City: Beijing
Top Things to do in Beijing
Things to do in Beijing, China: The Best Museums
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. Luo Hong Art Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Hobbitton - Interlaken, Switzerland
I went here with a Chinese friend, not knowing what to expect. Was overwhelmed by the beautiful imagery and scenic photographs from around the world. It is just breathtaking. You should watch the movie at start - where Luo Hong speaks to his passion of capturing the world's beauty.
2. 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.
3. Beijing Capital Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 383 reviews
Fantastic building filled with exhibitions and amazing displays. 5 floors of unique Chinese art not to be missed.
Reviewed By PipPaul - Buckfastleigh, United Kingdom
Despite being one of those modern museums where more volume is given to 'empty space' rather than exhibits we really liked this museum. Had some interesting exhibits and collections without being really stuffed to the gunnels with stuff Felt we saw better pottery and jade than we did in the State Museum. The Beijing Folk and the Beijing timeline sections were exceptional too. No floor plan as such but the map boards helped. Plenty enough English to know what was happening
4. Poly Art Museum
5. UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
UCCA was founded in 2007 by Guy and Miriam Ullens as the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art. In 2017, it evolved into the UCCA Group, under the ownership and stewardship of a new group of patrons and shareholders. Committed to the belief that art can deepen lives and transcend boundaries, UCCA presents a wide range of exhibitions, public programs, and research initiatives to a public of more than one million visitors each year.
Reviewed By Medvedev1964 - Sydney, Australia
Made a special trip out to the 798 Art District - a long way out on the Metro. We went to the UCCA and discovered the Sarah Morris exhibition. Without doubt, one of the best exhibitions we had ever been to. We only had a few hours and regretted leaving - we could have spent all day there. Other exhibitions were OK but this was amazing. It was worth the trip.
6. Beijing Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 327 reviews
Reviewed By PaulSiow - Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
When we visited in April, the tulips were in full bloom. The botanical garden was very accessible by train and though it was drizzling during our visit, we enjoyed walking around the park wearing raincoats and using our umbrellas. Did get a little chill from the rain, but nothing serious. Looking at the many varieties of colourful tulips really made our visit memorable.
7. 798 Art Zone
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,373 reviews
This bustling area is a hub for contemporary Chinese art with a wide array of different styles. This old factory compound has been perfectly converted to house numerous galleries and bookshops & cafes.
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
...during the day at least. At night it becomes eerily quiet, although that can be nice too as it affords some time to explore in peace and quiet. Anyway, back to why it’s so special: East London and Brooklyn have nothing on the industrial chic of this article zone’, in terms of either scale or quality. The array of art galleries and amazing spaces is just breathtaking. Once you’ve seen the Wall and the Forbidden City, come here.
8. The Antiquarium of The Palace Museum
9. China Aviation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By ntg842
Museum is currently being advised as closed until November 2019 The website listed on the main page of this section is not for this museum but for a much smaller museum near to Capital Airport Information has come from a friend currently in Beijing and confirmed by one of the Tour Companies in the area
10. Paleozoological Museum of China
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By daphiness - Luzon, Philippines
We crossed the street using underground pedestrian pass from the Beijing zoo to this small but great museum. Because of the size (small but multilevel), it was easy to enjoy. Highlight definitely the large fossils of different dinosaurs and ice age animals. English information was available. There are 3D shows but didn't go anymore. At the ground floor there's even a small lab where kids can "excavate" their own fossil - I would have loved to do it if I were a kid but my own kids were tired from a whole day at the zoo. Another side of the museum was about the evolution of man with displays of tools they used and dioramas. We didn't have to visit the Peking Man (Zhoukoudian) site anymore given our short stay in Beijing. It was easy to get a Didi back to our hotel.
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