Beijing Things to Do - 10 Attractions and Activities

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If you can only visit one single city in China, you should choose Beijing. Granted, the Chinese capital doesn’t have the best reputation. It regularly suffers from severe smog, and the daily traffic jams are frustrating.

But on the other hand, Beijing has an almost endless number of attractions and things to do: Historical buildings, charming side streets, and modern architecture are often just a few steps away from each other.

Beijing – Things You Shouldn’t Miss

I lived and worked in Beijing for six years – and greatly enjoyed that time. It’s worth staying a bit longer and trying to capture the spirit of the city.

Here are my ten personal tips for a good mix of sightseeing and experiences. On the list, you’ll find the classic must-sees as well as some insider tips.

How to Get To Beijing

You can best reach Beijing from Europe by airplane. There are several direct flights, e.g., from Frankfurt or Munich with Lufthansa or Air China to Beijing. Many flights with stopovers, as well as numerous domestic flights or flights from other Asian countries, also lead to China’s capital. For more about connections, prices, and tickets, check Skyscanner.

An alternative way to get to Beijing is by rail. There are various connections to other major Chinese cities, such as Shanghai. If you have a lot of time, you could even come from Europe on the Trans-Siberian Railway via Moscow to Beijing. You can find more about domestic train connections at 12go.asia.

Within China, there are countless bus connections to Beijing. This is the slowest but also cheapest way to travel to Beijing. There are multiple bus stations where you can arrive from every corner of the country.

Accommodation in Beijing – Our Hotel Tip

The same rule applies in Beijing: a good location is essential for stress-free city exploration. Always prefer a central location near public transport, especially the subway. One such hotel is the Pentahotel Beijing, whose surrounding area features both restaurants and shopping centers. The rooms are clean, modern, and offer everything you need for a pleasant stay. You can find more hotels in Beijing here.

1. Visit the Classic Sights

We almost always see the same images that come from Beijing to us in the West. The most famous is the Mao portrait at Tiananmen Square. Right behind it is the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace. Even if you usually like insider tips, the visit is worthwhile for its great historical significance alone.

Another image we often see from Beijing is a round tower with a blue picture hanging on it. That’s the Temple of Heaven. The sprawling park around the temple is particularly worth seeing. You should come early in the morning to watch residents during their morning Tai Chi exercises. Guided tours for the Temple of Heaven can be booked here.

Maybe you’ve also seen a two-story marble boat on a lake? That’s a well-known sight in the Summer Palace, the former summer retreat of the emperors. However, it’s not so much the palace itself that’s worth seeing, but rather the grand park surrounding it.

2. Stroll Through the Hutongs

One of the most beautiful parts of Beijing, in my opinion, is the Old Town with its maze-like lanes (hutongs). Here, you can still observe the real life of the long-established residents of the capital.

Charming (though quite touristy) is the area between the Lama Temple, the Drum and Bell Towers (Gulou), and Houhai Lake. You can also visit these highlights together on an organized tour.

It’s a bit more authentic around Xuanwumen. Unfortunately, large sections of the historic Old Town have been demolished in recent years, and the destruction continues more slowly still.

You should definitely avoid Qianmen Street, just south of Tiananmen Square. Though it looks historical, it’s actually a fantasy construct built for the Olympics. The similarly old-fashioned tram there is also part of the facade.

3. Enjoy a Rock Concert

Beijing is the melting pot of underground music. It’s no surprise that there are numerous independent music venues across the city. The quality of the bands varies, ranging from professional arrangements to barely tolerable noise. Fans of punk music in particular will be satisfied.

The two most famous concert organizers are Mao Livehouse and Yigong Yushan, both in the city center. In the Wudaokou student district, there are also some lesser-known performance venues. Note: These places don’t play the typical soft Chinese songs that you’ll hear in Chinese bars everywhere else.

4. Browse the Galleries

You might have heard that contemporary Chinese art has been fetching record prices for years. But even among the lesser-known painters, sculptors, and photographers, there are some great artists.

