Walk through the Gates of Heavenly Peace and the Forbidden City falls away in all directions, embodying the imperial dynasties who once lived and ruled here, and the greater sprawling mass of Beijing beyond its walls.

Its history dates back to 1420, the buildings were once home of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the design and architecture of this city within a city speaks to the culture of the time.

Outside the walls of the Forbidden City, sky scrappers mingle with the dirty clouds and cranes - this is a city under constant construction and remodelling. Destruction of the old and construction of the new is a theme running through Beijing’s culture – it’s run though with the ever-increasingly rare narrow residential hútòng neighbourhoods, but the modernized apartment complexes keep bursting though to replace them. Stroll through the hútòngs to taste traditional Mandarin cooking and to see what all of Beijing once looked like, and then step out onto a main street and see what the city is quickly becoming – a growing metropolis.

See all »

The best things to do in Beijing

Add comment

Comments, reviews and questions

There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?

Add a comment, review or question

Make a comment Ask a question Write a review

Review title

Your comment

Your rating

Choose rating... Don't go Go Must go

Your name

Your email address