Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is not only the nation's political center, but also its cultural, scientific, educational heart, and a key transportation hub. It has served as the capital of the country for over 800 years.
The city has many places of historic interest and scenic beauty, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming tombs, and the world-renowned and genuinely inspiring Badaling section of the Great Wall. Large-scale construction has brought significant changes to Beijing since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 that adds more and more new attractions to the mysterious old city.

Sightseeing in Beijing

Must-see Sights

1. Forbidden City, the home for Emperors from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty and their households, as well as the very center for ancient politics.
2. Great Wall of China, the grandest military project in ancient China, a symbol of the country as well as Chinese civilization in general. Recommended sections: Mutianyu, Badaling, Huanghuahceng, and Simatai.
3. Summer Palace, the best-preserved imperial garden in the world.
4. Temple of Heaven, China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven.
5. Tian’anmen Square, the world's largest city center square and a place bearing so much history of China.
6. Beijing Hutong, a typical traditional street in Beijing to explore the old Beijinger’s life.
7. Prince Gong Mansion, the largest palace of a prince in the Qing Dynasty and witness of the historical process of the Qing Dynasty from its heyday to decline.
8. Lama Temple, one of the few royal monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing.
9. Ming Tombs, one of the biggest royal tomb complexes in China with beautiful scenery.
10. Beijing Zoo, the earliest zoo in China and the one that hosts the most diversified animal species in China, including the Giant Panda.

Sights Off the Beaten Track

1. Jingshan Park, a great place for a bird’s-eye view of the whole Forbidden City.
2. Xiangshan Park, a great place for leisure, and it’s best to visit in Autumn when a forest of maple leaves turning red.
3. Gubei Water Town, a typical old town of northern China with a hot spring spa, local food, and Simatai Great Wall nearby.
4. Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, one of the new landmarks of Beijing.
5. National Museum of China, the largest comprehensive museum in China that contains almost all the important archaeological findings in China.
6. Confucian’s Temple and Imperial College, the highest academy in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
7. Temple of Earth, the corresponding architecture of the Temple of Heaven.
8. Longqing Gorge, famous for shimming green hills, clear azure water, and the grand Ice Lantern Festival in Winter.
9. Eastern Tombs of the Qing Dynasty, a tomb complex burying Emperor Shunzhi, Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Xianfeng, and Emperor Tongzhi.
10. Western Tombs of the Qing Dynasty, a tomb complex burying Emperor Yongzheng, Emperor Jiaqing, Emperor Daoguang, and Emperor Guangxu.

Shopping in Beijing

Modern Commercial Zones

1.Wangfujing Business Center: the No.1 shopping street and with a long history.
Location: Wangfujing Station, Metro line 1, Dongcheng District, Beijing

2.Dashilar, a traditional commercial street covering a lot of retail stores. It’s a good place to hunt for old Beijing artifacts.
Location: Qianmen Station, Metro line 2.

3.The Place: famous for European-style architecture, elegant environment, and the specially designed LED skylight.
Location: No.9, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

4.Xidan: a modern business and commercial center designated for young people with fast fashion consumption.
Location: Xidan North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing.

5.Sanlitun: a shopping paradise of fashion and trends where you can experience all the creative and edge-cutting designs.
Location: No.19, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

6.Solana: the representative of a European-style shopping center in Beijing with over 300 retail stores, 30 restaurants, and 50 bars, movie theaters, clubs, supermarkets, and more.
Location: No.6, Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Antique Markets

1.Beijing Curio City: the largest antique and folk art trading center in China. It’s a great place for shopping and admires the art.
Location: West side of Huawei Bridge, No.21, South East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District.

2.Liulichang Street: a paradise for traditional Chinese paintings, calligraphy works, four treasures of Chinese study, and second-hand books.
Location: Esat Street, Liulichang.

3.Panjiayuan Antique Market: the largest antique collection center in China containing all kinds of antiques, like a vase, crafts, old furniture, paintings and calligraphy pieces, and more.
Location: Southwest of Panjiayuan Bridge, South Road of East Third Ring, Chaoyang District.

4.Northern Antique Street: built on the old northern flea market, famous for a variety of ceramics from Han and Song Dynasties.
Location: North of Babaoshan Metro, Shijingshan.

5.Pipe Yard: a traditional cultural street with a lot of antique stores, bars, restaurants, and art shops.
Location: Gulou Station, Metro Line 2.

High-end Shopping Malls

1.Oriental Plaza in East Chang’an Street.
2.New World Shopping Mall in Chongwenmenwai Street.
3.APM Shopping Mall in Wangfujing Street.
4.Galeries Lafayette in Xidan.
5.Xidan Joy City in Xidan.
6.Beijing Grand Pacific Mall in Xidan.
7.Financial Street Lane Crawford in Financial Street.
8.SKP Beijing in Jianguo Road.
9.China World Shopping Mall in Jianguomenwai Street.
10.Beijing Yintai Centre in Jianguomenwai Street.

