Category: Beijing Attractions

When I first set foot in Beijing, I was struck by a feeling that was both familiar and entirely new. As the capital of China, Beijing is not only a bustling modern metropolis but also a place where the weight of history is deeply palpable. From the crimson walls and golden roofs of the Forbidden City to the neon-lit streets of Sanlitun at night, Beijing weaves a fascinating tension between past and present.

Must-Visit Classic Attractions in Beijing

The Forbidden City — Top Beijing Tours Attraction

Stepping into the Forbidden City, you are greeted by endless stretches of red walls and golden glazed rooftops—majestic and awe-inspiring. It is the largest and most well-preserved palace complex in the world. Walking across its expansive courtyards, you can almost hear the echoes of imperial rituals and footsteps from centuries ago. Sunlight glimmers on the vermilion gates, and the golden studs sparkle, instantly transporting you to the era of emperors.

Highlights: The grandeur of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the serene Imperial Garden, and the exquisite dragon carvings and painted eaves.

Tips for China Travel: Rent an audio guide or hire a tour guide to bring the stories of imperial life to life; take a moment to relax in the Imperial Garden to fully appreciate the elegance of a royal garden.

The Great Wall — Iconic China Travel Landmark

“No one is a true hero until they’ve climbed the Great Wall,” a saying every visitor to China has likely heard. The Wall snakes across mountain ridges like a giant dragon. From afar, it stretches along the undulating peaks, awe-inspiring and monumental. Climbing the Wall yourself and looking over the stone fortifications, you feel the ultimate embodiment of human ingenuity and perseverance.

Highlights: The Mutianyu section has fewer tourists, offering sweeping views, while Jinshanling is perfect for hiking with dramatic landscapes.

Travel Tip: Hike a short segment and climb the watchtowers to enjoy panoramic vistas; take a cable car up and walk down to save energy while still enjoying the scenery.

Summer Palace — Best Beijing Attractions for Nature & History

If the Forbidden City represents imperial power, the Summer Palace is a retreat for leisure and relaxation. The reflection of Kunming Lake, the painted corridors, and the serene Tower of Buddhist Incense make visitors naturally slow their pace.

Highlights: The Long Corridor, the longest painted gallery in the world, and panoramic views from the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Travel Tip: Rent a boat in summer to cruise across Kunming Lake; in winter, enjoy skating on the frozen lake like locals do.

Hutongs & Courtyards — Explore Beijing Culture

Beijing’s hutongs are the city’s “capillaries”—narrow alleys lined with gray walls and traditional courtyard homes that preserve the essence of old Beijing life. Here, there are no skyscrapers, only the gentle rhythm of footsteps and neighbors chatting.

Highlights: Nanluoguxiang is lively and colorful, while Shichahai offers bars and a charming lakeside atmosphere at night.

Travel Tip: Explore by bicycle or rickshaw, and take the time to chat with local residents to experience authentic Beijing life.

Temple of Heaven — Historical Beijing Landmark

The blue-tiled roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests shines under the sun. Once the sacred site where emperors offered prayers for a bountiful harvest, the Temple of Heaven impresses with symmetry and geometric beauty.

Highlights: The circular design of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests symbolizes “heavenly perfection,” and the Echo Wall demonstrates ancient acoustic ingenuity.

Travel Tip: Visit early in the morning to see locals practicing tai chi, playing badminton, or performing traditional music.

Beihai Park — Serene Beijing Attraction

This historic imperial garden combines lakes and hills, with the White Pagoda standing gracefully on Qiong Island. Willow trees bend over the calm waters, and ducks swim leisurely.

Highlights: The White Pagoda, the Nine-Dragon Wall, and exquisite traditional pavilions.

Travel Tip: Rent a small boat to drift across the lake or stroll along the water while watching locals play chess or walk birds.

Lama Temple — Spiritual Site in Beijing

The largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing, the Lama Temple is tranquil and filled with incense smoke. Red walls and golden rooftops gleam in the sunlight, while wooden halls emit a subtle scent of sandalwood.

Highlights: Home to the tallest wooden Maitreya Buddha statue in the world.

Travel Tip: Light an incense stick to soak in the spiritual ambiance; observe architectural details that showcase a fusion of Han and Tibetan artistry.

798 Art District — Modern Beijing Art & Culture

Transformed from an old factory, this art district is adorned with graffiti, modern sculptures, exhibition halls, and cafes. Here, creativity and imagination thrive in every corner. Strolling through the industrial-style spaces, you encounter Beijing’s most avant-garde side, creating a striking contrast with the historical grandeur of the Forbidden City.

Highlights: Contemporary art exhibitions, boutique shops, and innovative cafés.

Travel Tip: Browse unique artworks, buy designer souvenirs, or relax at a café while sharing travel stories.

Beijing Food Guide — Must-Try Local Cuisine

Yang Xiezi Hotpot: Rich broth with tender lamb spine, perfect for warming up in winter.

 

Douzhi & Jiaoquan: Fermented mung bean drink with fried dough rings, culturally unique breakfast.

