Eyewitness Travel

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China is one of the world’s top travel destinations, and its allure has only increased since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Take a peek at our China Eyewitness Guide.

Read the China Eyewitness Guide and you won't have to leave home to discover:

• China stretches over 50 degress of latitude and covers 3.7 million sq miles or 9.6 million sq km or land.
• The People's Republic of China is one of the world's largest countries with over 20% of the planet's population.

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The capital, Beijing is one of the world's largest cities with a population of over 14 million and is an autonomous municipality.

Beijing first became an imperial capital during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).

The first dynasty in China was founded by the Shang around 1600BC.

The Forbidden City, officially known as the Palace Museum (Gugong), is China's most
magnificent architectural structure and was completed in 1420. It is a lasting momument of dynastic China from which
24 emperors ruled for nearly 500 years.

The Chinese dragon is a curious hybrid of sometimes many animal parts. Endowed with magical characteristics,
it can fly, swim, change into other animals, bring rainfall and ward off evil spirits. The five-clawed dragon
represented the power of the emperor, and therefore adorned imperial buildings.