Best bets along Beijing's backbone

The Olympic Green.[Photo/China Daily]

The National Stadium, or Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are the two main attractions of the Olympic Green, situated north of the North Fourth Ring Road. The park has much more to offer and it now attracts hordes of local residents as Tian'anmen Square used to, flying kites and roller-skating. It has turned into a destination for family outings. A huge shopping complex, complete with a multiplex, is tucked away beneath a lake, next to the Olympic Green subway station.

If you are a serious nature buff and want to get totally away from the hustle and bustle of city life and skyscrapers, you should continue north and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature found in the forest park. It is twice the size of New York's Central Park. On a sunny day, it is one of the best places in Beijing. No matter how crowded everywhere else is, here you'll have rolling meadows, large tracts of plants, expanses of water and wetland and great slabs of grass for picnics, camping and other kinds of recreation. And you can save your strength by renting bicycles inside the park.

One last piece of advice

Did I say you don't need to worry about getting lost in Beijing? Even if you have no sense of direction and don't speak the language, it's pretty hard to get lost as long as you know a few landmarks. You'll walk away with much more than touristy snapshots. You'll have a feeling that some of Beijing's immense charm has rubbed off on you.