10 Best Places to Visit in Beijing

1- Tiananmen & the Forbidden City

When you think of Beijing, the first things that come to mind are, of course, Tiananmen Gate (天安门) and the Forbidden City (紫禁城). This complex, which has served as a palace for Chinese dynasties for centuries, spans an area of 720,000 square meters and consists of thousands of structures. It’s the first place you should visit when you come to Beijing. This is the historical site where Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Tiananmen Gate, where a giant portrait of Mao Zedong hangs, is also the main entrance to the Forbidden City. Built in 1406, the Forbidden City is one of the oldest imperial palaces in the world. Covering an area of approximately 720,000 square meters, it is said to have 9999 rooms. Visiting many of the important places in the Forbidden City can take up half a day. As a very large complex, the Forbidden City has hundreds of structures worth seeing. You can also visit China’s zero point in Tiananmen Square and take photos.

the Forbidden City (紫禁城) photo: People’s Daily

Opening hours: 05:00-22:00

Estimated visiting time: Half day

Palace opening hours: 08:30-16:30

Tickets: April-October 60 Yuan – November-March 40 Yuan (for Palace)

2- Tiantan (Temple of Heaven)

Tiantan (天坛 Temple of Heaven) Photo: Global Times

One of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks, Tiantan (天坛 Temple of Heaven) is a place where emperors offered sacrifices to the gods. Built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Chinese emperors performed religious rituals here to ensure a good harvest and to maintain the balance between heaven and earth. Tiantan is also known as one of the world’s largest religious complexes.

Estimated visiting time: 1.5 hours

Ticket: 34 Yuan + 20 Yuan = 54 Yuan (Combined)

Opening hours: 08:00-18:00 (Scenic Spots) – 06:00-22:00 (Park)

3- The Great Wall

When you think of China, the Great Wall (长城) is naturally the first thing that comes to mind. With thousands of years of history and visible even from space, the Great Wall is the first place you should visit. Construction began in 220 BC, and its length of over 20,000 km makes it the world’s largest military structure. However, there’s an important detail to remember: the Great Wall is approximately 75 kilometers from Beijing city center, and access is via tour bus (200-500 Yuan) or train. To reach Badaling, the most popular and crowded area, you need to go to North Beijing Train Station and take the S2 train for 1.5 hours. To reach Mutianyu, which is less crowded, take the 916 Express bus from Dongzhimen Bus Terminal to Huairou, and then a taxi (20-30 RMB) to Mutianyu. Be sure to dress casually and wear sport shoes when going there. Also, the season of your visit to Beijing is quite important. If you are visiting Beijing during a very hot or cold season, remember that this is an open area on a hill and be prepared for some difficulties.

Estimated visiting time: approximately 3-4 hours

Ticket prices

Badaling	40 RMB	Cable Car: 100 RMB (Round trip)
Mutianyu	45 RMB	Cable Car: 100 RMB

4- Summer Palace

Built by Empress Cixi of China as a quiet retreat, the Summer Palace (颐和园) is a vast complex of lakes, gardens, and palaces in Beijing. An imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty, it covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, including Long Life Hill (万寿山), Kunming Lake, and the Seventeen-Hole Bridge. The Summer Palace is located 15 km from Beijing city center.

Ticket: 30 Yuan (Entry) 60 Yuan (Combined – Scenic Spots)

5- Old Summer Palace

The Old Summer Palace Yuanmingyuan (圆明园) photo: Global Times

The Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan (圆明园), is the former imperial garden. Originally built in 1760, the Old Summer Palace was destroyed by invading French and British soldiers in 1860 after the Second Opium War, who looted the palace and stole valuable items. Built in the 18th-century Western architectural style, the palace, fountains, and gardens are now only ruined.

Ticket: 25 Yuan

Opening Hours: 08:00-19:00

Estimated visiting time: 2 hours

6- Mao Zedong Mausoleum

The mummified remains of China’s legendary leader Mao Zedong are located in his mausoleum in Tiananmen Square. In this mausoleum, where Mao Zedong is displayed in a crystal coffin, you have the opportunity to see him with your own eyes. The visit is quite short; due to the high volume of visitors, you enter through the entrance, see the remains, and exit through the exit.

Note: You need to register online and make an appointment before visiting. It is almost impossible to register and make an appointment on the same day.

Estimated visiting time: 5 or 10 minutes

Opening hours: 08:00-12:00

7- Qianmen Street

If you are visiting Beijing, one place you absolutely must take a walk along Qianmen Street (前门大街). You can stroll along Qianmen Street day or night. At various restaurants, you can try Peking Duck and delicious Chinese snacks at very affordable prices. You can also do shopping here if you wish.

8-Hutong

Beijing is a very old city. Therefore, life in the city center is quite interesting. The most classic example of this life is the Hutongs (胡同), consisting of rows of gray brick, single-story houses with gardens and narrow streets. You can visit the Hutongs in the city and observe city life in Beijing. By walking through the narrow streets of the Hutongs, you can have different experiences in small restaurants and cafes.

9- Lama Temple

The Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing, was built in 1694. It is also known as one of the largest and best-preserved temples in China. The temple has five main halls, each taller than the last; these halls contain clockwise prayer wheels, colorful tiles, lion statues, and the world’s largest wooden Buddha statue in the innermost part.

Ticket: 25 Yuan

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00

10- National Museum of China

The National Museum of China, one of the world’s largest museums, displays over 1.4 million artifacts. Here, you can explore China’s journey from prehistory to the present day.

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
Tickets: Free (Payment may be required for some sections)
Estimated Visiting Time: 2 or 3 hours
Note: The museum is closed on Mondays. Also, an appointment is required to enter the museum, and getting an appointment on the same day is almost impossible.

Alternative Places to Visit

1- Beihai Park

Beihai Park, China’s oldest and best-preserved imperial garden, is one of the places we recommend visiting in Beijing. Construction began in the 11th century, and the park was opened to the public in 1925 following the abolition of the monarchy in China.

2- Universal Studios Beijing

One of the world-famous Universal Studios is located in Beijing. Here you can see figures from many Universal Studios films and experience various attractions in the entertainment center, having endless fun.

Note: If you are looking for tickets, you should definitely get a fast-track ticket. Remember that you are in China, and if you don’t get a fast-track ticket, you will face very long queues. These long queues can cause you to waste a lot of time, have less fun, and experience fewer attractions.
Ticket: Varies between 393 Yuan and 578 Yuan depending on the day (Standard 1-day)

3- China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters

China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters (中央电视台总部大楼)

Where to stay in Beijing?

The choice of accommodation in Beijing varies depending on individual preferences. For example, those who enjoy nightlife and entertainment might prefer the Sanlintun or Wangfujing areas, while locations around Tiananmen Square, due to their proximity to various well-known landmarks in the city center, are also a good choice.