Things to do in Gaobeidian

Taking advantage of the National Day holiday, I visited Kaishan Temple, a thousand-year-old temple in Gaobeidian City, finally completing my year-long tour of the eight major Liao Dynasty architectural complexes. Kaishan Temple is probably the most unassuming and understated of the eight. Located in a narrow, noisy alley in the town, the temple offers free admission by swiping your ID card. In 1996, Kaishan Temple was designated a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The main hall of Kaishan Temple is a Liao Dynasty structure. This five-bay wide and three-bay deep hall is supported by only four golden pillars, considered an ultimate example of pillar-reduction construction. A Tang Dynasty white marble Thousand-Hand and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue in the main hall is the temple's most prized possession, predating the Liao hall itself by three hundred years and classified as a national first-class cultural relic. The main hall lacks a suspended ceiling; all the original Liao Dynasty mortise and tenon joints are exposed, allowing visitors to directly observe the construction standards of a thousand years ago. Kaisan Temple does not have a dedicated parking lot. The path in front of the temple can probably accommodate eight or nine cars, so parking is usually quite tight.

We booked last minute and they were able to accommodate us. There was heavy rain but still very crowded but really worth the visit. History and architecture is incredible. Cora was our guide and she explained well in English and knew about many details about the construction of the palace and the history. A great experience (unlucky for the rain). Cora also waited for us as we were late and was very helpful throughout so thank you! Very good instructions on meeting point sent one day before the visit and very responsive customer service. Highly recommended.

I tried out a few popular attractions, and the heavy rain made for a refreshing experience. I thought the Decepticons wouldn't be running because of the rain, but there was a surprise tonight! Halloween is awesome!

จองกับ trip.com สะดวกสบายไม่ต้องพะวงเรื่องการหาซื้อตั๋วว่าอยู่ตรงไหน สามารถไปต่อคิวขึ้นกระเช้าได้เลย คิวรอขึ้นกระเช้าที่นี่ยาวรอนานช่วงเช้า บนกระเช้าใช้เวลาขึ้นไม่นานประหยัดเวลาได้เยอะ ขาลงเดินใกลใช้เวลาพอสมควรแต่ได้ชมวิว ผ่านพิพิธภัณท์ ต้องเผื่อเวลา ถ้าเวลาน้อยแนะนำขึ้นลงกระเช้า

Sanyi Palace is perfect for a Three Kingdoms fan like me, as there are many stories about the glorious deeds of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in the courtyard; however, the courtyard is densely covered with greenery and has a large number of mosquitoes. If you visit in the summer, be sure to bring mosquito repellent spray and long-sleeved clothing for protection. I got bitten several times during my visit 😂😂😂.

When visiting historical sites in Beijing, the subway is the must-use mode of transportation. Hiring a guided tour is highly recommended. The vast Prince Gong's Mansion came alive under the guidance of Liu, the guide from Xiucai Shuo. After this guided tour, I can easily stroll around the mansion on my own next time. The crowds are larger in the afternoon; the guide said it's better in the morning.

This group tour was an excellent experience, and I must give a huge thumbs up to our tour guide, Song Lijuan. Throughout the entire trip, she was patient and meticulous. Knowing that there were several elderly people in the group, she deliberately slowed down the pace, never rushing anyone, and allowing ample rest and buffer time at each section of the route. Her explanations were exceptionally detailed. She not only explained the historical anecdotes of the scenic spots in a vivid and easy-to-understand way, but she would also stop to let the elderly catch up before continuing. She would also proactively offer assistance to elderly members with mobility issues, taking care of their needs at every turn. It was a truly heartwarming and reliable experience, making it a very comfortable trip.

I enjoyed visiting the temple of heaven, the park it is situated in is gorgeous and has such a friendly relaxing vibe. The temple itself was stunning; but the experience was slightly ruined by how busy it was, and there were lots of people on sight approaching us and trying to sell things such as photo opportunities and gifts which made the visit a little stressful, it was also incredibly crowded around the main temple with lots of people pushing. After visiting the temple, we walked to one of the flower gardens which was absolutely gorgeous and relaxing, perfect to decompress after the big crowd.

Visiting the Summer Palace was one of the highlights of my Beijing trip! The place is massive, and every turn seems to reveal another beautiful courtyard, temple or scenic view.Exploring Longevity Hill was especially memorable. There were plenty of stairs to climb, but seeing the magnificent imperial architecture and looking out over the vast Kunming Lake made the effort worthwhile. I was particularly impressed by the grandeur of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. It's fascinating to imagine how the emperors and empresses once spent their time here.Unfortunately, some areas weren't accessible during my visit, which was a little disappointing. Still, I really enjoyed wandering around, soaking in the atmosphere and appreciating the history behind this incredible place. There's something quite special about standing among these centuries-old structures and imagining what life must have been like back then.Definitely wear comfortable shoes!

Although a single tower has become an entire tourist attraction, you'll be constantly amazed as you walk around, and this amazement intensifies once you enter the tower's first floor. The wisdom of the ancients is truly remarkable…