The fast-changing capital is famous for many things, from the historical and cultural to the scenic and modern. Take in the grandeur of old world dynasties and stand in awe at the sheer expanse of the famous Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Get ready to break a sweat, work your legs and stand in line with an endless sea of tourists from around the world (including the rest of China), as we embark on visiting the top sights in Beijing.
LAMA TEMPLE (雍和宫)
English address: 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng
Chinese address: 东城区雍和宫大街12号
Nearest subway: Yonghegong Lama Temple Station
Also known as ‘Yonghe Temple‘, this imperial palace turned Tibetan Buddhist temple lures tourists and Buddhist Chinese nationals alike. Grab a pack of incense sticks included in your CNY25 admission fee to practise your Buddhist prayers while you marvel at the exceptional architecture of the Qing dynasty.
FEELING HUNGRY? Grab some dim sum at the mother of all dim sum joints just behind the temple grounds at Jin Ding Xuan (金鼎轩酒楼). Take a ticket to be seated in the 24 hour three-floor mega restaurant or order dumplings to take away at the stand out front.
FORBIDDEN CITY (紫禁城)
English address: 4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng
Chinese address: 故宫, 东城区天安门广场北侧
Nearest subway: Tiananmen East Station, Tiananmen West Station or Qianmen Station
The number one sight to see in Beijing. There’s no turning back once you enter through the Meridian Gate.
Reserve a good half day to spend walking from one end to the other – 960 metres from North to South, 750 metres East to West. Sites and names may get a little repetitive for some but rest assured, there is reprieve towards the exit in the Imperial Garden. The city’s surrounding walls, moat and neighbouring sites such as Tiananmen Square and Mausoleum of Mao Zedong set the scene for the sheer size and scale of the Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Aptly named after the fact that no one was allowed in or out without the reigning Emperor’s permission.
Make sure you visit the Palace Museum for an extensive collection of artwork and artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties. With over 14 million visitors every year, it’s the most visited museum in the world!
WHAT’S NEXT? Look over the crowds from a peak at Jingshan Park, located north of the Forbidden City grounds.
TIANANMEN SQUARE (天安门广场)
English address: Tiananmen Square, (take Tiananmen West), Dongcheng
Chinese address: 东城区天安门广场
Nearest subway: Tiananmen East Station, Tiananmen West Station or Qianmen Station
Tiananmen Square is a place of political and historical significance in the formation of China as we know it today. It’s also the world’s largest public square. While outsiders are most familiar with the protests of 1989, Chinese nationals flock to the centre in droves to visit Chairman Mao Zedong’s embalmed body. Security is top notch, especially during official government sittings so check the news for any political state functions before you go.
BE ON TIME: Rise early to witness the flag raising ceremony and people watch at sunrise. Don’t go on days of national significance nor public holidays, unless you want to experience being in a human gridlock.
SUMMER PALACE (颐和园)
English address: 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Haidian
Chinese address: 新建宫门12号
Nearest subway: Beigongmen Station or Xiyuan Station
This UNESCO World Heritage listed park is northwest of Beijing on the outer ring, a fair distance out compared to the other key sights huddled around the Dongcheng District. It offers a little more variety in its architecture than the Forbidden City, serving as a royal garden and tourist park and offering views over Kunming Lake. Stroll along the Long Corridor and climb up Longevity Hill for panoramic views.
DRUM, GULOU (鼓楼) & BELL, ZHONGLOU (钟楼) TOWERS
English address: Di’anmen Jie (North end) , Dongcheng
Chinese address: 东城区地安门外大街北端
Nearest subway: Guloudajie Station or Shichahai Station
If you only have time for one, clamber up the Drum Tower to watch the drum performance. The towers sit on either end of a square budding with local activity. Mix and mingle with the locals and join in on a game of jump rope or badminton, take your pick! Rickshaw rides are plentiful but make sure you set a price to the destination before you jump on.
HUNGRY OR THIRSTY? Avoid the struggle with menus and enjoy some old school tunes while feasting on Yunnan cuisine at Dali Courtyard (大里院子). Or if you’re feeling more like a drink, quench your thirst at one of the many bars tucked away nearby like Mao Mao Chong.
CREDITS
Writer: Louise Yoo
Photographer: Louise Yoo
