Televisions

It barely needs saying, but Beijing is an absolutely fascinating city. There is a proud ancient history demonstrated by monuments and museums, juxtaposed against the impressive modern structures constructed in time for the Olympics this year. In this list of 10 must sees, you will see the old mixed with the new - all part of the contrast which makes China’s capital such an exciting, vibrant destination to visit.

Drum and Bell Towers

In olden times, most cities in China would use their drum and bell tower to sound the beginning and end of each new day. Nowadays, Beijing’s drum and bell tower is largely for tourists, but is well worth visiting on a holiday in China - if nothing else than for the wonderful panoramic views of the city offered from atop the tower! There are hourly performances as well, giving you an insight into how days were greeted in times gone by.

The Forbidden City

Refurbishments due to this year’s Olympic Games have been particularly kind to the Forbidden City - home to 24 emperors of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Essentially a huge imperial palace, this is one sight that is an absolute must-see, and although it would take two days to see it all, the main attractions can be seen in a single visit. Be sure to take in the great halls and the imperial gardens, and be left in awe at the incredible architecture and huge sense of scale. A must see on any Asia holiday!

The Summer Palace

If you have not had your fill of palaces with the Forbidden City, the longish trek to the Summer Palace is well worth it. Located in a tranquil lakeside location, the complex has a huge number of walkways, gardens and temples to explore and you should be sure to have your camera handy for the brilliant view of distant Beijing from the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

798 Dashanzi Arts District

Once upon a time, this was an electronics factory. Now the site is home to a buzzing collection of cafes, galleries and studios with a very trendy feel to it. A nice alternative to the ancient monuments and sites, Dashanzi Arts District is a must visit part of the city for those with any interest in modern Chinese art.

The Great Wall

If you think of the biggest tourist attraction for a holiday in Asia, the Great Wall of China has to be a major contender. Originally built to keep out the Mongol forces, the wall is synonymous with the country and it’s hard to imagine a luxury holiday in China passing this by. Despite being photographed an incredible amount, the Great Wall still always manages to leave me in complete awe at the sheer scale of the amazing structure every time I visit.

Lama Temple

Visiting various temples is a key part of most holidays in Asia, but if you only have the time to visit one of them, Lama Temple should be the one. Regarded as the most important Buddhist temple outside of Tibet, this collection of shrines is guaranteed to leave you impressed almost beyond words. The craftsmanship is always impressive, but perhaps no shrine more so than the enormous Maitreya Buddha, which is officially registered as the world’s tallest Buddha in the Guinness Book of Records!

CCTV Tower

One of the more modern wonders of Beijing is the China Central Television Tower - or CCTV Tower for short. By far the tallest building in the city, its observation deck sits at an impressive 238 metres, with the tip of its antenna reaching 405 metres! As the name suggests, the tower contains broadcasting equipment for China Central Television, and the observation deck offers incredible panoramic views of the city.

Temple of Heaven

Although the Temple of Heaven sounds on the surface like one to miss for those suffering from temple fatigue, it’s actually an entirely different proposition from most holy sites. As well as having particular historic worth (it was the main centre of worship for the country’s leaders, and ancient emperors would come here to give thanks with offerings), it’s a popular hang out for many local residents, who can often be found singing, dancing and exercising in the surrounding gardens.

National Centre for the Performing Arts

For a more unusual modern structure, China’s holiday makers should look no further than the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Colloquially labelled “The Egg” by locals, it’s a dome of glass and titanium surrounded by an artificial lake. Love or hate the architectural style, it’s certainly a talking point and well worth a visit.

Beihai Park & Houhai District

While central Beijing can be a little on the overwhelming side with its crowds and bustle, the same accusation cannot be levelled at Beihai Park and the nearby Houhai shopping district. The former is an oasis of calm that seems to encourage relaxation, and the latter is a quiet area dotted with quaint little shops and charming restaurants. If the pace of modern Beijing is getting to you, make sure you stop by here on your holiday in China.

There’s plenty more to see here, but this should definitely give you a start. Whether you’re interested in history, art or culture, a luxury holiday in China’s capital cannot be recommended enough.

Kieron Sellens
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/10-must-sees-of-beijing-709930.html

Deciding to upgrade to satellite television will allow you access to the best of what TV has to offer. To make the experience all it can be and to choose the best options for your home, a few simple guidelines will help.

First, determine how many rooms in which you’d like to have television available. Most commonly, the living room and bedroom are included. Many find that having a television in the kitchen is also enjoyable. Particularly for those who enjoy cooking programs, this can lend a whole new meaning to interactive entertainment.

In those rooms, you’ll want to decide the best spot to have the televisions located. Remember that satellite offers many high definition broadcasts. The incredibly crisp picture practically begs subscribers to go ahead and set up something of a home theater, so make the effort to make at least one room an ideal setup for movie watching.

To start, locate the television away from areas where the screen will pick up glare from windows. You may want to consider putting in blinds that block most, or all, of the light coming in, so that you get the best possible viewing experience. When you’re working with a high-definition television, the more straight-on the picture is viewed the better, so endeavor to arrange seating with that in mind.

Satellite also has famously-excellent audio quality, so arrange your speakers for the best sound experience possible. If you have surround sound capability that you haven’t hooked up yet, getting satellite Television installed is a good occasion to do so. Between a good viewing environment and good sound, you’ll likely feel as if you’re at the theater, excepting that you get to pick the film and the show times.

In the smaller rooms, such as the bedroom and the kitchen, consider wall mounting the television. This keeps it clear of hazards in the kitchen and allows for a comfortable viewing angle from the bed. If you have stereo outputs on your bedroom television, consider locating the speakers near the bed so you can enjoy the sound late at night without having the volume at a high level.

Your satellite dish will be installed by a technician. The dish needs to have a clear view of the southern sky. The technician will select spots where the dish can be conveniently located, most often this will be on the roof. The television signal will be carried by coaxial cables from the dish to the tuners, so clear out a bit of room to help the technician get the system installed for you. If your roof happens to be in poor repair, let the technician know before they ascend, just for safety’s sake.

Once your system is in and ready to go, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the workings of the remote and tuners. Of course, the best way to do this is to just cruise through the hundreds of channels and start enjoying the experience!

Jane Wilson Clark
http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/getting-ready-to-install-satellite-television-734560.html