10 Things You Have To Do in Beijing

Beijing, known as the government capital of China, will keep you busy with the traditional and historical aspects of Chinese culture.

With so many amazing sights to offer and traffic at a stand still, it may be difficult to narrow down what you want to see/do. Here are 10 things to do in Beijing that you absolutely cannot miss:

Tian’anmen Square

Tian’anmen Square is a large public square in the center of Beijing where the ceremony for the founding of the People’s Republic was held. More importantly, this square was the location of the Tiananmen Square protests, a pro-democracy movement which ended in the shooting of thousands of civilians by soldiers. This catastrophe is still hidden by the Chinese government today, as I realized when I tried to look up anything about the massacre online when I was there. The guards watching the area still have a fire extinguisher and a wooden stick next to them in case of protests against the government (some people light themselves on fire).

Forbidden City

After walking through Tian’anmen Square, you will enter the Forbidden City, which was center of the Chinese government and the home of the emperors for almost 500 years. The Forbidden City is one of the most important things to see while you are in Beijing. The colorful, ornate buildings make up the largest palace complex in the world.

Jingshan Park

Once you’re finished at the Forbidden City, walk out the north exit to find Jingshan Park, where you can get my favorite view of the city after climbing a few stairs. You can also find the tree that the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty hung himself on.

Summer Palace

About 40 minutes from central Beijing (depending on the terrible traffic), Summer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a vast collection of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. Plan to spend a whole day here exploring the decorative pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, bridges and boat rides.

Qian Men

Qian Men is a famous pedestrian street in central Beijing, where international chains like H&M and Haagen-Dazs can be found mixed with traditional Chinese shops. I liked the Qian Men shopping street better than the other shopping areas because it is lined with ancient-style buildings, has an old Chinese tram, and is illuminated by vintage lights. It’s fun to get lost in the labyrinth like alleyways lined with crafts and street food. Other noteworthy shopping streets are Wangfujing Shopping Street and Xidan.

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Quanjude restaurant is located on Qian Men street and is a famous roast duck restaurant in Beijing. Quanjude’s menu is a feast of the entire duck and nothing else. There are more than 400 special dishes including all parts of the duck, including duck feet, duck hear, duck tongues, duck intestines, and the list goes on. Read more about our experience at Quanjude here.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is a complex of religious buildings located in Southern Beijing that is surrounded by a park. This park is one of the only areas of Beijing where you can escape from the crowds and the busy city. I found the park more enjoyable than the actual temples, where you can watch locals lounge, practice martial arts, or dance for exercise.

Donghuamen Night Market

Donghuamen Night Market is 200 meters long and has been around since 1984 as a hot spot for daring foodies. Among this “daring food”, you can find intestines, testicles, insects, and more. For a more detailed list of the food here, read our article on “Weird Things Chinese People Eat”. If you enjoy bizarre foods, you definitely want to add this place to your to do list.

A Day Trip to the Great Wall

If you’re planning a trip to Beijing, you already know that you have to take a day trip to the Great Wall. What you may not have known, is that there are multiple sections of the Great Wall that you can visit. I chose Mutianyu, which is the section that is second farthest from Beijing (~45 miles). The Badaling section is closer to Beijing, but more crowded because of that fact. I recommend seeing Mutianyu or one of the other farther away sections. You will probably want to dedicate almost an entire day, as the wall is pretty long and steep, and will probably take an hour or longer to travel to. Go in the fall for a real treat.

Sunlitun

Grab a drink or 10 in Sunlitun, Beijing’s oldest and most popular drinking district. Sunlitun is increasingly popular with the expat community, foreign travelers and younger locals.