Great myths surround the death and burial of  Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. Legend has it that the emperor -afraid of death, and wanting to preserve is life forever – went through great measures to ensure his afterlife was well established and protected. The famed Terracotta Army – next to the Great Wall, maybe the most remarkable historical attraction in China – is also credited to Qin Shi Huang, as is his legendary tomb. Tales of palaces and scenic towers, of rivers made with mercury, jewels and immeasurable riches being buried together with the emperor have circulated for centuries. Due to the lack of appropriate technology which can preserve the hidden treasures, the tomb has yet to be opened. But there is a replica of the tomb in close proximity to the actual site, and visitors can get an impression of what is awaiting future archeologists and historians in the real tombs of Qin Shi Huang.

The Chinese pride themselves in the fact that it once was considered the greatest gardens in the world: Yuanming Yuan (Garden of Perfect Brightness), the Old Summer Palace. Far more extensive than the Summer Palace, it held large garden and building architectures and first rate works of art. Due to all its splendor and vastness, Yuanming Yuan also was called the “Garden of Gardens.” In 1860, however, the majority of buildings and gardens were destroyed by British and French troops, and the Old Summer Palace was robbed of all its treasures, never to be rebuilt again. Today, the area basically is a vast natural reserve right in the vicinity of some of  China’s most famous universities, Qinghua and Beijing University. Only few sites have been reconstructed, but an exhibit shows the garden in its former glory, and ruins still bear witness of its once impressive grandeur. For those, tired of all the sightseeing and shopping in Beijing, Yuanming Yuan could be a welcome change of scene.

They call it the bird’s nest. Constructed to host the main events of the Summer 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the Beijing National Stadium officially opened at a ceremony on June 28, 2008. Numerous steel beams, characterizing its outward appearance, quickly won this building its famous nick name: “Bird’s Nest.” In the summer of 2008 the main events of the Summer Olympic Games were held in this stadium: Opening and Closing Ceremony, athletic events and the soccer final. Today, the Beijing National Stadium occasionally hosts smaller events. It is, however, open to the public, and draws up to 30.000 visitors on an average day.