China Trip 2004 Beijing and Xian, July 21 st – 30 th 2004 XIAN BEIJING

China Trip 2004 Did you know? The 3 rd largest country on the planet Bordered by 12 countries Hosting the 2008 Olympic Games 55 recognised ethnic groups Population of 1.2 billion – the largest in the world Home of the Giant Panda and feng shui Communist State since 1949

China Trip 2004 Beijing Means “Northern Capital” Population: 12 million and rising Tiananmen Square The Forbidden City The Ming Tombs The Temple of Heaven The Summer Palace The Great Wall of China

China Trip 2004 Tiananmen Square Largest Square in the World Can hold up to 1 million people Mao announced Communist Revolution from here in massacre of pro-democracy students here Ming Tombs Built from 1409 by the Ming Emperor Yongle Contains the tombs of 13 Ming Dynasty Emperors Also contains tombs of 23 Empresses, 8 concubines and 1 Prince.

China Trip 2004 The Forbidden City The Temple of Heaven Built by more than 200, 000 men in 1420 for the Emperor Yongle Contains 800 buildings and thousands of chambers For 500 years normal Chinese Citizens forbidden from approaching its walls Emperors came here to pray for a good harvest in spring and rain in summer Centrepiece is the 38m high Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

China Trip 2004 The Summer Palace The Great Wall of China The most magnificent of all China’s Royal Gardens Used by the Emperors as a retreat from the capital’s heat for 800 years The 700m long corridor gives a superb view of the Kunming Lake One of China’s most magnificent sights Built 2500 years ago Total length of 6500km

China Trip 2004 XIAN Capital of the Shaanxi Province One of the more pleasant and prosperous Chinese Cities Wild Goose Pagoda and Huaqing Hot Springs Between 1000BC and 1000AD the city was the Imperial Capital for 11 Chinese Dynasties Terraccotta Army Banpo Village

China Trip 2004 Terraccotta Army Discovered in 1974 by peasants sinking a well near Xian Dating back 2200 years Built to guard the 1st Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huang’s Tomb More than 8000 soldiers and horses excavated so far Each has an individual facial expression

China Trip 2004 Wild Goose Pagoda and Huaqing Hot Springs Banpo Village Gained its name from legend that nearby temple was built to honour a sacred goose Built in 652 AD, 7 storeys high with 284 steps Hot Springs: favoured resort of the Emperors Excavation site of a Neolithic Village Occupied between 4500 BC and 3750 BC Remains of villagers’ huts and graves can be seen

China Trip 2004 Evening Leisure Activities Chinese Acrobat Show Gymnastics, juggling, magic and animal tricks Tang Dynasty Show Originated in the Tang Dynasty over 1000 years ago. Traditional music and dance Peking Opera Singing, dialogue, mime, dancing and acrobatic fighting. Traditional Chinese costumes and stories Pizza Hut Peking Duck Banquet

China Trip 2004 Hotels Catic Plaza Hotel, Beijing Wan Nian Hotel, Xian Plush eh !!!!!!

China Trip 2004 What To Bring Yourselves (on time!) Suncream and sunglasses Hat or cap (Blue) Insect repellent Plug adaptor Camera and spare film/batteries Toilet roll Comfortable shoes Plenty of shorts and T - shirts Umbrella/waterproof English money Chinese Yuan/dollars travellers’ cheques Suitcase and 1 piece of hand luggage Smart clothes for the evenings Common sense ! Mobile phone