Beijing Top Attractions
Beijing, the capital of China, boasts many historical attractions that you should not miss on your Beijing tour. The Great Wall, the longest manmade project in the world, and listed as one of the Eight Wonders; Forbidden City, the most magnificent imperial palace in China, home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden best preserved in China; Hutong, a mirror of Beijing folk culture which gives a glimpse of the past of old Beijing; Temple of Heaven, the worshipping place for the emperors for a good harvest.
Beijing, a successful 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Host city and a vibrant metropolis in China, is presenting its best fashion fascination to the world.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall is one of the Eight Wonders of the World. It is a gigantic defensive project and the longest wall in the world, which extends 8851.8km (5,500 miles). The most popular Great Wall sections are in Beijing.
Mutianyu Great Wall should not be missed. This section is less crowded and has spectacular views. A cable car takes you to the wall, and a unique Slideway is a quick, fun way to descend. 4 hours are recommended.
Address: Mutianyu Village, Huairou District, Beijing
Related Reading:
- The Great Wall Travel Guide
- The Great Wall Tours
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is the best-preserved imperial palace in China. It was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It consists of 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings, and 8,704 rooms and represents the supreme power of the emperors in ancient times.
Address: No. 4, Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District, Beijing.
Related Reading:
- The Forbidden City Travel Guide
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Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing is said to be the largest city square in the world. Tiananmen Square is surrounded by many imposing buildings, including the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- Address: No.4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Related Reading: Tiananmen Square Travel Guide
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is the most holy of Beijing's Imperial temples. It was where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest.
The most famous buildings are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Circular Mound Altar. It is China's largest building for religious worship. 4 hours would make a comfortable visit.
Address: No.7, Tiantan Road, Chongwen District, Beijing
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- The Temple of Heaven Travel Guide
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Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China, and is known for its architectural grandeur and stunning natural beauty. It used to be a summer residence of Qing Dynasty emperors, and now it is a park.
This imperial garden typifies Chinese classical gardens. Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake are the major features of the Summer Palace. The garden is divided into districts for political, foreign, and domestic affairs, a living area for the empress and concubines, and a leisure part for relaxation.
Address: No.19 Xin-jian-gong-men Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Related Reading:
- Summer Palace Travel Guide
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Hutong
Beijing's Hutongs are a twisting labyrinth of alleyways and courtyard houses. Folks in Beijing traditionally lived in Hutongs for generations. They all know one another, and each Hutong is like a mini community inside the bustling metropolis.
Hutong reflects the real life of ordinary people. Many Hutong still exist. People believe it is the root of old Beijing. Modern life has infiltrated the hutongs, bringing both good and bad, depending on your point of view. Nanluoguxiang is a good choice and takes about 4 hours to see.
Address: Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Related Reading: Hutong Travel Guide
Beijing National Stadium
Beijing Olympic Green covers a large area and contains an exhibition area, Olympic Village, and Olympic competition avenues, including the National Stadium and Water Cube. The National Stadium hosted the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, and the main events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Address: 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Related Reading: Beijing National Stadium Travel Guide
Beijing National Aquatics Center
The Water Cube looks like an ice crystal cube. Inside, it is a six-story building with a square floor plan. It is a center for swimming, sports, fitness, and relaxation. In the future, it will become a water-themed entertainment center for people in Beijing.
Address: No. 11, Tianchen East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Lama Temple
Lama Temple is the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. Its beautiful halls and courtyards are thronged with devotees who come to worship or seek good luck. You can see the world's largest wooden statue and Tibetan exhibitions here.
Address: Changchi Road, Shisanling Town, Changping District, Beijing
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Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs is the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The layout and arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums are very similar but vary in size as well as in the complexity of their structures. Only the Dingling Tomb and Changling Tomb are open to the public.
Address: Changchi Road, Shisanling Town, Changping District, Beijing
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- Ming Tombs Travel Guide
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Beijing Zoo
Beijing zoo houses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species, including the Giant Panda, red-crowned crane, and Pere David's deer, which are all unique in China. It also houses African giraffe, rhinoceros, chimpanzee and antelopes, the wild ox from Europe, and elephant and gibbon from India. It is an ideal place for families with kids.
Address: No. 137, Xizhimen Outer Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
Related Reading:
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Wangfu Jing Street
Wangfujing Street is on the east side of the Palace Museum. It starts from Chang'an Avenue in the south and goes to Wusi Avenue in the north. The street is about 1,818 meters long. The Wangfujing business area includes Wangfujing Street and the shopping centers, department stores, and snack streets around it.
Address: North side of East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Bell and Drum Tower
The Bell and Drum Towers are traditional Chinese buildings. They were used for telling time in the past. There are two kinds of Bell and Drum Towers. One is built inside the palace. The other is built in the center of a city. They usually have two floors.
Address: No. 9 Lin, Zhonglouwan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
In addition to the places mentioned above, there are many other interesting spots in Beijing, such as the 798 Art District, the Hongqiao Market, Xiushui Street, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
You can visit these places on your own. You might find some pleasant surprises there. Also, you can take this chance to walk around different parts of Beijing and enjoy the city's unique charm.