Taoyuan Waterfalls. Climbing northwards, visitors would find the rock slot with a gleam of the sky and get a view of the “golden tortoise shadow” on the northeast slope of the mountain. A legend goes like this: once upon a time, a severe drought hit the area. Many locals went to the Qinglong Pond to pray for rains. An old tortoise in the pond was moved by the sincerity of the locals and brought rains with its supernatural power. The locals were saved, but the tortoise's action of bringing rains to the locals without authorization violated the rules of the heaven. One day, amid thunders and lightning, a column of water shot up from the pond and the old tortoise disappeared. The locals tried to find the tortoise and finally found the image of the tortoise on the rock cliff of a cave opposite to the Qinglong Pond. Since then, the locals would go there to burn incense and offer sacrifices on festivals, wishing the golden tortoise would stay forever to bring harvest, peace and happiness to the locals.

Taoyuan Xiangu is known for its dense forests, wild flowers, murmuring brooks and rushing waterfalls, integrating ponds, rocks, caves, peaks, valleys and fruits. With convenient transport, favorable climate and convenient accommodation facilities, Taoyuan Xiangu is a paradise for tourists.

The Temple of Successive Emperors is a national AA tourist attraction, and a key historic site under national protection. It lies at No.131 Fuchengmen Inner Street, Xicheng District, west of the Fujing Cultural Street, and is close to White Dagoba Temple and Guangji Temple. It is accessible by many buses. With grand and well-preserved buildings, it is a well-known place of historical and cultural tourism.

The temple was built 470 years ago in 1530, or the 9th year of Emperor Jiajing's reign in the Ming Dynasty. It was the only imperial temple in the Ming and Qing dynasties for worshiping the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors, distinguished emperors, ministers, and generals of Chinese in successive dynasties. As time passed by, more and more honored persons were enshrined. During Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty, Jingde Chongsheng Hall housed the tablets of 188 emperors, and the east and west wing halls housed those of 79 ministers and generals, Guandi Temple was built to worship Guan Yu, a hero of the Three Kingdoms period. By then the temple had housed the greatest number of tablets in the country. The fact that great leaders of all dynasties were enshrined in this temple suggests an important trait of Chinese civilization–continuity.

After the Republic of China was founded, the temple was diverted into non-sacrificial uses, serving first as PekingLadies' Preschool Teacher's Schooland then as No.3 Girls High School of Peking. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was renamed No.3 Girls High School of Beijing. In 1972, it merged into No.159 High School of Beijing. In 2000, governments at various levels began to finance a three-year renovation. It was officially opened to the public in April 2004.

The temple covers an area of 21,500 square meters, of which 6,000 square meters are covered by ancient buildings. The whole complex faces south. The main buildings——the screen wall, the gate of the temple, Jingde Gate, Jingde Chongsheng Hall, the warehouse of ritual vessels——are situated along a central axis. These are flanked by the east and west wing halls, the stele pavilions, the sacrificial burners, and the bell tower. In the southeast are the bell tower, the Divine kitchen, the Divine Depot, the Slaughter pavilion, and the well pavilion; in the southwest are the Music Official Rooms, the Guard Official Rooms, the Fasting Rooms, and the GuandiTemple, a temple within a temple. With a majestic layout, the complex is a classic example of Chinese traditional architecture.

Jingde Chongsheng Hall, the main hall, has been refurnished the way it was in Emperor Qianlong's reign. Prominently displayed in its center are the spiritual tablets of the Three Sovereigns——Fuxi, Emperor Yan, Emperor Huangdi, and the Five Emperors——Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Diku, Tangyao, and Yushun. They are flanked by those of the emperors of successive dynasties. Visitors may feel the solemnity and worship in the hall. In the east wing hall is an exhibition on the historical evolution of the temple; in the west wing hall, an exhibition of the major worshiped figures. These two may help visitors learn more about the temple and the founding, development and consummation of the sacrificial system.

In the Divine Depot is held the exhibition on Family Names and the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors, showing how the 100 major Chinese family names originated from the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors and evolved, and stories of emperors of successive dynasties. This may help visitors learn more about the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors who were the common ancestors of Chinese people.

In Guandi Temple is held the Guan Yu Cultural Exhibition on the life of Guan Yu, Guan Yu’s Tomb in Dangyang, the Cemetery of Guan Yu in Luoyang, and Guandi Temple in Xiezhou. The exhibition tells the story of “his body lies in Dangyang, his head rests in Luoyang, his soul is back in his hometown, and his statue is worshipped in Temples”, and A Life of Heroic Tragedy, A Sage of Eternal Sanctity.

Address:No.131 Fuchengmen Inner Street, Xicheng District, Beijing