The tourism sector in China is booming, with revenues expected to reach $3.2 trillion by 2028. Beijing, the capital of China, is a popular destination for international tourists and is known for its rich history, dating back over 3,000 years, its iconic landmarks and traditional cuisine.
Here’s a list of the best things to do in Beijing.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s visited by millions of tourists each year. The site is so popular that Chinese authorities have had to place a cap of 65,000 visitors per day at the Badaling section. Steeped in history, The Great Wall’s construction started as far back as the 7th century BC in order protect against nomadic invasions from the north, and continued throughout the Ming Dynasty up until the 17th century AD.
The Great Wall has a total length of over 20,000 km, so if you’re in Beijing, the most convenient sections to visit are Badaling or Mutianyu. The Badaling section is located north-west of Beijing and takes about 1 hour to reach by car. The Mutianyu section is located north of Beijing and is less crowded, taking about 1.5 hours to reach by car. One can travel there independently, however a great way to experience the history and culture of the Great Wall is by booking a tour.
Forbidden City & The Palace Museum
Located in the centre of Beijing is The Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage site that housed 24 emperors between 1490 and 1924. The imperial palace complex covers 178 acres and consists of 980 building and 9,000 rooms, and is one of the largest and well-preserved collection of wooden structures in the world. For centuries, the Forbidden City was inaccessible to ordinary people, with only the emperor, his family and certain officials being allowed inside. Within the complex is The Palace Museum, housing over 1.8 million cultural artefacts and hosting regular exhibitions. The gardens, fountains and ponds of the complex offer a pleasant contrast to the bustling modernity of central Beijing.
Temples
Beijing is home to an impressive array of architecturally diverse temples that showcase unique religious and cultural histories. They are great way to experience the historical charm of the city. Here are some popular temples:
- Temple of Heaven: The Temple of Heaven is located in Tiantan Park in central Beijing and is a UNESCO World Heritage site that symbolises the relationship between heaven and earth. Founded in the 15th century, the temple is where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors worshipped heaven and prayed for bumper harvests. In an annual ceremony, the emperor would lead a procession from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven, where he would offer food, drink and ornaments to heaven as part of a religious ritual.
- Lama Temple: Also known as the Yonghe Temple, the Lama Temple is located in the Dongcheng District of central Beijing. Built as a royal residence in 1694 during the Qing dynasty, it was converted into a palace in 1725 and then a temple in 1744. Mixing Han Chinese and Tibetan architectural styles, the Lama Temple is a cultural centre for Tibetan Buddhism in China.
- Beijing Confucius Temple: Located a 5 minute walk away from the Lama Temple, the Beijing Confucius Temple is the second largest Confucian temple in China. Built in 1302 during the Yuan dynasty, it covers an area of 22,000 square metres, where officials performed rituals to showcase their respect for Confucius and his teachings. Within the same grounds is the Beijing Imperial College, which was the most prestigious institution of learning during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is a historically significant square in central Beijing, where Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Considered the symbolic centre of China, Tiananmen Square has several main attractions including:
- Monument to the People’s Heroes: Standing in the centre of Tiananmen Square, the Monument to the People’s Heroes is a 38 metre-high obelisk that commemorates China’s struggle for national independence and liberation. The structure includes an inscription from Mao Zedong; “The People’s Heroes Live Forever“.
- Chairman Mao Memorial Hall: Inaugurated on 9th September 1977, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is the resting place of Mao Zedong. It consists of two floors where commemoration ceremonies are held, exhibits of previous generations of Chinese leaders are displayed, and the Chinese documentary A Thousand Years of Great Deeds is screened. State leaders have regularly visited the hall to pay tribute to Mao Zedong, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
- Tiananmen: Tiananmen (image above) is a gate that has been built and re-built since the 15th century that served as the grand entrance to the Forbidden City. It was at Tiananmen at 3 pm on 1st October 1949 that Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
- Zhengyangmen: Zhengyangmen (image below) is a gatehouse located at the southern tip of Tiananmen Square. Built in 1419 during the Ming dynasty, it served as one of 9 gates of the old city wall and today hosts a museum.
The closest stations to Tiananmen Square via the Beijing Subway are Tian’anmen East Station and Tian’anmen West Station. If, however, you’re staying in central Beijing, it may be worth walking there. Watching the traffic pass through the wide roads of East Chang’An Street and West Chang’An Street, adjacent to the north side of Tiananmen Square, can be particularly mesmerising. Bear in mind that there are various security checkpoints, and to pass through, you’ll need to show some form of identification such as your passport.
Shopping
Being the sprawling metropolis that Beijing is, there are various well known streets to get your shopping fix. One of the most popular shopping hotspots is Wangfujing Street. Located in Dongcheng District, about a 20 minute walk away from the Forbidden City, Wangfujing Street provides a mix of modern and traditional shopping, with large department stores, restaurants and local shops, along with street food stalls and street performances on the pedestrianised main area.
Wangfujing Street is generally bustling and lively during weekends and evenings. If you’re looking for a quieter shopping experience, weekday mornings are ideal. Bear in mind there’s usually a crowded period around noon as office workers take their lunch break.
Other than for shopping, Wangfujing Street is a great place to hang out and relax. At night, the street lights up with the fluorescent ambience of store signs, street vendors and market stalls. If, however, you’re looking for a more traditional shopping experience, Qianmen Street is worth putting on your bucket list.
