DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Top 10 Beijing

Clockwise from top: Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, Beijings central business district, painting at the Ming Tombs, the National Stadium, Chinese lanterns

From ornate temples and palaces to cutting-edge art galleries, Beijings attractions make it a great place to explore. What was once a socialist monolith has been transformed into a cosmopolitan metropolis, with all the arts, culture, entertainment and glamor that entails. With DK Eyewitness Top 10 Beijing, it is yours to explore.

Beijing is a global city, the cultural and political hub of China. Filled with modern architecture as well as ancient sites, it has towering skyscrapers, glitzy shopping areas such as Taikoo Li, state-of-the-art venues for performing arts and sports, and gentrifying art districts such as .

Yet amid this cosmopolitan city, lovers of antiquities still have plenty to see. The Forbidden City anchors the capital, and the Summer Palace offers respite from city noise. The conical Temple of Heaven graces countless guidebooks, and there are houses of worship on almost every corner from Taoist (White Cloud Temple) to Buddhist (Lama and Fayuan) and Confucian to Catholic. However, the citys real charm lies in its hutongs 800-year-old warrens that wind through the center and a walk around Hou Hai lake, with its historical courtyard houses, offers a further glimpse of everyday life in Beijing.

Whether youre coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide brings together the best of everything that Beijing has to offer, from temple fairs to traditional crafts and tea. The guide has useful tips throughout, from seeking out whats free to places off the beaten path, plus eight easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and youve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Beijing.

Exploring Beijing

Beijing combines ancient history with accelerated progress, but information can be sketchy and transportation difficult, even for Chinese speakers. These two itineraries include the citys highlights and offer advice on how to make the most of your time.

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Two Days in Beijing

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Day 1

Morning

Do some morning tai chi with the locals at the .

Afternoon

Leave by the north gate and walk to .

Bei Hai Park is a former imperial garden. Its lake is popular for boating.

Day 2

Morning

Hire a car and driver for a trip to the , and make your way to Mutianyu. After hiking, grab some lunch at a local spot.

Afternoon

Visit the ).

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Four Days in Beijing

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Day 1

Morning

Start off with the , beside the Forbidden Citys moat.

Afternoon

Take a late afternoon stroll or boat ride in for dinner before checking out cocktail bars in the streets around the Drum and Bell Towers.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests can be found at The Temple of Heaven.

Day 2

Morning

Join the locals in the to marvel at the worlds largest sandalwood Buddha. Enjoy lunch along trendy Wudaoying Hutong before browsing its boutiques and vintage stores.

Afternoon

Explore the maze of hutong lanes on either side of bustling Nanluoguxiang, with an optional pitstop at .

Day 3

Morning

Get an early start and hire a private car to take you to the . Enjoy a late countryside lunch at Mutianyu.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu dates from the 14th century.

Afternoon

Hike to your hearts content, then sleep on a kang (traditional bed) in a farmers house after a rustic dinner.

Day 4

Morning

Leave after breakfast and head back to the city, stopping at the .

Afternoon

Grab lunch at for alfresco after-dinner drinks.

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Top 10 Beijing Highlights

Colorful pavilion atop the Forbidden Citys North Gate

Top 10 Beijing Highlights

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FORBIDDEN CITY

Officially known as the Palace Museum, this magnificent complex is a monument to the 24 emperors who ruled for a period of almost 500 years. The symbolic center of the Chinese universe, the palace was the domain of the imperial court from its completion in 1420 until the last of the emperors was forced to abdicate at the beginning of the 20th century. The modern world intruded in 1925, when sections of the palace and its treasures opened to the public for the first time. A limit of 24,000 visitors per day was introduced in 2021.

NEED TO KNOW

North of Tianan Men Square 8500 7422 Subway: Tianan Men West or Tianan Men East en.dpm.org.cn Open AprOct: 8:30am5pm TueSun; NovMar: 8:30am4:30pm TueSun Adm AprOct 60; NovMar 40 (buy tickets online on www.gugong.ktmtech.cn up to 10 days in advance; passport required for entry; tickets also available on www.trip.com)

Google Map

• There are snack kiosks near the ticket office, and a restaurant inside.
• Enter through the Meridian Gate only; other gates are for exit.