One of the best-known centers is 798 Art District. Rumor has it that many years ago, with the help of the GDR, weapons were secretly manufactured in this factory. Today, numerous galleries with a wide variety of focuses have settled into the former production halls. One gallery, for instance, shows exclusively socialist art from North Korea.

5. Shop ‘Til You Drop

Aside from brand-name and luxury goods, most products in China are cheaper than in Europe. Take advantage of that and shop like crazy! A good starting place is the Silk Street (Yonganli subway station), where you’ll find loads of cheap clothing and souvenirs.

Remember that the initial prices there are always inflated, and you should haggle every item down to at least half. Watch out for counterfeit brands, not so much because of the small risk that you’ll have trouble with customs, but more because the quality is usually pretty bad.

If you’re looking for cheap electronics, head to the Zhongguancun district, where several malls stand right next to each other. You’ll also find great souvenirs in the aforementioned 798 art district or the Panjiayuan flea market.

6. Hike on the Great Wall

The Great Wall is undoubtedly China’s most famous attraction. It’s located just a few kilometers north of Beijing in the mountains. You should definitely visit the Great Wall of China and possibly even spend a night on it.

Which section of the wall is the best is often debated. Over the years, I’ve visited almost every restored section and find that the differences aren’t hugely significant.

If you’re looking for a worry-free package, almost every hostel offers a guided tour. But you can easily reach most sections on your own. The easiest journey is to Badaling. From the Xizhimen subway station, you can take the express train directly to the wall. Avoid weekends.

If you don’t want to travel to the Great Wall on your own, we can recommend, for example, a half-day small-group tour.

7. Enjoy the City View

When Beijing isn’t shrouded in smog, you should see the city from above. My favorite is the TV Tower in the western part of the city because from there you have a great view of the modern Beijing skyline.

An alternative is Tower 3 of the World Trade Center in Guomao, the tallest building in Beijing. On the top floor, there’s a stylish sky lounge where you can sip your slightly overpriced drink in comfort. Heads up: sometimes there’s a long wait.

The Coal Hill (Jingshan) is located directly behind the Forbidden City and offers a stunning view of it. You can gain a slightly different overview of Beijing at the Urban Planning Museum: There, you’ll find a huge 3D model of the city center and learn how Beijing is set to develop in the coming years.

8. Swim in the Olympic Pool

The Olympic Park is definitely worth a visit – after all, the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube have become important icons of China’s rise. If simply strolling among the sports venues isn’t enough for you, you can visit many of them. The Water Cube is particularly recommended.

Shortly after the Olympic Games, it was turned into a public swimming pool with some fun features. So if you’re in the mood to splash around in Michael Phelps’ footsteps, this is your ultimate chance. Double-check the opening hours beforehand, just to be safe.

9. Explore Chinese Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is among the most diverse in the world. Here in the capital, you should definitely try the traditional Beijing Duck. The most famous (and supposedly the most authentic) is the Quanqude restaurant chain. In my opinion, though, the ordinary restaurants aren’t worse.

Another highlight you shouldn’t miss is Huoguo. This Chinese hot pot is the prototype of our Fondue Chinoise. My tip: Visit a branch of the Haidilao chain and experiment with different sauces.

I’m a big fan of Chinese street food. You should steer clear of the touristy food street on Wangfujing Street with its scorpion skewers: only tourists eat there. In the hutongs and especially at the end stations of the subway lines, there are loads of street vendors preparing delicious dishes. My favorite: stinky tofu. Don’t let the smell scare you off.

If you’re not confident about exploring Chinese cuisine on your own because you’re worried about communication issues, how about a Tuk-Tuk food tour around the city?

10. Ride Behind the Mountains

On weekends, Beijingers like to travel to the surrounding countryside. Yanqing is very popular. You can stay with farm families there and rent a horse to ride around the area.

Another popular excursion is to the small village of Cuandixia, far west of Beijing in a narrow valley. The main attraction is the historic village itself, but locals are happy to take you horseback riding up for a better view.

About the Author

Oliver is a freelance journalist and blogger from Switzerland. He lived in China for six years and reports on Sinograph about his time in the Middle Kingdom.

Beijing: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Beijing in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Beijing.