 

Lvdagun: Sweet glutinous rice rolls with bean paste, coated in soybean flour. 

Copper Pot Hotpot: Thinly sliced lamb cooked over charcoal, dipped in sesame sauce.

Luzhu Huoshao: Traditional snack with pork offal simmered in broth, served with crispy bread slices.

Street Snacks: Wangfujing Snack Street offers candied haw, lamb skewers, and adventurous insect delicacies.

Beijing Travel Tips — Essential Guide for China Travel

1. Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn (April–May, September–October) are ideal for sightseeing.

2. Transportation: The Beijing subway is convenient; avoid rush hours to escape crowded trains.

3. Tickets & Reservations: Popular attractions like the Forbidden City require online booking in advance.

4. Cultural Etiquette: Stay quiet in temples or religious sites; respect queues.

5. Language Tips: Many young locals speak English, but learning basic phrases like “你好 (Nǐhǎo)” or “谢谢 (Xièxie)” enhances interactions.

Beijing caters to travelers with diverse interests. Whether exploring ancient imperial culture or experiencing the bustling modern city, Beijing promises a journey unlike any other. As I left, I carried the wind from the Great Wall, the aroma of roasted duck drifting through the hutongs, and the golden sunlight flickering off palace rooftops. Beijing is a city worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Beijing Wildlife Park is located in the forest in Daxing District, about 40 kilometers away from the urban area. There are more than two hundred animals in the park, with tens of thousands of them. It is a paradise for children to visit and learn. Many animals in the garden adopt free-range methods. You can observe the animals up close in the iron cage, and you can also feed them, which is full of fun.

Beijing Wildlife Park has a large area, about 1.5 kilometers in depth and about 4 kilometers in a circle. The gate of the scenic spot is located on the west side. After entering the gate from the west side, there are two routes, namely the south line and the north line. Both the south line and the north line lead to the inner free-range area.

The general travel route is to walk in from the southern line, and visit the various areas of the southern line first. Then take a feeding cart through the free-range area, and then walk out from the northern line. It takes about half a day to visit the entire park.

Enter from the park gate located on the west side, and the southern line is located on the left and right, and you can walk along the road. The walking distance of the southern line is about 1 km. The animals here are raised and exhibited in the same way as the general zoo. The main venues include the Lion and Tiger Pavilion, the Lion and Baboon Pavilion, and the Monkey Pavilion. You can watch them one by one, and you can also see the scene of the lion and the baboon in the same room.

At the end of the southern line, there is an animal performance field where you can watch animal performances, including bear acrobatics, monkey riding, lion ring drilling and other projects, which are very interesting. After watching the animal show, you can come to the animal free-range area, where you need to visit it by taking the sightseeing car. Sitting in the feeding cart can observe the animals up close and feed them.

The end of the car dealership is the starting point of the northern line. There is a mini animal free-range area where you can rent a battery car to enter. The animals here are relatively safe. You can feed herbivores such as alpacas and deer, and you can also interact with the animals.

There are mostly bird exhibition halls on the northern line. You can see flamingos, peacocks and other beautiful birds, as well as parrots that can talk to people. It is very interesting. There is a waterfowl lake on the north line. Swans and other birds roam in the lake during the shadow time, and the environment is leisurely and beautiful. The walking distance of the northern line is about 1.5 kilometers. At the end, you return to the gate of the scenic spot, and you can leave from here.

Fragrant Hills Park is located in the western suburbs of Beijing. It is a royal garden with mountain forest features. The park is lush and there are many monuments hidden in the forest. It is a viewing spot and natural oxygen bar in Beijing. The “Fragrant Hills Red Leaves” is the highlight of the scenic spot every autumn, and it is well known in China.

Fragrant Hills Park is a great place to feel the golden autumn of Beijing. Every year in the golden autumn season, after the baptism of severe frost, the cockles are all red, and they dye the whole Fragrant Hills to red. Among them, Senyuhu, Yuhuaxiu and Langfeng Pavilion are all great places to view the red leaves. And after the snow in late autumn, the rolling hills are wrapped in silver, and a piece of white is dotted with patches of red haze.

Fragrant Hills Park was founded nearly 900 years ago. As early as the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the royal family built the palace in Fragrant Hills. Every summer and autumn, the emperor had to hunt and cool down here. There are many cultural relics and monuments in the park, and pavilions are scattered among the mountains and forests. The temples with the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are not to be missed. In addition, the Shuangqing Villa on the southeast slope of Fragrant Hills Temple is also a must-see.

Fragrant Hills Park is a park with the classical charm. There are mountains, water and classical garden buildings. Visit Fragrant Hills Park and feel the beauty of nature! Red leaves in the mountains are also a big feature in autumn! Autumn is a good season to go to Fragrant Hills Park to enjoy the mountains and wild red maples! There are a lot of photographers here, Fragrant Hills park under the blue sky and white clouds is very beautiful!

Special Tip: The best time to visit Fragrant Hills to see the red leaves is from mid-October to early November, which lasts about a month. During this period of time, the annual Fragrant Hills Red Leaf Festival is also launched here.

