Beijing

Imperial palaces, ancient hutongs and the Great Wall on the doorstep.

For six centuries Beijing has been the seat of emperors and leaders. Walk through the vast Forbidden City, wander the hutong alleys by bicycle, feast on Peking duck, and climb a restored section of the Great Wall about an hour from the city.

Best time to visit: September to October, or April to May. Language: Mandarin. Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY).

Did you know?

The Forbidden City is the largest surviving palace complex in the world.
Beijing is the only city to have hosted both the Summer (2008) and Winter (2022) Olympic Games.
The Great Wall sections at Badaling and Mutianyu are about an hour’s drive from the centre.

Things to do in Beijing

Forbidden City (Palace): The Forbidden City is the imperial palace complex in the center of the Imperial City in Beijing, China.
Tiananmen Square (Square, free): Tiananmen Square or Tian'anmen Square is a city square in the city centre of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen located to its north, which separates it from the Forbidden City imperial palace complex.
Temple of Heaven (Temple, free): The Temple of Heaven is a complex of imperial religious Confucian buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing.
National Museum of China (History museum): The National Museum of China is an art and history museum located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (Memorial, free): The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, also called the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and colloquially known as the Maosoleum is the final resting place of Mao Zedong, who was the Founding Father of the People's Republic of China and
National Centre for the Performing Arts (Theatre): The National Centre for the Performing Arts, colloquially described as The Boiled Egg, is an arts centre containing an opera house in Xicheng, Beijing, China.
Niujie Mosque (Mosque, free): The Niujie Mosque, also known as the Oxen Street House of Worship, or the Oxen Street Mosque, is the oldest mosque in Beijing, China.
Jingshan Park (Park, free): Jingshan Park is an imperial park covering 23 hectares immediately north of the Forbidden City in the Imperial City area of Beijing, China.
Beihai Park (Park, free): Beihai Park is a public park and former imperial garden immediately northwest of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
Beijing Zoo (Zoo): Beijing Zoo is a zoological park in Xizhimen, Xicheng District, Beijing.
Monument to the People's Heroes (Monument, free): The Monument to the People's Heroes is a ten-story obelisk that was erected as a national monument of China to the martyrs of revolutionary struggle during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Yonghe Temple (Palace): The Yonghe Temple is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism located on 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
Olympic Green (Park, free): The Olympic Green is an Olympic Park in Chaoyang, Beijing, China.
St. Joseph's Church, Beijing (Cathedral, free): St.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Cathedral, free): The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, colloquially known as the Xuanwumen church or Nantang to the locals, is a historic church and the former Cathedral church for the Archdiocese of Beijing located in the Beijing,
Capital Museum (Art museum): The Capital Museum is a public municipal art museum in Beijing, China.
Temple of Earth (Temple, free): The Temple of the Earth in Beijing, China, is located in the northern part of central Beijing, around the Andingmen area and just outside Beijing's second ring road.
The Palace Museum (Museum): The Palace Museum, also known as the Beijing Palace Museum, is a large national museum complex housed in the Forbidden City at the core of Beijing, China.
National Art Museum of China (Art museum): The National Art Museum of China is the national art museum of China and one of the largest art museums in the nation.
Fayuan Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Fayuan Temple, situated in the southwest quarter of central Beijing, is one of the city's oldest and most renowned Buddhist temples.
Temple of the Sun (Temple, free): The Ritan is a public park located in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Temple of the Moon (Temple, free): The Temple of the Moon is an altar located in Fuchengmen, Xicheng District, in western Beijing, China.
Prince Gong's Mansion (Palace): Prince Gong's Mansion, also known as the Prince Kung Mansion, is a museum and tourist attraction located in Xicheng District, Beijing, just north of the Shichahai Lake.
Miaoying Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Miaoying Temple, also known as the "White Stupa Temple", is a Chinese Buddhist temple on the north side of Fuchengmennei Street in the Xicheng District of Beijing.
Dongsi Mosque (Mosque, free): The Dongsi Mosque is a mosque in Dongsi Subdistrict, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
Yongdingmen (Landmark, free): Yongdingmen was the former front gate of the outer city of Beijing's old city wall.
Shichahai (Park, free): Shichahai is a historic scenic area consisting of three lakes in the north of central Beijing.
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Church, free): The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, more often colloquially referred to as Xizhimen Church, is a Roman Catholic church located on the southern side at No.
Beijing Chaoyang Park (Park, free): Chaoyang Park is a park located on the site of the former Prince's Palace in Beijing's Chaoyang District.
Palace of Heavenly Purity (Palace): The Palace of Heavenly Purity, or Qianqing Palace is a palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
Guangji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Guangji Temple is a Buddhist temple located at inner Fuchengmen Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
