Beijing
Top Tourist Attractions

Wide, grand and just every bit eccentric, the Forbidden City is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting central Beijing. Also known as “Gu Gong” in Chinese, the UNESCO World Heritage Site was once home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties and the political and ceremonial site of the Chinese government for almost 500 years.It is also the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China and the world’s largest palace complex.Built from 1406 to 14... Read More

No other structure in the world could come close to the grandeur of The Great Wall of China. This magnificent fortification is believed to be more than 2,300 years old and stretches over 21,196.18 kilometers making this Beijing attraction as the only visible structure from the outer space.The first walls were built by ancient Chinese states and were later joined together by the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang. But today, you can see most of the relics of the wall made during the Ming Dynast... Read More

Perhaps no other place or attraction in China has more historical significance to locals than Tiananmen Square. This 440,500-square meter public square is not only the largest of its kind in the world, but it is also where some of China’s most important historical events took place including the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.But while the square had its share of the good and bad, it remains to be one of the most visited landmarks or attractions in Beijing and all of China because it is ho... Read More

It is often overshadowed by the popularity of the Forbidden City as an attraction, but Beihai Park is every bit as grand and historical as its famous neighbor. Beihai Park is the oldest imperial garden in the world and its history goes back as far as 983 when it was built during the Liao dynasty due to many emperors’ quest for the elixir of life by building a royal garden with one pool and three hills to mimic the three magic mountains “Penglai,” “Yingzhou” and &ldq... Read More

Beijing is a dream destination for anyone who wants to experience the rich and colorful culture of China, and one of its most famous landmarks or attraction is the majestic Temple of Heaven. Located in Beijing’s Chongwen District, this imperial complex was the site where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held the annual heaven worship ceremonies.The Temple of Heaven is known to be China’s largest ancient sacrificial building that still stands today with its complex covering... Read More

No visit to Beijing and its attractions will be complete without walking through the vast expanse of the Summer Palace. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake.The Summer Palace was the refuge of the royal family during the hot summer months in China because of its beautiful gardens, pavilion, and temple that were designed to create harmony with nature.The Summer Palace was originally created to provide a... Read More

Also called the Bird's Nest, the Beijing National Stadium was built in 2007 for the Olympics. It has a seating capacity of 91,000 seats.More than just a venue for the Olympics, the stadium is also famous for its unique architecture. Designed by Swiss and Chinese architects, it sports a saddle shape and is made of steel.The mission was to create something inspiring, lightweight, and earthquake-proof.Built with 110 000 tons of new grade of steel, it's almost impossible to conceive how lightweight ... Read More

This attraction goes by many names—Yonghe Lamasery, Yonghe Lama Temple, and, Harmony and Peace Palace Lamasery, which is the easiest to remember for most tourists. Located in Beijing City's northeast corner, it is China's largest monastery of lamas that is perfectly preserved.Considering that it was built in 1694, seeing the temple in its original structure would make it worth visiting.Make sure to allocate 1 to 2 hours to explore it. If you happen to be a lover of history and Chinese cult... Read More

In China, the Beijing Temple of Confucius is the second largest temple dedicated to the Chinese philosopher and politician. The biggest is the one built in Qufu in Shandong Province, where Confucius was born.This famous attraction was built in the 14th century and continued on to the Qing Dynasty. Some of the buildings are being restored, but there are still plenty of quiet grounds that you can explore with leisure.Some of the notable features of the temple are a statue of Confucius and a 700-ye... Read More

Want to see the overly cute and cuddly pandas of China? Head out to the Beijing Zoo and you're sure to have an overload of them. This zoo in the Xicheng District is the first of its kind attraction in China.It houses a diverse collection of animals with a population of 5,000. There are 450 different species that call the zoo home, but the most popular of the lot include giant pandas, northeast tigers, milu deer, and golden monkeys. Here, you will also find an American bison, polar bears, kangaro... Read More

Also known as Yuanmingyuan, the old Summer Palace has been described as the "Garden of Gardens" and the “Versailles of the East” before fire ate up all its glory and left ruins in its wake. It may not be as magnificent as other attractions in China that have been well-preserved, but it's an important part of the country’s history that you must witness with your own eyes.From what was left of the palace, you will see how splendid its construction is—tall towers, stately te... Read More

Did you know that the National Museum of China is one of the best in the country and the second most visited museum in the world (Number of visitors per year)? For its proximity with the top attractions like Forbidden City and Tian'anmen, however, it’s often overlooked.Don't miss out the opportunity to check out the grandest antiquities of China in one place. Learn about the imperial history of China, its modern history, World War II and the communist victory, among others, through th... Read More