Located south of Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Street has been a bustling commercial centre of Beijing since the 14th century. One can admire traditional Chinese architecture while shopping for souvenirs and tasting traditional snacks that have been sold for hundreds of years.
Parks
Beijing has various parks and green spaces scattered throughout the city, providing a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Some popular parks are Beihai Park (a former imperial garden), Tiantan Park (where the Temple of Heaven is located) and Taoranting Park (with its beautiful flora, traditional architecture and lakes).
Along with the opportunity to unwind and relax, parks are often full of hidden gems from which you can learn more about Chinese history and culture. Ditan Park, for example, has the “One-armed General”, a 400 year old tree planted during the Ming Dynasty. Certified as a Level I Ancient Tree, it gets its name from the resemblance of a war hero.
Along with “One-armed General”, you’ll also find “Old General Juniper”, another 400 year old tree named after its similarity to an “aged hero who has not past his prime“.
As you take in the sights and sounds of Ditan Park, you’ll come across the Earth God Worship House and the Di Tan Cultural & Historical Relic Exhibition Room, where you can view ancient artefacts as people perform solemn prayers nearby. Built in 1530 during Emperor Jia Jing’s reign, the Imperial Earth God Worship House was used as a location for worship by emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Another highlight of Ditan Park is the Square Water Altar (Fang Ze Tan), where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors provided food and ornamental offerings to Earth. The altar was built in 1530 during the reign of Ming dynasty emperor Jia Jing and rebuilt in 1750 during the reign of Qing dynasty emperor Qian Long. The surface of the altar was originally covered by yellow glazed bricks and was replaced during its reconstruction with light grey slab stones. Its square shape represents the ancient Chinese belief of a round heaven and square Earth. Today, one can see people giving offering and praying at the altar.
If you happen to visit on the right day, you may even come across an event held at the park.
Beijing’s parks also offer beautiful scenery and an opportunity to capture stunning photos. A very popular park is Jingshan Park, a 23 hectare former private imperial garden, where you can climb to the top of a hill to get a direct view of the Forbidden City and skyline of Beijing.
Museums
Beijing is home to a wide variety of museums that showcase Chinese and international historical, cultural, technological, artistic and administrative exhibitions. Visiting Beijing’s museums is a great way to immerse yourself in the vibrant intellectual culture of the city. Some of the most popular museums in Beijing are:
- The Palace Museum: Mentioned above, the Palace Museum is located within the grounds of the Forbidden City and is the most popular museum in Beijing. It’s home to over 1.8 million items in their collection and there’s a continual stream of new exhibitions and events. The museum is so popular that it limits the daily number of visits to 40,000 per day.
- National Museum of China: The National Museum of China holds over 1.4 million items in its collection, including 240,000 rare books. The museum’s mission is to collect, study, display and interpret China’s traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture.
- National Art Museum of China: NAMOC consists of 21 exhibition halls over 6 stories that showcase more than 110,000 cultural artefacts. Many of these artefacts are artworks by renowned Chinese artists from ancient times to the present day.
Nanluoguxiang
Nanluoguxiang is the most popular hutong complex in Beijing. A hutong is a narrow alleyway that forms the fabric of historical Beijing’s urban and residential landscape. Dating back to the 13th century during the Yuan dynasty, Nanluoguxiang runs from north to south, with smaller hutongs branching out to its left and right. Today it’s the most popular hutong destination in Beijing, where one can visit cafes, restaurants, shops and street food stalls in a more traditional and intimate shopping experience.
National Stadium & Beijing National Aquatics Center
If you’re a sports fan, the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and the Beijing National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) are worth a visit. In addition to taking in the architectural achievements of these stadiums, you’ll also be able to experience a slice of Olympic history as both were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The China Science and Technology Museum and the Olympic Forest Park are also nearby.
Explore
Beijing is a vast city, and sometimes pleasant experiences can be had unexpectedly and spontaneously. Exploring the Chinese capital without a specific schedule or plan can be a great way to learn about and get a feel for the culture of the city.
By simply exploring central Beijing, for example, you’ll likely come across impressive architecture and the occasional pavement slab with historical information of the place you’re walking by.
Reading everyday signs in Beijing also gives one an idea of the city’s urban planning and contingencies for natural disasters and other unforeseen events. The images below show signs that direct people to an emergency shelter and an area for makeshift tents.
While there are numerous tourist hotspots for people to visit in Beijing, simply walking around or in the vicinity of these these locations can be rewarding. For example, one can take in the buzzing atmosphere in the surrounding area of the Forbidden City and enjoy views from vantage points that aren’t as crowded. You can also observe the downstream businesses on side roads and lanes, such as rickshaw drivers and souvenir outlets, that thrive off the main tourist attractions. Throughout Beijing, there are secondary economies that depend on and grow in tandem with the popularity of nearby tourist attractions.
And as one explores a city as historical and diverse as Beijing, you’re bound to come across a wide range of unexpected highlights, from places of worship to temporary street exhibitions.
Your exploration through the metropolis of Beijing may provide you with a green refuge in which you can take a rest and even admire some art.
Conclusion
Beijing is an amazing city to visit, full of activities, attractions and experiences that meet the needs of tourists with a wide variety of interests. From the Great Wall of China to the bustling hutongs of the city, there are unforgettable memories waiting to be made. If you’re planning to visit Beijing, have a read of our article China Travel Tips: Things To Know Before Visiting so you’re prepared for your trip and you can make the most of your experience.
