- Visit Chengdu – Home to the Giant Pandas
- Visit Chengdu – The Majestic Leshan Giant Buddha
- Visit Chengdu – Top 3 attractions in Chengdu
- Visit Guilin – Reed Flute Cave
- Visit Guilin – Plan Li River Cruise
- Day trip From Shanghai – Zhujiajiao Water Town
- Money Can buy Happiness at Shanghai Bund and Nanjing Road
- Visit Shanghai – Yuyuan Garden and Jade Buddha Temple
- Shanghai Travel : Top 5 Attractions in Shanghai
- Visit Zhangjiajie – How to Visit Tianmen Mountain
- Explore Zhangjiajie – How to Visit Baofeng Lake
- Visit Zhangjiajie – Avatar Mountains, Bailong Elevator, Golden Whip Stream
- Visit The Great Wall of China – Greatest Feat in human History
- Top 10 Must do things in Beijing – Travel China
- Travel China – Top 5 Attractions in China
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.Susan Sontag
Top 10 Must do things in Beijing
After criss-crossing the beautiful country of China, we finally arrived at our last pit stop – Beijing. A city which is constantly evolving and reshaping itself as it heads to its future, yet indistinguishably linked to its celebrated and infamous past, Beijing is the cultural heart of China. It distinguishes itself by its Imperial delights, Architectural ambitions, Artists and acrobats and of course in being a foodies heaven.
We were now in one of the bigger cities of China and towards the end of our China exodus we wanted something more relaxing so we opted for a part guided and part self-exploration across this beautiful city.
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Forbidden City
An early start and we first head to the Forbidden City. Right at the heart of the city ringed by walls, this UNESCO listed city is China’s largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings. Immersed in numbing rituals and royal protocols, this palace was the home to two dynasties. Rectangular in shape, it is the world’s largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares.
We whisked through the Forbidden City which is filled with hoards of tourists. It’s a unique experience to visit this so much heard of place.
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Tiananmen Square
As the sun set in the distance, we took a stroll from our downtown hotel to the notoriously famous Tiananmen square. Standing right across the Forbidden City, the so called world largest public square is a must see site on your first trip to Beijing.
Early risers can watch the daily flag-raising ceremony at sunrise, performed by a troop of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers marching at precisely 108 paces per minute, 75cm per pace. This stone paved square surrounded by soviet style buildings was filled with people.
This is a true heart of the Chinese universe.
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Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world where the ancient Emperors prayed for peace and harvest. This oasis of tranquillity and peace is one of the busiest urban landscapes of Beijing.
It was really relaxing to just sit back and see hoards of people visit this altar of worship.
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Summer Palace
The Beijing Summer Palace is a mandatory visit along with the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. This was the playground for emperors escaping the lethargy of the old imperial city. The Palace, its huge lakes and bridges and hilltop views are straight out of a traditional Chinese painting. We spend couple of hours exploring the grounds of this beautiful place.
Travelling China can be daunting at times. So please keep my travel tips for China handy – Click here.
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Peking Opera
The Beijing Opera is the quintessence of China. Everyone has mostly heard about the Peking Opera, no matter whether they have visited China or not. There are mainly four type of performers – Sheng (生 male role), Dan (旦 female role), Jing (净 painted-face role) and Chou (丑 comic role which means clown) make up the show and every performing troupe has several of each.
At the end of our first day, we decided to visit the Liyuan Theatre – One of the most famous Peking Operas in Beijing. We had booked for a VIP table beforehand to get the best views – Click here. After a nightmarish experience calling a taxi, we finally reached the theatre and after collecting our tickets we settled in our seats to be served some delightful snacks. 300RMB for VIP seating with snacks was well worth it. 30 mins before the show starts you can see one of the artists put on makeup and costume on the stage.
The repertoire is an interesting combination of delightful humour and old Beijing culture. All three acts were performed with ambitious intricacy and style.
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Hutongs
People say that the real culture of Beijing is the culture of the Hutong and Courtyards and that’s so true. They attract more tourists from home and abroad than the high-rise buildings and large mansions.
We had taken our hotel in one of these hutongs. Arriving at 2 AM in the morning, it was slightly intimidating but these are perfectly safe and usually well guarded. These narrow alleyways spread across the heart of the city are the essential arteries of this busy city. The Hotels here was quite old fashioned – so preferably opt for a one with a very good review or start rating.
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Wangfujing Street
Wangfujing Street is one of the largest and most well-known shopping streets in Beijing. Featuring a mix of large modern department stores, luxury brand name outlets, small retail shops, and markets.
