| WHY GO |
| For centuries, Beijing has been seen as China's promised land. Originally a walled bastion for emperors and officials, it remains a majestic political and architectural marvel. The Chinese capital is gearing up for the 2008 Olympics on a grand scale, with the World Tourism Organisation predicting China will be the most visited country on the planet by 2020. Beijing is adding 200 more hotels to its existing 600, including major new developments by Starwood and Hyatt. Factory 798, a Bauhaus industrial complex in north-east Beijing, built in the 1950s by East German engineers, is now a collection of galleries, cafés, bars and restaurants. The Forbidden City, home to 24 successive emperors, was off-limits to Beijing's citizens and visitors for more than 500 years and now, along with neighbouring Tian'anmen Square, it's the hottest district in the city. |
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