Must-see attractions in Beijing
Beijing is a fascinating city, with small alleys, old tea houses, trendy bar streets, and bustling commercial districts. The profound and cultural heritage creates the authentic old Beijing flavor, and the mixes of old Beijing flavor and infinite modern elements make Beijing a charming international capital. Four must-visit spots in Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace.
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, known as "the first of the world's five major palaces", is the best-preserved and largest group of ancient wooden structures in China and the world. In 1987, the Forbidden City in Beijing was listed as a world cultural heritage. The Forbidden City is the highest center of power in China for more than five centuries. According to statistics, there are millions of precious cultural relics in the Palace Museum, accounting for one sixth of the total cultural relics in China. There are clock demonstrations at 11 o 'clock and 14 o 'clock every day. The Forbidden City needs to be visited from south to north. Meridian Gate is the only entrance, and the exits are Donghua Gate and Shenwu Gate.
Location: No. 4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Opening Hours:
- April 1st-October 31st: 08: 20-17: 00;
- November 1st-March 31st: 08: 30-16: 30
- closed every Monday
Tickets Price:
- Off-season (November 1-March 31 of the following year): 40 RMB / person (excluding Treasure Hall and Clock Museum)
- In-season (April 1st - October 31st): 60 RMB / person (excluding Treasure Museum, Clock Museum)
Tickets for Treasure Hall and Clock Museum must be purchased separately:
- Treasure Hall (Ningshougong District, Xiqu Hall, Shigu Hall): 10 RMB / person;
- Clock Museum (Fengxiandian District): 10 RMB / person
Time Reference: 3+ hours
Tips：
- In case of major events or special circumstances, if the opening hours are changed, it is recommended to refer to the official website in advance to arrange travel;
- Opening hours will also be extended or shortened when it comes to legal holidays, it is recommended to refer to the official website (www.dpm.org.cn).
Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall, known as one of the nine wonders of the world, is a prat of The Great Wall, also is the longest history, the most rich culture, the most magnificent , the most spectacular, the most reputable, and the most well-preserved section. At present, the opening length of the Badaling Great Wall is 3,741 meters, with 21 towers. Today's Badaling Great Wall has been the world's attention to the tourist, is a world famous tourist resort and an important national concierge site. So far, it has received 200 million Chinese and foreign tourists, including more than 500 heads of states and governments of the world, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, George w. Bush, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Stephen Harper.
Location: Badaling Scenic Area, Badaling Town, Yanqing County, Beijing
Opening Hours:
- 06: 30-19: 00 (April 1-June 30, September 1-October 31 Monday-Sunday)
- 07: 30-18: 00 (November 1-March 31 the following year, Monday-Sunday)
- 06: 00-19: 30 (July 1-August 31 Monday-Sunday)
Ticket Price：
- In-season (November 1st-March 31st the following year): 35 RMB / person
- Off-season (April 1st - October 31st): 40 RMB / person
Time Reference: 3+ hours
The Temple of Heaven Park
The Temple of Heaven is the place for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to "worship the sky" and "pray for grain".The altar domain is round in the north, square in the south, meaning "round sky and square earth". Two walls were built around the altar, and the whole altar was divided into two parts: the inner altar and the outer altar, covering a total area of 2,730,000 square meters. The Temple of Heaven, with its profound cultural connotation and magnificent architectural style, has become a portrayal of the ancient Oriental civilization. The Temple of Heaven is the largest building complex in the world, which is the treasure of ancient Chinese architecture. In 1961, the State Council declared the Temple of Heaven a "National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit". It was recognized as a "World Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO in 1998.
Location: No. 1 Tiantan East Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Opening Hours:
1.Parking Lot
- In-season: 6: 00-21: 00
- Off-season:6: 30-21: 00
2. Attractions:
Including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, Qiuqiu, and the Office of Divine Music:
- In-season: 8:00-17:30
- Off-season: 8:00-17:00
Beishen Kitchen, Beizai Pavilion, Zhai Palace：Every Tuesday to Sunday, 9: 00-12: 00, 13: 00-16: 00
Ticket Price:
1. Admission Tickets:
- In-season (April 1st - October 31st ): Adult Ticket 15 RMB / person; Combined Ticket 34 RMB / person
- Off-season (November 1st-March 31st the following year): Adult Ticket 10 RMB / person; Combined Ticket 28 RMB / person
2.Attraction Tickets:
- The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, Qiuqiu: 20 RMB / person
- The Office of Divine Music Tickets: 10 RMB / person
Tips: Combined tickets includes admission ticket and tickets of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Qiuqiu, and Echo Wall;
Time Reference: 3+ hours
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace, formerly was named Qingyi Garden, is located in the western suburbs of Beijing and adjacent to the old Summer Palace. Covering an area of 2,930,000 sq meters, the Summer Palace is mainly composed of two parts: Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. It is the most well-preserved imperial palace, known as the "Royal Garden Museum", and also a national key tourist attraction. It was added to the World Heritage List in November 1998.
Location: No. 19, Xinmengmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Opening Hours:
1.In-season: April 1st-October 31st
- Gate opening hours: 6: 30-18: 00
- Garden within Garden: 8: 30-17: 00
- Clean Time: Start from 20:00
2.Off-season: November 1st-March 31st the following year
- Gate opening hours: 7: 00—17: 00
- Garden within Garden: 9: 00-16: 00
- Clean time: Start from 19:00
Ticket Price:
- Summer Palace Ticket: 30 RMB / person (In-season), 20 RMB / person (Off-season)
- Summer Palace Combined Ticket: 60 RMB / person (In-season), 50 RMB / person (Off-season)
- Garden within Garden: The Garden of Harmonious Virtue, 5 RMB / person; Wenchang Yard 20 RMB / person; The Tower of Buddhist Incense 10 RMB / person; Suzhou Street, 10 RMB / person
Note: Combined Tickets include admission ticket and Garden within Garden ticket.
Time Reference: 3+ hours
