The Associated PressChina has a proud and rich history and Beijing is home to many unique historic sights.
Associated Press reporter Jason Bronis takes a tour of the Chinese capital. (Aug. 1)TRACK))((SUPER: Beijing))((VO of Mao, palace wall, square, palace, tourists - SOME APTN shots))
AT THE HEART OF THE CHINESE CAPITAL LIES ITS BIGGEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.THE FORBIDDEN CITY AND TIAN'ANMEN SQUARE ARE SIDE-BY-SIDE LANDMARKS.TIAN'ANMEN IS EQUIVALENT IN SIZE TO 90 AMERICAN FOOTBALL FIELDS.THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS FAR LARGER, AND IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SURVIVING PALACE COMPLEX.TOGETHER, THE PAIR DRAW SOME SEVEN MILLION TOURISTS EACH YEAR.((SOT))((SUPER: Peter Kent/American Tourist))
Everything's on such a grand scale over here. The people are extremely friendly and it seems like everyone's excited for the Olympics to start.
'((TRACK))((VO of tourists, shops, restaurants, man singing - SOME APTN shots))
THE SUMMER GAMES WILL OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY NEWCOMERS TO EXPERIENCE BEIJING.THEY WILL FIND A CITY FAR MORE WELCOMING TO TOURISM THAN EVER BEFORE.MANY SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS ...((NATS))Man singing. ((TRACK))((VO of attractions, streetscape, tourists, female tourist.))...
HAVE EXPERIENCED MAKEOVERS IN ADVANCE OF THESE GAMES.BUT SOME TOURISTS MAY FIND BEIJING DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.MANY OF THE SIGHTS ARE BEST EXPERIENCED ON FOOT.THE WEATHER IS HOT AND HUMID.AND LANGUAGE CAN BE A MAJOR BARRIER, AS KIRSTEN MADSEN DISCOVERED WHEN SHE TRAVELED HERE FROM DENMARK.((SOT))((SUPER: Kirsten Madsen/Danish Tourist))'Just finding our hotel was difficult because we didn't have our street name or the hotel name in Chinese. So, it took about 30 minutes and four people helping finding the place where we needed to stay.'((TRACK))((VO of tourists, attractions, souvenir stand.))SEASONED TRAVELERS RECOMMEND PICKING UP A GOOD GUIDE BOOK BEFORE ARRIVING.BEIJINGERS WHO SPEAK SOME ENGLISH WILL OFTEN APPROACH TO GIVE DIRECTIONS.AND DESPITE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, MADSEN FOUND A LOCAL WHO WAS QUICK TO HELP.((SOT))((Madsen))'He didn't speak English. We just gave him our hotel card and he followed us all the way home. So, they're very friendly as well.'((STANDUP))((SUPER: Jason Bronis/Beijing))'You've seen just a small slice of what tourists can see when they come here to Beijing. The Chinese are very excited about showing off their capital to the world during these Summer Games. JB, the AP, Beijing.'
