Beijing Hotels: Over the Bridge and Inside the Fortress

As China's capital, Beijing has embraced many of the country's famous attractions. The tourist who has a knack for history will surely find this place worthwhile because he will be thrilled by the different grand palaces, magnificent monuments and marvelous bridges and towers that abound the city.

For tourists coming to the city, numerous Beijing hotels are ready to welcome you with open arms. Accommodations here are aplenty, complete with rooms that will totally suit your needs. You will also find travelling from one place to another very easy since most modes of transportation, such as cabs and trains, are very well within reach.

When in the city, you should not miss the Lugou Bridge and the Wanping Fortress. They are attractions worth visiting because they give you a glimpse of the city's wonderful history, specifically its relations to the outside world during the dynastic era. These two sites are located near world-class Beijing hotels.

The Lugou Bridge, which is also called the Marco Polo Bridge, is situated 15 kilometers southwest of the city center across the Yongding River. Located at the city's Fengtai District, you can readily see a number of Beijing hotels in the area.

The Bridge is well-known because it was highly acclaimed by the Venetian traveler Marco Polo during his visit to China in the 13th century and for the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which signaled the start of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). In his diary, Marco Polo described the bridge as "a very fine stone bridge, so fine indeed, that it has very few equals in the world." It was built on solid granite, making it an architectural masterpiece.

You can see hundreds of artistically unique stone lions from different eras that line both sides as you cross the bridge. What is more amazing about these creatures is that there are more lions hiding on the back, head, or under the belly or on the paws of each of the big lions.

At the end of the bridge, you will see the Wanping Fortress. Also known as the Wanping Castle, it was built to defend the city against Li Zicheng and the peasant uprising during the Ming Dynasty. The Majestic Gate on the east and the Favorably Govern Gate on the west are the two gates of the fortress.

The Lugou Bridge and the Wanping Fortress are indeed architectural masterpieces of China's olden years. When staying in any of the hotels in Beijing, we encourage you to visit these ancient wonders because they serve as memories of a colorful past. So don't waste time, and book your room today so that you can experience our world-class hospitality that you've been long wanting to experience.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Author E. Larson is a long-time resident of Beijing, China. He works closely with the Beijing International Hotel and many other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Beijing International Hotel here.

by: Efrenn Larson

Total views: 6 Word Count: 462 Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 Time: 1:53 PM - 0 comments

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