The Siq

The Siq is a natural gorge formed by earthquakes that split the mountain apart. The flood waters of the Wadi Musa have since eroded the sides smooth. It forms the main entrance to the ancient city of Petra. In about AD 50 the Nabateans built a dam and an eight-metre-high tunnel to divert the water away from the Siq. This opened up the entrance for use all year round.

Water channels were carved in the sides of the gorge to provide water from the dam to Petra. The Siq twists for 1200m between rock walls that are 150m high in places. Carvings and niches can be seen in at intervals along the route and at the bottom the Treasury comes into view.

The Treasury

Dating from the first century BC, the Treasury is carved into the sandstone of the mountain. The six columns are purely decorative as there is no need for any support. In fact, when one of the original columns collapsed it was replaced by brick and plaster.

Unlike the facade seen in the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", there is only a small chamber behind the entrance. Ground level is now four metres above what it was 2000 years ago and excavations have shown that Petra's Treasury was built above existing facades and tombs. Its purpose cannot be known for sure but it may have been a temple.

A Bedouin legend says that the urn at the top of the monument contains the treasure of the Egyptian Pharaoh. The treasure was supposed to have been deposited there when he was following the Israelites and it is from this legend that the Treasury gets its name. This facade is very well preserved and is one of Petra's finest structures. There is one other creation, on a mountain above the city, that is its rival in size and beauty, as we shall see in part two.

Living in Petra

Petra also contains structures used for habitation. Although crude in comparison with other parts of the city, they did serve their purpose of providing shelter. A fire could be lit in the entrance at night to ward off cold and wild animals.

The Royal Tombs

The East Cliff contains a series of ancient tombs. Known as the Royal Tombs, they form an impressive line of facades that rise above Petra's city centre. The larger tombs have as many as five storeys and can be reached by climbing up the steps carved into the rock face.

Our journey through Jordan's ancient city of Petra will continue in part two, taking in some wonderful man-made and natural creations.

This is the world's largest public square but is dotted with political offices instead of any pretty flowers or plants. This area serves as the final resting place for the communist chairman Mao Zedong. This square is famous for the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in China which ended in bloody civilian deaths at the arms of Chinese soldiers. In many regards, this is the center of Chinese political power and the birthplace of communist China. The long name for the square is Tian'an Men Guangchang or the Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace. In this area, you can visit the numueros government offices, monuments and the Chinese National Museum.

The Forbidden City

The city of the emperors once reserved for only members of the imperial court now is open to visitors from near and far abroad - the largest and greatest of palaces complexes from the “old” China. Over 24 emperors issued their edicts from the halls of this grand monument for over 500 years and still serve as the symbolic center of the universe for the children of Han (China). The palace has since been converted to a “Palace Museum” and opened to the public since 1949. Another many things to see is the Imperial Garden and the hall of Supreme Harmony (the throne room). This collection of buildings takes all of its visitors back to ancient china and even see places where historic moments were made.

The Great Wall of China

Within 40 miles from Beijing, the Great Wall of China is the most famous and visible of China's cultural and ancient history. The wall was created by numerous rulers after the unification of China into one empire by Qin Shi Huangdi in 221 BC. Most hotels in the region offer tourists the visit to the Great Walls and to the Ming Tombs that house the dead emperors of China's forgotten era. You can visit the four sites that have been preserved from the damage that have occurred to the walls and check out the Great Wall Museum which shows the history of the area from the Neolithic time period. Overall, this trip is an adventurers and a archeologists wet dream.

The Lama Temple

One of Beijing's most attractice places of worship is the Buddhist Lama Temple. It is made up of five different sections or halls, where each section or hall is taller than the pervious. Thus walking through the temple represents walking from earth into the heavens. The temple was originally the home of Yongzheng who became the Qing Emperor in 1722. There are many sites to visit including the Hall of the Wheel of Dharma, which shows the statue of Tsongkhapa who is the founder of Yellow Hat Sect of Buddhism led by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama of Tibet. The temple has gone through extreme persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities but slowly it is coming back. Now over 70 monks serve in the temple which was built to house over 1500 monks.

Hou Hai

The area is the cental hub for the city life in Beijing and the shopping center. Hou Hai has traditionally been the home to nobles and the wealthy in aristocratic China and most of the houses here offer a glimpse back in time. Many of the lakside restaurants, bars and vafes offer attratice views and waterfront terraces for visitors. There are many activities to do including Boating, Skating, and a cheap Rickshaw tour of the entire city. During the day time, it is perfect to visit the area to shop, visit the historic landmarks and homes. But at night, it is a romantic sight to behold. Candles are lit and floated into the waters while you enjoy your romantic dinner at the waterfront glimmering in the night's beauty. Hou Hai really captures the essence of modern China trapped within its past.