Best bets along Beijing's backbone

Qianmen.[Photo/China Daily]

A short taxi drive away, you'll find yourself in the Qianmen area. This is a commercial hub, which means there are tourist trinkets galore. and It is the birthplace of Peking duck and Chinese film.

Where Qianmen Street ends, Tian'anmen Square begins. Be prepared. You've got lots of walking to do because from this point onward no other form of transportation would be feasible, at least for most of the journey.

The square is solemn and grand, the place for the morning raising of the national flag and the evening lowering, as well as other ceremonies. To the west lies the Great Hall of the People and, farther west, the National Center for the Performing Arts. To the east is the National Museum, which is open to the public. Everything is within walking distance, but a block in Beijing is probably equal to 10 in New York. The square used to hold events with a million participants, and now it can still host a million a day - not at the same time though.