Are you looking for what to do in Beijing?
- Tiananmen Square: If you didn’t know about Tiananmen Square before, you now know it because of the extensive news coverage it received last year. The world’s largest public square, Tiananmen Square and Mao Zedong are often said in the same breath. The square that was previously slammed by thousands of protestors is today thronged by tourists, families and plain-clothed policemen.
- Confucius Temple: If there’s ever a temple that has shown some admirable resilience, it’s the Confucius Temple. Dedicated to China’s most revered sage, the Temple has seen some eight century’s worth of restorations and additions. The courtyard is bordered with around 198 tablets which contain names of advanced Confucian scholars from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, just outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment.
- Old Summer Palace: The one place that had to bear the worst brunt of the Opium War is the Old Summer Palace. Built in the 12th century, the palace, true to its name, was the king’s summer retreat. During the aftermath, a lot of recovered embellishments were sent overseas by the perpetrators and what remains today, are just a bunch of columns and ruins.
- Ancient Observatory: This Ancient Observatory has been around since the time of Genghis Khan’s. Having an unusual location, this observatory was used by Genghis Khan to predict his future. In fact, many Chinese imperial rulers believed in the power of the stars and that they could indeed predict the future. The Jianguo Tower is the main building that houses this observatory. If you want to see the devices used during those times, you’ll have to climb to the top of the tower to see them.
- Beihai Park: Located north-west of the Forbidden City, the Beihai Park is largely engulfed by the North Sea. The site of the park is apparently associated with the palace of Kublai Khan; the Round City is where the palace was and all that remains today is a jar made from green jade. The other point of interest in this area is the white jade statue of Sakyamuni from Myanmar, with a wounded arm symbolizing the invasion by the allied forces in the 1900’s.
Below we have a list of things to do in Beijing and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.
This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Beijing getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.
Make the most of your trip to Beijing with confidence.