With all eyes on Beijing in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, there's no doubt that many of us have been bitten by the travel bug and can't wait to hop a plane to China's capital city. But with so much to see and do, it's hard to choose between one temple and the next! To help you plan out a master itinerary, we consulted with Beijing expert Jia Thompson and narrowed it down to 10 must sees. From Great Walls to historic temples, all the essentials are here. Read on!

Up Next: The Great Wall

It's one of the top two attractions, and it's 99% of the reason why people visit. Apparently, Beijing is the best place to see it! "Even though the wall extends far beyond Beijing, there's more than one section you can visit," says Jia Thompson, who reports that the most touristy area is called the "Badaling Great Wall" in the northwest of Beijing. But Jin recommends visiting the "Mu Tian Yu Great Wall," which is located in the northeast of Beijing. It's further away -- which makes it less crowded -- but it also gives you a better view of the city.

Up Next: The Forbidden City

If you really want to see how Chinese royalty lived, this is the place to be. The architecture of the entire structure is authentically Ming Dynasty -- and this is nothing to rush through. You can easily spend all day there. Make sure you walk through the ancient meridian in Beijing city -- in old times only the emperor would walk it, as it was forbidden to local people for 500 years, until 1911.

Up Next: The Lama Temple

If you can't make it to Tibet, make sure you visit the second largest Lama Buddhism Temple in Beijing. It's the best place for you to see active religious practices and get a great overview of the history, plus a look into the different generations of the Dalai Lama. And if you have the time, you can add on a quick visit to the Confucius Temple, right across the street. "Fortune cookies tell people about Confucius, so why not go to his birth place?" Thompson asks. Why not, indeed!

Up Next: Hutong Tour

The word "Hutong" means "narrow alley," and there's only one in Beijing, located in the downtown area that's considered to be old-town Beijing. The best way to see this uniquely historical area is by taking a rickshaw tour right through the narrow alley! As you travel deeper into the city it gets smaller and smaller until you reach a courtyard, where several generations of families lived together in the traditional Beijing way. Taking a Hutong Tour is a way to get in touch with the city's rich history and see how the generations before called it home.

Up Next: The Summer Palace

While the palace itself is pretty spectacular, there's one particular part that stands out from the rest: the Qing Dynasty imperial garden. "It's such a great blending of natural scenery with the palaces," says Thompson. "You never see the park with this site. When you stand there and look at the location, it's like that's the way it's supposed to be -- melting into the national scenery." The best time to visit the palace is -- when else? -- summertime, giving you the opportunity to see the summer resort the way is used to serve the Qing Empress, Empress Cixi.

Up Next: The Temple of Heaven

If you're looking for heaven on earth, you've found it! The Temple of Heaven is where both the Ming and Qing Dynasty worshipped the god of heaven. At the beginning of every year they would go and pray for a good harvest and a fruitful new year. The ceremony for this worship started over 3000 years ago, and for some, continues to this day. As for the architechture, the Temple of Heaven was built during the Ming Dynasty, somewhere around the 14th century. It's truly a sight to behold.

Up Next: Fragrant Hill

Obviously there's a reason why this place got its name, but Fragrant Hill isn't just fragrant -- it's stunningly beautiful, especially when you visit during the fall, when the colors are at their richest and most vibrant. "This is the best place for Beijingers to enjoy the seasons," Thompson notes. Hit Fragrant Hill -- located on the western side of the city -- at the right time and you'll see a wonderland full of maple trees and flowers. Climb to the top of the hill and you'll have a bird?s eye view of the city.

Up Next: Cherry Blossom Valley

This gorgeous valley is filled with wild cherry trees. They bloom in the springtime alongside the peach trees, magnolias, and all sorts of different kinds of flowers. Plus, the area is rich in literary history -- it's where one of four classic pieces of Chinese literature are set. Called Dream of Red Mansion, the author -- Cao Xue Qin -- writes of a love story of a boy and a girl who couldn't marry because of the societal system. As he weaves the story of their lost love, he recounts the history of a rock that has a pine tree growing out of it. That rock and pine tree can be found in the Valley.

Up Next: Tiananmen Square

Though it's been the site of much civil unrest, it also doesn't make sense to visit Beijing without seeing such a huge part of its history. Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the world. Says Thompson, "That's our country and where it was founded -- it's truly the political center of Beijing." The square is also the extension of -- and connected to -- the Forbidden City. If you follow the meridian line through the square, it will lead you to the south entrance of the Forbidden City.

Up Next: The Beijing Zoo

When in China, do as the panda bears do! According to Thompson, the Beijing Zoo is the best zoo in all of China. But it's not just pandas that you'll see at the zoo -- there's a multitude of beasts from every walk of animal life. The zoo itself was completed in the Qing Dynasty, so the architecture -- which has been preserved over the years -- is just as interesting as the animals it houses.


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