23rd to 26th April 2006

Beijing (北京) is the capital of the People's Republic of China.  Though some cities were in the vicinity up to 3000 years ago, it wasn't until the 3rd Ming Emperor Yongle relocated the empire's capital to the current northern capital (ie literally Beijing).  Some interesting records about China - world's longest man made structure, world's largest urban open square, worlds' largest palace complex, and worlds most populous country (1.3 billon).

Part of my first family visit form Australia, my mother, brother and close friends joined me to my first trip to Beijing that included all the major attractions like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Ming Dynasty Tombs and, as Mao Zedong once stated, I can now call myself Chinese after visiting the Great Wall of China.