City: Beijing
Top Things to do in Beijing
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Beijing, China
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square). For the best market experience, choose the Dirt Market over the touristy Silk Market. A visit to the Great Wall, the longest manmade structure in the world, is absolutely essential.
Restaurants in Beijing
1. The Great Wall at Badaling
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,049 reviews
The Great Wall of China is considered to be the only man-made project visible from the moon. Although it was once thought to have been built entirely during the Qin Dynasty between 221 and 238 BC, it is now believed to have been started earlier.Stretching more than 6,400 kilometers in length.
Reviewed By raniil - Santiago, Chile
The Great Wall is one of the seven wonders, so you have to visit it if you’re in Beijing. We booked a tour to get there because it’s outside the city. We went in winter so it was very cold. In spite of this, we really enjoyed the view. We were amazed by the construction.
2. Temple of Heaven
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,200 reviews
Built in 1420 with a total area of 270 acres, this is the largest building for religious worship in China, which was originally used by the Ming and Qing emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of rich harvest.
Reviewed By abchester - Chester, United Kingdom
A fascinating place to visit and marvel at the woodwork and painting, all set in beautiful grounds with locals happily playing cards, exercising or knitting.
3. Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,205 reviews
A series of beautiful pavilions comprise this Mongolian-Tibetan yellow-sect temple, which features an impressive fifty-four-foot high Buddha carved from one piece of Tibetan sandalwood.
Reviewed By PBlyth - Tampa, United States
This is one of the finest examples of a functioning Buddhist temple you will find in China. You will see many monks and worshippers burning incense to Buddha and get to walk in and through a number of buildings that the Emperor actually lived in during the 1750's AD. There are many different Buddhist statutes but the most impressive of all is a 50 ft tall wooden Buddha carved from a single sandlewood tree trunk. It is so big that the building had to be built around the Buddha after it had been moved into pace. Worth a look.
4. Beihai Park (Beihai Gongyuan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,353 reviews
Kubla Khan in 1260 took up residence in this palace, which today is a 168-acre park filled with historic buildings, restaurants and a lake.
Reviewed By jacksonleungcs - Singapore, Singapore
The park was built as part of the Imperial City of Yuan's new capital Dadu during the reign of Kublai Khan. I will recommend you make this as part of the Forbidden city tour. So when you exit 紫禁城, you get across to Jingshan Park via the underground connect and take a bird eye view of both the Forbidden city and the white tower of Beihai park before you get out from the east exit of Jiang Shan park and then walk 10 mins on foot to get to the Beihai park. While you are in the park, do take time to visit the Kuaixuetang Calligraphy Museum which built in 1775 with two halls in its courtyard. The structures was connected by painted verandas, on the eastern and western sides of which over 100 pieces of handwritings of 20 calligrapher living between the forth to the fourteenth century are showed ( see pix attached)..
5. Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,956 reviews
Located on the highest point in Beijing City, this park was built in 1179 during the Jin Dynasty and today provides visitors with sweeping views of the Forbidden City located below.
Reviewed By G6426FManthonys - Brisbane, Australia
At 45 metres high it is about the highest point in Beijing and worth the short climb to be able to see the gleaming roofs of the Forbidden City below.
6. Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Built in 1530, this is one of the oldest parks in Beijing that once served as an altar site where the emperor made sacrificial offerings to the sun god.
7. Tian'anmen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,369 reviews
Reviewed By njcavalier - Chatham, United States
Across from historic Tiananmen Square, the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen) stands as the main entranceway for visitors to The Forbidden City. Once the domain of the emperor and his court, The Forbidden City is now a palace museum, a reminder of China's imperial past. But above the Gate, a huge portrait of Chairman Mao looks out onto the Square, a reminder that this is no longer imperial China but the Communist China proclaimed by Mao in the Square nearly 70 years ago. The Gate, the red walls around it and the imposing portrait of Mao above are iconic symbols of China. Try not taking lots of photos in the direction of the Gate on a first visit to Tiananmen Square!
8. Tsinghua University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 337 reviews
Reviewed By Harring10 - Athens, United States
In my opinion, it is the top university of China. Very excellent students and faculty work there. Also, nice for tourists to walk around but do not be surprised to see many tour buses of people to come and visit.
9. Great Wall at Huanghuacheng
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,191 reviews
Huanghuacheng Great wall is a wild section which is located near a lake and a reservoir, this part of the Wall is called Yellow Flower Fortress and is a good place for hiking.Huanghuacheng Section of the Great Wall is a resort with mountains, lakes and theancient Great Wall. There are very few people to be found here, but it is becomingpopular with hikers.There is a lake and a crescent shaped reservoir nearby. And the lake breaks this sectionof the Great Wall into three segments naturally. Part of the wall is under water and becomes submerged at high tide. So the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is nicknamed "Water Great Wall".The scenery here is unique and will surprise you.
Reviewed By 516bobt - LaSalle, United States
Huanghuacheng Great wall is a wild section which is located near a lake and a reservoir, this part of the Wall is called Yellow Flower Fortress and is a good place for hiking.Huanghuacheng Section of the Great Wall is a resort with mountains, lakes and theancient Great Wall. There are very few people to be found here and I was able to spend 4 hours and not see another person on the wall. There is a lake and a crescent shaped reservoir nearby. And the lake breaks this sectionof the Great Wall into three segments naturally. Part of the wall is under water and becomes submerged at high tide. So the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is nicknamed "Water Great Wall".The scenery here is unique and will surprise you.
10. Long Corridor at the Summer Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,396 reviews
Reviewed By BillPNo1 - Friendswood, United States
We visited the Long Corridor of the Summer Palace and walked its entire length when we visited the Summer Palace. The Long Corridor - which runs from the central area of the palace grounds to the furthest tip of the grounds area - was fascinating because each section of the overhead, along the entire length is individually decorated and painted. It is quite interesting and beautifully done and definitely must be seen to be appreciated.
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