Midrange Shopping Markets

1.Hongqiao Pearl Market: a tourist market for pearls.
Location: No.46, Tiantan East Road, Dongcheng District.

2.Dahongmen Clothing Wholesome Market: the largest clothes trading market in north China.
Location: Dahongmen Shopping Mall, No.15, Nanyuan Road, Fengtai District.

3.Bairong Shopping Mall: a wholesale market for small commodities and clothes.
Location: No.101, Yongdiangmenwai Street, Dongcheng District.

4.Ladies’ Street: the first clothes retailer market designated for women.
Location: East of the Yansha Bridge, Chaoyang District.

5.Xiushui Street: one of the shopping landmarks of Beijing.
Location: No.8, Xiushui East Street, Jianguowenwai Street. Chaoyang District.

Bookstores

1.Beijing Book Building: the largest state-owned book store in Beijing.
Location: No.17, West Chang’an Street, Xicheng District.

2.Wangfujing New China Bookstore: a large-scale bookstore including books, audio and video products, E-journals, and more.
Location: No.218, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District.

3.Zhongguancun Book Building: a high-end book building collecting many technical and professional books.
Location: No.68, West Road, North Fourth Ring, Haidian District.

4.Sanlian Taofen Bookstore: a famous publisher with a long history, good place to read books.
Location: No.22, East Street, Beijing National Art Museum, Dongcheng District.

Tea Market

Maliandao Tea Street: the largest tea shopping street in Beijing.
Location: No.11, Maliandao Road, Xicheng District.

Eating in Beijing

1.Guijie (Ghost Street)
Guijie refers to the food street in the Dongzhimen area. The name Guijie came from the tradition in Qing Dynasty that the Dongzhimen was the gate where the wood and dead people were transported through. Nowadays, 24/7 diners can offer you all kinds of food and the most famous one is the spicy crayfish.
Address: Dongzhimen Street, Dongcheng Street.

2.Fangzhuang Food Street
It’s one of the earliest modern food streets in Beijing. It houses a variety of high-end restaurants, and the price here is quite modest.
Address: Pufang Road, Fengtai District.

3.Shichahai
Shichahai is a popular place for recreation and relaxation. In the region, you can stroll along the Houhai bar street, Pipe Yard Street for antiques, Yindingqiao Food street for food, and more. The world-famous Qingyunlou Restaurant is situated here.
Address: Shichahai, Xicheng District.

4.Niujie Islamic Culture District
Niujie is a place for Islamic people in Beijing. It has hosted a lot of halal food restaurants. The most famous food here is beef and mutton. We suggest you visit during Lesser Bairam, Corban Festival, and Mawlid an-Nabi when the Hui culture is best presented.
Address: Niujie, Xicheng District.

5.Qianmen Area
Qianmen is also called Zhengyangmen. It represented the food culture of Beijing and has hosted a lot of century-old shops like Quanjude Roast Duck.
Address: No.123, Dajiang Hutong, Qianmen Street.

6.Wangfujing Food Street
It’s a great place to rest and hunt for food when you are tired from all the shopping in Wangfujing shopping malls.
Address: Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District.

7.Sanlitun Bar Street
It’s a bar street with a strong exotic flavor. You will find a lot of bars, all kinds of western restaurants, and specialty dinners.
Address: Sanlitun, Dongzhimenwai Street, Chaoyang Street.

8.Fucheng Food Street
If you want to try some of the authentic Beijing food or Chinese cuisines from other places, and you are enough budget, Fucheng Food street is a great place. You will find all kinds of fancy restaurants.
Address: Fucheng Road, Haidian District.

9.Food Street in Xiaoyun Road
The food street in Xiaoyun Road is famous for its elegant environment and petty bourgeoisie. If you are looking for someplace elegant, but not too expensive, it’s the right place for you.
Address: Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District.

10.Jinbao Street
Located nearby Wangfujing street, Jinbao street is a high-end commercial center filled with fancy clubs, luxury hotels, high-end shopping malls, top-notch office buildings, and many upscale restaurants.
Address: Jinbao Street, Dongcheng Street.

Accommodating in Beijing

There are so many hotels in Beijing. Like any other place, the hotels with good location, great services, and equipment are often expensive. It’s normal for a hotel in the third-ring areas of Beijing to charge you about 150 USD per room per night, especially the ones that nearby the famous sights. If you are looking for hotels not that expensive, you might need to consider a bit off the city center where there are still hotels charging 90 USD per night. If you only have a budget of 40-60USD, you might want to find an Airbnb house in suburban areas.

Traveling in Beijing

If you are thinking of joining a group tour, make sure it’s a small group, and there is no shopping.
If you are thinking of traveling on your own, it’s quite easy as well. Just ask your Google map and get a cab. You are good to go!
If you want to experience the real Beijing culture, you must join our private tours. Your private driver will serve you for as long as you need, and your guide will take you to wherever you want to go.

Check out our standard Beijing packages:

2 Days Beijing Boutique Tour

3 Days Beijing Discovery Tour

Day Tour to Forbidden City and Great Wall