Past is present in dynamic Warsaw

The Chopin Statue In Lazienki Park, which is a lovely place for a stroll in every season.[Photo by Liu Lu/China Daily]

Today's Warsaw has wonderful examples of architecture from the gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical periods, and around a quarter of the city is filled with grand parks and royal gardens.

But unlike other centers ravaged by war and conflict, Warsaw has not brushed its past under the carpet, or pretended that certain grim events did not occur.

When you stroll along a Warsaw street, you may be surprised to think that the city has ever been bombarded, but when you look carefully you may find bullet holes in the walls and statues and sculptures serving as reminders of what the city has suffered and to treasure the hard-earned peace.

In addition to those grand old fashioned establishments, today's Warsaw is as dynamic as any big Chinese city such as Beijing and Shanghai. There are many gleaming high-rise office buildings, thriving clubs and prosperous shopping malls. The city's annual calendar is filled with funky street festivals, modern art openings, and lots of Federic Chopin-inspired music festivals. This great energy extends to people living in the city and is passed on to visitors.

To experience the charm of old Warsaw, the picturesque Old Town, the oldest part of the capital city, is a perfect place. It is a window into the city's golden days and one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city.

While walking on the cobblestone streets, you can admire the ornate building facades and picturesque plazas and listin to the melodious accordion music wafting from the historic houses. It is easy to understand why the Old Town is Warsaw's top tourist area.

Like most buildings in Warsaw, most of the present-day buildings were carefully reconstructed in the 1950s. In 1980, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The heart of the Old Town is Market Place, with many restaurants, cafes and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, the Barbican and St. John's Cathedral.

It is manageable to see all the sights in Old Town within one day by carriage or on foot, although more time may be needed if you plan to see all the exhibitions at a more leisure pace, or if you want to shop for some fine amber jewelry, a specialty of Poland, in elegant stores in the Old Town.

Modern Warsaw boasts a mixture of new and old in its architectural mix, and is constantly changing. Although quite sprawling, it is quite easy to navigate for tourists thanks to a good public transport system and most famous sights are quite close to each other.

To get a better idea of the history rich city, the Palace of Culture and Science located in the central district is a good place to start.