Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Farther Afield ❮❮ 105

interesting collection of tools
and bone frag ments. Peking Man
himself is not here – his remains
mysteriously disappeared during
World War II.
Tanzhe Temple
9
28 miles (45 km) W of Beijing
• 6086 2505 • Subway: Pingguo Yuan
(1 hr), then bus 931 or tourist bus 7 •
Open 8am–5pm daily • Adm
This enormous temple dates back
to the 3rd century AD, when it was
known as Jiafu Si. It was later renamed
for the adjacent mountain, Tanzhe
Shan. It has a splendid mountainside
setting, and its halls rise up the steep
incline. The temple is especially
famous for its ancient trees. There
are no restaurants in the area, so
Diorama at the Peking Man Site bring your own lunch.
Peking Man Site
8
(Zhoukoudian)
30 miles (48 km) SW of Beijing
• 6930 1278 • Bus 917 from Beijing’s
Tianqiao station to Fangshan, then
taxi • Open 8:30am–5pm daily • Adm
In the 1920s, archeologists removed
from a cave at Zhoukoudian some
40-odd fossilized bones and primitive
implements, which they identified
as the prehistoric remains of Peking
Man. It was thought that this exciting
discovery provided the much sought-
after link between Neanderthals
and modern humans. Designated
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
area is geared toward specialists, Colorful model of Longqing Gorge
although the small museum has an
Longqing Gorge
0
25 miles (40 km) NW of Beijing
MARCO POLO • Express bus 919 (5.45am–7pm)
Whether Venetian trader and explorer from Deshengmen Bus Station;
Marco Polo (1254–1324) ever visited get off at Yanqing Dongguan,
China is much disputed. The book then take a taxi to Longqingxia
he dictated to a ghost writer, who It may seem hard to believe that
embroidered it substantially, describes landscapes as lush as this can be
aspects of Far Eastern life in much found just 25 miles (40 km) from the
detail, including paper money, the bustle of Beijing. Adventure seekers
Grand Canal, the structure of a Mongol
army, tigers, and the bridge that now can go bungee-jumping and zip-
bears his name. The Travels of Marco lining, while those looking for a
Polo, however, may be based on earlier more relaxing break can pay a visit
journeys by his father and uncles, and to the Diamond Temple or rent a
stories from Arab Silk Road merchants. rowboat and paddle to a quiet stretch
of gorge.
See map on p102

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