Wangfujing

This is pedestrianized area, a huge area of mega shops, mostly Western chains. It is next to Tian An Men square and the Forbidden palace. We chose to stay in this area because of the close proximity to the major sights. Beijing is very modern and therefore very boring. The old part is slowly disappearing but one can still find some old Hutongs that are rustic and interesting. The old capital mentioned in books as Zhongdu is non existent. I'm reading a book, 'the Mongols, from Genghis Khan to Tamerlane' and it writes about the siege of the old capital of China, Zhongdu.