Shichahai refers to the three lakes of Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai and their neighboring areas. It has a large and beautiful lake. It is also a famous historic district in Beijing. Many celebrities’ former residences, royal palaces and other monuments are scattered among them. There are all kinds of delicious food close to people’s life. Houhai Bar Street is an old-style resort for the nightlife of Beijing.

When you first arrive in Shichahai, you will be sure to be attracted by the beautiful scenery of the huge lake. In summer, the lake is very cool and the lotus flowers are in full bloom. You can enjoy the lake view by boat. Pedal boats and hand boating can be selected at will. Depending on the type of boat, the fee varies from 40-60 yuan per hour; the sightseeing rocking boat will take you around the lake for about 1 hour, and the boatman will also explain Shichahai attractions.

In winter, the lake is frozen, and the cruise ship will not in operation, but you can come to enjoy the winter scenery. When the ice layer reaches a certain thickness, the Shichahai skating rink will be opened on the lake. The admission price is 20 yuan/person. In addition, it also provides rentals for skates and ice bicycles. It is not expensive, but a deposit of 100-200 yuan is required.

The ancient buildings around Shichahai make the scenic area still retain the characteristics of old Beijing. Whenever night falls, the time for excitement comes. Songs come from many bars around Shichahai, some of Shichahai’s bar singers really sing well. Go to the bar to sit and watch the singers perform, as if you can hear their passion for music from the singing.

Shichahai lies on Nanluoguxiang in the east and Beihai Park in the south. It is not far from Jingshan Park, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Usually, you can visit the Forbidden City or Tiananmen in the daytime, and sit at the Shichahai bar in the evening; if you don’t go to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and you just like the lake view, you can play at Shichahai or Beihai Park; if you only like to go shopping or looking for delicious snacks, you can go to the Nanluogu next to Shichahai.

Tiananmen Square is located in Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is the heart of Beijing and the largest city center square in the world. It covers an area of 44 hectares, 880 meters long from north to south, 500 meters wide from east to west, and covers an area of 440,000 square meters. It can accommodate 1 million people for a grand rally.

In the center of the square, there stands the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the solemn Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. On the west side of the square it is the Great Hall of the People, on the east side of the square, it is the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History, and on the south side are two ancient towers which were built in the 14th century. Zhengyang Gate and Embrasured Watchtower of Front Gate. The entire square is grand and magnificent, neat and symmetrical, seamless, great and momentous. On both sides of Tiananmen Square, there are the Working People’s Cultural Palace and the Zhongshan Park. These majestic buildings and Tiananmen form the Tiananmen Square and become a great attraction in Beijing.

Tiananmen Square was once a palace square outside the main entrance of the Forbidden City during the reign of the feudal emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The east, west and south sides were surrounded by walls to form a forbidden place for ordinary people. In modern history, there is no place in China like Tiananmen Square, which has such a touching connection with people’s emotional world.

On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on the Tiananmen Gate, and personally raised the first five-star red flag. China bid farewell to humiliation and slavery. Since then, the Tiananmen Gate has become a symbol of the new China. Its solemn image is an important part of the Chinese national emblem. Tiananmen Square attracts a large number of tourists to visit.

Longqing Gorge, located about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Beijing, and sometimes referred to as the “Little Three Gorges” (As in the three gorges of the Three Gorges Dam project), is named after Emperor Longqing of the Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty, during whose reign (1567-1572), the Great Wall had been penetrated by a Mongol force under the command of the Altan Khan, reaching Beijing itself, though the emperor managed to repulse the khan’s army. Later, the emperor, seek to neutralize the Mongol threat by peaceful means, signed a trade and security pact what one might today call with Altan Khan whereby the khan purchased silk from China in exchange for horses. Peace ensued.

Today, Longqing Gorge, confidently shaded between two tall mountain peaks, is known mainly as the venue for the annual Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice & Snow Festival where, among other things related to snow and ice, massive blocks of ice are sculpted into all kinds of interesting, beautiful and sometimes spectacular shapes, including representations of animals (including the dragons in mythical), human figures and lanterns. There is a number of fixtures among the ice-art works, such as the Peacock Welcoming Springtime (Kongqueyingchun), the Soaring Dragon (Longteng), the Smiling Face (Xinchunxiaokaiyan) and Nature’s Annual Revival (Wangxianggengxin). Besides the ice sculptures that can be admired here, there are fireworks ceremonies, folk dancing, and pageants. In addition, there are other nearby ice sports activities separate from the sculptural exhibits, such as ice fishing.

The Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice & Snow Festival, which, at night, is illuminated by a flood of colorful lights, is held each year from the 15^th of January through the 29^th of February. During the rest of the winter season, the area is closed to tourists, but opens for the summer-autumn season (April 10^th to November 15^th), where the gorge is known for, among other things, its bungee jumps.

If you are at Longqing Gorge during the summer-autumn season, don’t forget to have a look at the nearby Kangxi Grasslands, named after the Qing (1644-1911) Dynasty emperor, Emperor Kangxi, who reigned from 1661-1722. And of course, regardless of when you visit Longqing Gorge, you absolutely must visit the Great Wall at Badaling.