Tianning Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Tianning Temple is a Buddhist temple complex located in Xicheng District of Beijing, in northern China.
Big Bell Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Big Bell Temple, or Dazhong Temple, originally known as Juesheng Temple, is a Buddhist temple located on the North 3rd Ring Road in Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Taoranting Park (Park, free): Taoranting Park is a major city park located in Xicheng District to the north of Beijing South railway station, in the southern part of the city.
Guanghua Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Guanghua Temple is a Buddhist temple located at 31 Ya'er Hutong, north of Shichahai in the Xicheng District of Beijing, China.
China Science and Technology Museum (Science museum): The China Science and Technology Museum is a national-level science and technology museum located in Chaoyang, Beijing, China.
Wanshou Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Wanshou Temple is a temple located at No.121, Wanshousi Road, Zizhuyuan Subdistrict, Haidian District, Beijing.
Wanping Fortress (Museum): Wanping Fortress, also known as Wanping Castle, is a Ming Dynasty fortress or "walled city" in Fengtai District, Beijing.
Zhihua Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Zhihua Temple is a Ming dynasty-era Buddhist temple in Beijing, China.
Baliqiao (Bridge, free): Yongtongqiao, better known as Baliqiao, is a historic bridge located at the intersection of Chaoyang and Tongzhou districts in the east of Beijing, China.
Zhenjue Temple (Buddhist temple, free): The Five Pagoda Temple, formally known as the "Temple of the Great Righteous Awakening" or "Zhenjue Temple" for short, is a Ming dynasty Buddhist temple located in Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Paleozoological Museum of China (Museum): The Paleozoological Museum of China is a museum in Beijing, China.
Purple Bamboo Park (Park, free): Purple Bamboo Park is one of the seven largest parks in Beijing, China.
Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park (Amusement park): Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park is a theme park located in Bajiao, Shijingshan District of Beijing, China.
Beijing World Park (Park, free): Beijing World Park is a theme park that attempts to give visitors the chance to see the world without having to leave Beijing.
Nandouya Mosque (Mosque, free, hidden gem): The Nandouya Mosque is a mosque in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
Bailin Temple (Buddhist temple, free, hidden gem): The Bailin Temple (Chinese: 柏林寺; pinyin: Bǎilín Sì; lit.
Haidian Christian Church (Church, free, hidden gem): Haidian Christian Church is a church located in Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing.
Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park (Museum, hidden gem): The Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is a park in Beijing with the longest and best preserved section of the city's Ming Dynasty city wall.
Palace of Eternal Longevity (Palace, hidden gem): The Palace of Eternal Longevity, also known as Yongshou Palace, is one of the Six Western Palaces in the inner court of the Forbidden City.
Yuyuantan Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Yuyuantan Park is one of major urban parks in the city of Beijing.
Beijing Liao and Jin City Wall Museum (Historic site, hidden gem): The Beijing Liao and Jin Dynasty City Wall Museum is a museum built over the ruins of Beijing's Liao and Jin dynasty city wall.
Guanfu Museum (Art museum, hidden gem): Guanfu Museum is an art museum in Beijing, China.
Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park (Park, free, hidden gem): The Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park, also known as the Tucheng or Earth Wall Park, is an urban park and historic site in Haidian and Chaoyang districts, Beijing.
China Millennium Monument (Art museum, hidden gem): The China Millennium Monument is a monumental complex centered around a structure that evokes both a monumental Chinese altar and a sundial.
Dabaotai Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum (Museum, hidden gem): The Beijing Dabaotai Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum is a museum built over the tombs of Western Han dynasty prince Liu Jian and his wife at Dabaotai in Fengtai District of southwestern Beijing Municipality about 15 km sou
St. Michael's Church, Beijing (Church, free, hidden gem): St.
Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Palace, hidden gem): The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is the northernmost of the three main halls of the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
Beijing Concert Hall (Concert hall, hidden gem): The Beijing Concert Hall is located on the Beixinhuajie in Xicheng District, near the west Chang'an Avenue, on the south of Liubukou.
Palace of Earthly Honour (Palace, hidden gem): The Palace of Earthly Honour, also known as Yikun Palace, is one of the Six Western Palaces in the inner court of the Forbidden City.
Summer Palace (Palace): The Summer Palace or Yihe Garden was a pavilion built by the Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi for quiet retreat.
Marble Boat (Monument, free): The Marble Boat, also known as the Boat of Purity and Ease, is a lakeside pavilion on the grounds of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.
Beijing Daguan Yuan (Garden, hidden gem): Park in Beijing, China.
Beijing Lu Xun Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Beijing Lu Xun Museum is a museum in Fucheng Gate Avenue, Beijing, China.

Where to eat and drink in Beijing

Siji Minfu, Wangfujing: Much-loved Peking duck near the Forbidden City.
Da Dong, Dongsi: Celebrated, leaner take on Peking duck.
Wangfujing Snack Street, Wangfujing: Lantern-lit lane of skewers and snacks.
Blackswan, Beijing: One of the capital’s most celebrated dining rooms.
Lamdre, Beijing: Inventive vegetarian fine dining.
Rong Pao, Beijing: Refined Chinese cooking newly recognised by Michelin.

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Plan a trip to Beijing