Things to do · Beijing, China

Things to Do in Beijing

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Getting there
Beijing is served by two major hubs: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), roughly 25 km from the city centre, and the newer Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), about 45 km away, both reachable by expressway or the Airport Line subway in under an hour. High‑speed rail links the city to Shanghai, Guangzhou and other major hubs, while provincial highways provide convenient car access from surrounding regions.
Who goes
The capital welcomes on the order of three hundred million visitors each year, the vast majority being domestic travellers drawn by history, culture and business. International tourists, numbering a few million, tend to arrive in spring and autumn when the weather is mild; the coldest months see the quietest streets and shorter queues at the big sites.
Budgeting
A careful traveller can expect to spend roughly 300–500 CNY per day (about $45–$70), while a more comfortable pace often runs 800–1,200 CNY (approximately $115–$175), with lodging and dining at mid‑range restaurants taking up the biggest share. Using the extensive metro network and enjoying street‑food staples such as jianbing or dumplings is a reliable way to stretch the budget. Estimate →

  1. Great Wall of China

    attraction · 4.4 rating · 45 CNY

    The vast ancient fortification stretching across northern China, built over centuries to defend against invasions and now a symbol of the nation. Travelers visit its various sections to walk the ramparts and take in the mountainous landscape.

  2. Summer Palace

    attraction · 4.6 rating · 30 CNY

    The Summer Palace is a vast imperial garden in Beijing featuring Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, and ornate palaces, pavilions, and a marble boat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of China's most celebrated classical landscape gardens.

  3. Temple of Heaven

    attraction · 4.6 rating · 15 CNY

    The Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO-listed complex of imperial religious buildings in Beijing, famed for the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests where emperors prayed for bountiful crops. It is a masterpiece of Ming-era architecture set within a large park.

  4. Great Wall of Badaling

    attraction · 4.6 rating

    The most famous and heavily visited section of the Great Wall of China, offering restored ramparts and watchtowers set in mountainous terrain northwest of Beijing. Travelers come for its accessibility and dramatic sweeping views of the wall snaking across ridgelines.

  5. Jingshan Park

    park · 4.6 rating

    A hilltop imperial park directly north of the Forbidden City, offering the best elevated panoramic view over the palace complex and central Beijing. Travelers climb its peak for the sweeping skyline vista.

  6. Forbidden City

    attraction · 4.6 rating · 60 CNY

    The vast imperial palace complex that served as the seat of Chinese emperors for centuries, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with thousands of preserved rooms and treasures. Beijing's foremost historic landmark and a must-see for nearly every visitor.

  7. Tiananmen Square

    attraction

    One of the world's largest public squares in central Beijing, surrounded by monumental government buildings and historic landmarks. Travelers visit for its immense scale and central role in Chinese national history.

  8. Houhai

    attraction

    A scenic lake district surrounded by hutongs, bars, and restaurants, popular for strolling, boating, and evening nightlife. Travelers come for its blend of traditional atmosphere and lively lakeside scene.

  9. Beijing Bell and Drum Towers

    attraction

    A pair of historic towers in the old city that once told imperial time with their bells and drums, offering exhibits and views over surrounding hutong neighborhoods. Travelers visit for the drum performances and cityscape vistas.

  10. Olympic Forest Park （South Gate）

    attraction

    A vast green park north of the Olympic complex with lakes, wetlands, and walking and cycling paths. Travelers come for relaxed outdoor recreation and nature within the city.

  11. White Cloud Temple

    attraction

    A major active Taoist temple in Beijing, serving as a center of Taoist worship with tranquil courtyards and religious halls. Travelers visit for its spiritual atmosphere and traditional architecture.

  12. Beihai Park

    park · 10 CNY

    A historic imperial garden centered on a large lake with a white dagoba on Jade Islet, dating back centuries as a royal retreat. Travelers come to stroll, boat and enjoy classical Chinese landscape design.

  13. National Stadium

    attraction

    The iconic Bird's Nest stadium, centerpiece of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, celebrated for its woven steel lattice design. Travelers come to admire the architecture and tour the interior.

  14. Beijing National Aquatics Center

    attraction

    Known as the Water Cube, this iconic bubble-walled venue was built for the 2008 Olympics swimming events and now houses a water park and pools. Travelers visit for its striking architecture and recreational facilities.

  15. Yuanmingyuan Park

    park · 25 CNY

    The Old Summer Palace, an expansive park containing the ruins of a former imperial garden-palace destroyed in the 19th century. Travelers visit for its evocative ruins, gardens, and lakes.

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