Dynastic Dominion
Photo by Paul Souders/Corbis
A giant portrait of Mao Tse-tung graces the Gate of Heavenly Peace in the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Located just north of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City covers nearly 180 acres.
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Let the Games Begin
Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters
The world lies in wait for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where much of the competition will begin in the undulating steel jumble that is the National Olympic Stadium.
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Urban Energy
Photo by Tony Law/Redux
Beijing's character stares you in the face—whether in the form of architectural remnants of imperial times, or modern industrial scenes such as the East Third Ring Road around Guamao Bridge, the city's international commercial and business center.
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Colonial Cravings
Located close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the Beijing Grand Hyatt has modern rooms that hint at tradition, as with alcove canopy beds that evoke colonial China.
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Tuscan Treats
Named for porcini mushrooms—native to Northern Italy—Cepe, in Beijing's Ritz-Carlton Hotel, has a mushroom humidor and more than 200 wines on its list.
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Ahh, Luxury
The stunning Peninsula Hotel houses a mall, spa, and fitness center, but despite its world-class amenities, there's no excuse for staying inside, as it's a short walk from the Forbidden City.
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Face Time
The Beijing outpost of Face, a sophisticated pan-Asian chain, which has sister locations in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Shanghai. It is bathed in reddish light and adorned with Southeast Asian artifacts like a Thai stone Buddha head and Indian door frames.
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Mod Mode
Photo by Tony Law
A private room at the Philippe Starck-designed Lan Club, which mixes elegant and eclectic when it comes to both furnishings and cuisine.
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House Dish
Photo by Chen Shuyi/Imaginechina
Peking Duck, a centuries-old dish, began in the Qing dynasty, when cooks developed a method of roasting duck by suspending it over a flame in an open oven, resulting in the signature crispy skin and tender meat.
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