Xi Jinping Returns to Beijing After Attending 70th Anniversary Celebrations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The Great Wall of China is an ancient series of fortifications built across the historical northern borders of China. Its construction began as early as the 7th century BC, with the most famous sections being built by the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the 3rd century BC to protect against nomadic invasions. Stretching for thousands of miles, it remains one of the most impressive architectural feats in history and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Forbidden City, located in Beijing, was the imperial palace of China’s Ming and Qing dynasties for almost 500 years, from 1420 to 1912. It is a vast complex of nearly 1,000 buildings and served as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. Today, it is known as the Palace Museum and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing a magnificent collection of Chinese art and artifacts.

The Terracotta Army is a collection of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots built in the 3rd century BCE to protect Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, in the afterlife. They were discovered by farmers in 1974 near the emperor’s mausoleum in Shaanxi province. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

The Summer Palace (Летний дворец) in St. Petersburg is a historic Baroque palace built between 1710 and 1714 for Peter the Great. It served as the Tsar’s summer residence and is one of the city’s oldest stone buildings. Today, it is a museum that preserves the early 18th-century interior and offers a glimpse into the life of the Russian emperor.

The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings in Beijing, China. It was constructed in the early 15th century by the Yongle Emperor for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The temple is renowned for its precise layout and unique architectural structures, such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Гугун, also known as the Forbidden City, is the imperial palace complex in Beijing, China. It served as the home of Chinese emperors and the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for nearly 500 years, from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses the Palace Museum, which preserves and displays its vast collection of art and artifacts from the imperial eras.

The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) is a vast imperial garden in Beijing, originally built in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It served as a luxurious retreat for the imperial family, but was largely destroyed and later rebuilt by Empress Dowager Cixi in the late 19th century. Renowned for its beautiful landscapes, pavilions, and Kunming Lake, it is a masterpiece of Chinese garden design and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tiantan, also known as the Temple of Heaven, is an imperial temple complex in Beijing, China. It was constructed in the early 15th century by the Yongle Emperor for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvests. The complex is renowned for its exquisite architecture and precise layout, which reflects ancient Chinese cosmological beliefs about the relationship between heaven and earth.