Beijing, China
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. For further information, and to book local trips, see Beijing Tours
Top Beijing attractions
We know a total of 24 attractions in Beijing. See all Beijing attractions.
- Great Wall of China
I had seen photos of the cable car leading up to sections of the Great Wall of China but I hadn't seen any photos of the tobogg… - The Summer Palace
Three thousand structures make up the Summer Palace which is like a vast museum to traditional Chinese art, architecture and ga… - Forbidden City
An entire mysterious city of narrow high walled alley ways leading onto courtyards with single storey, well decorated temple-es… - The China Orient Express
This route covers the old Chinese Silk Road and is serviced only in the summer by restored vintage trains. Indulgently decked o… - Ming Dynasty Tombs
The well preserved tombs of 13 Ming dynasty emperors (1368 - 1644) are located 50km north of Beijing. The tombs occupy more th… - Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
26/12/1893 – 09/09/1976 Chinese communist leader. Like Lenin, Chairman Mao's corpse has been embalmed and is on display in … - Tiananmen Square
Meaning ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace‘, Tiananmen Square is now, conversely, best known internationally for the protests that took pl… - The Underground City
A bomb shelter on a massive scale, the Underground City covers 85 square kilometers beneath the streets of Beijing. A network o… - 798 Art District Beijing
With more than a half dozen World Heritage temples and palaces on the standard Beijing itinerary one would be forgiven for thin… - Hike the Great Wall at Simatai
Gazing upon an iconic World Wonder is one thing but hiking along one is another thing entirely. To stand on top of a watchtower… - The Tangula Experience
For something new and exciting - a great way to see China - check out the new Tangula train. It claims to be the newest (Septem… - Beihai Park
A beeline to Beihai Park (open 'til 9), rewarded with all the things the guide books say it will, including a vista of lotus le…
Holiday ideas featuring Beijing
Five Days in Beijing
Beijing has so much to see-The Forbidden City and the Summer Palace are beautiful, sprawling historic monuments, the Temple of Heaven is painstakingly lovely and the hutongs and night markets are a feast for all the senses.You can even make it to The Wall
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Related links
- North Central China travel guide
- China travel guide
- Asia travel guide
- China tour operators and travel specialists
- Weather in Beijing
- Best hotels in Beijing
