Looking for flights to the grand city of Beijing?

The exciting city of Beijing is a dream destination for those who want to take in all the sights and sounds of China past and present.

As an ancient city and the country‘s bustling capital, this metropolis is both steeped in history and at the forefront of modernity.

Visitors should prepare for a feast of cultural spectacles – go on an amazing journey through the Forbidden City – the biggest imperial palace complex in the world – which, for 500 years, was the political hub of China and home of emperors from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

The iconic Great Wall of China is also a must-visit, snaking its way across five provinces, along with some of the country’s magnificent imperial gardens such as the 700-acre Summer Palace and Beihai Park.

And fresh from hosting the Olympics in 2008, the city of Beijing has its fair share of contemporary attractions, too. Take a look at the marvellous Paul Andreu-designed National Grand Theatre, just west of Tiananmen Square. This glass and titanium dome ‘sits’ on the water, giving it the appearance of a shimmering egg.

Non-stop flights to Beijing from the UK depart from London – the main airlines being Air China, British Airways and Virgin – and are about 10 hours’ duration. As a guide, BA’s lowest fares for March 2011 are in the region of £350 one way but this varies according to season.

KLM operates indirect trips from Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Flights from Manchester at the end of March, for instance, start from around £489 return.