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Authors
Visual Travel Tours, "Beyond the self-guided tour" Denver Business Journal, 2/19/10 excerpt.

Imperial Beijing: Tian'anmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan


 
Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City are usually the first sights that travelers visit, and for good reason: they are the heart and soul of Beijing. Tian’anmen is one of the largest public squares in the world… it is amazing! Next, enjoy the Forbidden City, China’s best-preserved architectural site and one of the top five palaces in the world. After that, you’ll cross the street to Jingshan Park, a former imperial garden, and then climb the man-made Coal Hill for stunning views of the Forbidden City from above. 
Purchase Tour Options

Tips in this Tour:
Before you leave home, tell your banks you’ll be in China; otherwise they may not allow credit card charges or ATM withdrawals.
Try small neighborhood restaurants for authentic food that hasn’t been modified for Western tastes. If the restaurant is packed with locals, you can be sure the food is tasty and fairly priced.
A good phrase book is a must in Beijing. Try to get one that has the words in English, pinyin (Romanized words), and Chinese characters. When you bungle the pinyin pronunciation, you can point to the characters.
If you’re in desperate need of someone who speaks English in Beijing, look for a young person wearing glasses. Chances are they’re studying English in school, and their eyes have gone bad from studying so much.
Chinese young people will approach you wanting to practice their English. Some legitimately want to improve their English, but if they ask you to an art show or for a cup of tea, don’t go. They’re scammers. This happens a lot at Tian’anmen Square.

Enjoy an audio/video sample of this tour:

Click to see a QuietGuide™: Scroll as you stroll. Text+photos formatted for mobile. 

Transportation: By Foot - Easy walking
Specialty: Historical/Heritage
Category: Guided Tour - play before & while you tour
Added:11/10/2008
Duration: 30 min

Chapters in this tour:
     Introduction
     Imperial Treasures
     Tian'anmen Square: Beijing's Heart & Soul
     Forbidden City: Treasure Trove of History
     Jingshan Park: Overlooking the City
     Recommended Resources
 
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* Free Map With Purchase

Visual Tour + Free Map
Be sure you have sufficient space on your device, approximate sizes listed below.
      For PC and Windows Mobile Devices - .wmv - $15.95 (65MB)
      For Mac, iPod, and iPhone - .m4v - $15.95 (75MB)
      For most cellphones - .3gp - $15.95 (30MB)
      For most smartphones - .mp4 - $15.95 (79MB)
  Audio Only + Map for any audio device - .mp3 (15MB) + Free Map - $9.95


Provider: Cheryl Probst

 Cheryl Probst is an award-winning photojournalist who has worked for newspapers in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and China. She goes to China on a regular basis, and has visited 43 of the 50 United States, 7 Canadian Provinces, numerous European countries and also New Zealand. Today she calls the state of Washington her home.