Beijing contrasts ancient buildings with modern. The CBD is one area that is being transformed around Guoma and will create a significant urban space to equal Lower Manhattan or Central in Hong Kong. New futurist buildings ae springing up allover the city and by 2008 Beijing will have been transformed.

Hutongs
Hutongs are the old lanes with traditional buildings. Many have now gone as Beijing modernizes but examples can be seen at Di’anmen Avenue near the Gulou Tower.

A hutong is a small street or laneway formed by a passageway being left between courtyards enabling more convenient passage. A Mongolian word meaning ‘water well', around which people lived, hutongs have their own structured layout between courtyards, gardens and rockeries. There are thousands of hutongs and courtyards in Beijing which, from above, are as well-ordered as a chess board. Hutongs also define the neighbourly culture of Beijing 's citizens.

Niujie Mosque
To the southwest of outer Beijing City is the Niujie Mosque built in 996 during the Liao Dynasty. The Niujie Mosque blends the style of Chinese palaces with Arabian mosques. The Mosque is built of timber with a centre Prayer Hall (Kiln Hall) and outside is two stele pavilions to the north and south and the Stone tablets inside were laid in 1496.

Prince Gong's Mansion
Heshen built this mansion in 1777 during the Qianlong period. The compound shows how noble lived at this time. Prince Gong was the younger brother of Xianfeng emperor. In the complex is a large lily pond and rock garden. 14A Liuyin Jie, Xicheng District (6616 8149).

CCTV Tower
The tallest structure in Beijing is the CCTV (China Central Television) Tower at a height of 405 metres to the tip of its antenna. Built in 1992 the tower hosts CCTV broadcasting equipment. There is an observation deck and restaurant at 238 metres which provide 360 degree views over the city. An annual race is held to the top to the tower which entails two laps of the base then a climb up the 1484 steps to the observation deck. Located in Beijing 's western suburbs (Haidian District), the tower is near the Gong Zhu Fen station and Yuyuantan Park.