Bustling business district

For those curious about Paris' modern identity, the journey must continue to La Defense. Unlike the historic buildings of central Paris, La Defense looks forward, not back.

Just west of the city center, it is Europe's largest purpose-built business district. Spanning more than 3 million square meters of office space, it is home to 3,600 companies, including 15 of the world's top 50 firms, and houses 1,500 corporate headquarters. Each day, 180,000 employees work here, contributing to a dynamic ecosystem of commerce and innovation.

La Defense is also Europe's most significant public transport hub, seeing half a million passengers daily.

Around its towering glass structures lie 230,000 square meters of local shopping, 130,000 of which belong to the Quatre Temps shopping mall. Even here, art and beauty find a place. The Grande Arche mirrors the historic Arc de Triomphe but on a massive, modern scale. Its hollow center frames views of central Paris, aligning symbolically with its older twin. Dozens of public sculptures dot the plaza, including works by famous artists such as Alexander Calder and Joan Miro.

For tourists, La Defense provides surprises. Among them is the striking Japan Bridge, a pedestrian walkway designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Suspended 15 meters above a network of roads, it links the Pacific Tower and the Kupka building with a sleek design inspired by traditional Japanese bridges. Its red steel arches and glass vault create a light, futuristic silhouette — perfectly photogenic.

Easily accessed from Place du Dome near the Quatre Temps mall, it offers a unique vantage point for architectural photography and has become a favorite on Instagram for capturing the modern character of the district. Cafes, cinemas and rooftop bars keep the area lively well into the evening. Here, visitors discover a different side of Paris — one that embraces innovation while remaining inspired by its artistic roots.

The hill and the tower

From La Defense, a visitor might return to central Paris not through roads, but through stories. The city is a web of experiences rather than a straight line. And perhaps the next step is upward.

Montmartre, the hill in the north of the city, has long been a haven for artists and dreamers. In the 19th century, painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec and later Picasso made their homes here, drawn by low rents and high inspiration. The white dome of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart now marks the summit, a newer but no less meaningful place of worship than Notre Dame.

The steps of Montmartre are filled with life. In earlier times, the hill was crowned with more than a dozen windmills, which once formed the famous Moulin de la Galette. Today, only a few remain — Moulin Rouge being the most famous.

It is a great place to take photos, especially at night when the windmill and sign are lit up. If you have time, go and watch one of the world-famous cabaret shows at Moulin Rouge. Street artists sketch portraits in minutes. Cafes spill onto the sidewalks. Musicians play in the open air. The view from the top reveals Paris as layered, complex, and beautiful.

And there, in the distance, rises the Eiffel Tower. Although it is a sight so familiar, each glimpse carries a different story — from the families picnicking in its shadow to the couples watching it shimmer after dusk. It binds the city's fragments together. Standing beneath it, one feels the full magnitude of Paris' ambition and grace.

Widening the circle of exploration, visitors might journey to the outskirts of the city, where the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles awaits. Known for its gardens, mirrors, and history, it needs no elaborate introduction here. Suffice it to say, it completes the picture of Paris as a capital of grace and complexity. The sheer scale of its halls and the symmetry of its grounds still evoke the grandeur of a royal age.

A living landscape

Notre Dame's restoration has brought the eyes of the world back to Paris. What visitors find is a city alive with contrast and continuity. From the medieval stones of the island to the modern sculptures of La Defense, from the scholarly calm of the Latin Quarter to the lively slopes of Montmartre, Paris unfolds through time.

It is not a city to be rushed. One must be present in its landmarks to feel their place in the wider story: a narrative that is always being written, brick by brick, step by step.

As the bells of Notre Dame ring once more, they call out to the faithful. They ring for the curious, the beauty seekers and all who believe that cities can rebuild and rise from the ashes into something stronger, something lasting, something shared.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.