What makes it interesting is the famous side street called the Wangfujing Snack Street which has a huge range of interesting food stalls and is very crowded. One doesn’t need to doubt the freshness of the food sold here as many of them are still wriggling on the sticks! Food stalls selling skewered scorpions, beetles, starfish etc. is not a unique thing at Wangfujing Street. This colourful street comes alive in the night and is a must visit.
Read more about our food journey – Click here.
Though I would treat many of the edibles here with insecticide back home, it did smell good. But we stuck with the safe option of beef, calamari and chicken, the creepy and crawlies for another visit when I muster up the courage!
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Tea experience
While on a guided tour there are quite few places which are pushed onto the itinerary to entice you into buying it. We were taken to a Traditional Chinese medicine centre where the foot massage was great but trying to push medicine worth 800Yuan was too much. Similarly, were then taken to a pearl market and also to a Jade carving factory – which anyways was out of our league! 
But one thing which is worth mentioning is the Tea Experience. Chinese folks love their tea – and I have never drank so much tea in my entire life as that as what I drank in 2 weeks. They seem to be carrying tea simply everywhere. This traditional tea experience was a unique insight into different flavours of Teas with a tasting session and shown exactly how Tea should be prepared. And none of these had Milk in it as compared to back home!
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Ming Tombs
Situated 50KM away from Beijing city and enroute to the Great Wall Ming Tombs is worth a visit. This is basically a cemetery where the 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty were buried.
The site selected based on Chinese Feng Shui traditions is surrounded by mountains on three sides and a river flowing close by and is listed as UNESCO world cultural Heritage site. It features underground palaces, stone thrones, excavations, huge human and animal sculptures representing historic emperors of Ming Dynasty.
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The Great Wall
Last but never the least the one reason for me visiting China – The Great Wall of China. One of Chinas greatest engineering triumph and a must see sight wriggles from its remains in Liaoning to the Gobi desert and faint presence in the sands of Xinjiang.
We head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall which is largely restored and offers some of the best view of the watch towers and the flowing wall.
This was really a dream come true.
I hope this comprehensive list provides an unique insight into the top 10 must do attractions on a short stay in Beijing. If you have any questions around this please feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you at the very earliest.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.
That’s a fantastic guide on Beijing. Especially found Forbidden City intriguing and loved the food collection! This would be handy post when we plan to visit the place. Thanks.. love.. Backpacking Series
Seeing the Great Wall is high on my to-do list! Though I have to admit, I’ve never given much thought to the rest of Beijing or China as a matter of fact. But, after reading this you have definitely sparked my interest. I love the idea of staying in a Hutong, too. Good to know some of them are a bit dodgy, so I’d defo do proper research first.
Really great. I was thinking when I opened this… I bet there’s the Forbidden City 🙂 And it was number 1. It is an amazing experience to walk around in it.
Forbidden City and its amazing infamous history is all worth it
Very helpful post especially for 1st time travelers like me. I will bookmark this post and use it for future reference when I visit beijing.
Thnx Saurav
Great compilation! I’d love to go to Beijing someday and see some of these things – especially the Great Wall of China!
Great Wall is simply amazing Annie. You should visit it someday soon
These all look incredible and most of them are on my bucket list! We haven’t been to Beijing yet but we’ll definitely refer back to this when we plan that trip someday soon!
Thanks Michelle
Beijing looks like a perfect destination for a culture vulture like me. I am pinning this post for a future reference when I plan for it. 🙂
Culture Vulture — Nice.. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit Beijing and now have the perfect itinerary – so I’ve pinned your post for later. Great photographs and a brilliant selection of places. Thanks for sharing
Thnx Ali…Hope you get to visit soon
These are indeed, the top attractions there.
Heh, I am probably not alone who wants to travel there for food. Thanks for suggesting Wangfujing Street.
Ha ha… Food and Beijing go hand in hand..
Thanks for sharing these tips. I am planning to visit China soon and I would add some of your places on my itinerary. Which season of the year do you recommend to go there? How did you get to the Ming tombs and to the Great Wall?
I’ve never thought of Beijing as a bucket list destination, but I think now I must add it to my travel list. The city has a lot to offer. From the historical palaces and temples to the entertaining opera to the Wangfujing Snack Street and tea experience – everything sounds amazing. Thanks for for sharing this great list of must-do things. Saving the post for future.
I love Beijing. I went there several times on work trips between 2014 and 2016. You’ve done a great job of covering the highlights! I found it totally enchanting to see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden city after reading so much about them growing up.
It is beautifully compiled post. Definitely a complete guide to explore Beijing at its best. You as a couple enjoyed fully exploring this place. I could imagine from your photographs. Nicely captured views.
Thanks a lot