City: Beijing
Top Things to do in Beijing
What to do and see in Beijing, China: The Best Nature & Parks
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. 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.
2. 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)..
3. 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.
4. Back Lakes (Hou Hai)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,456 reviews
This area of Beijing contains some of the most extensive old hutong neighborhoods and the three lakes of Xihai, Houhai and Oianhai.
Reviewed By NoBazinga - Beijing, China
The bar street of Beijing! Super gorgeous photo place, where the locals are. Rich cultural location where I love going!
5. 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.
6. Zhongshan Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
Reviewed By 395ruthp - Hong Kong, China
Serene and relaxing park when we went--not that many people there, despite it being right next door to the forbidden city.
7. Zizhuyuan Gongyuan (Black Bamboo Park)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
This large Chinese-style peaceful park is also known as Black Bamboo Park and Purple Bamboo Park. Nice walking, jogging and biking trails. Love the lotus bridge. The bamboo name comes from part of its forest,
8. Kunming Lake
9. Tuanjiehu Park
10. Olympic Forest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 250 reviews
Reviewed By jrtaylorfl - Wesley Chapel, United States
It was a great experience to walk around Olympic Forest Park. The Bird's Nest and Olympic torch were great to observe first hand. The engraved wall with all the Special Olympian's names was a special sight to see and experience. This is a relaxing way to spend some time in Beijing.
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