Beijing is the capital of China. With a history of 3000 years, Beijing boasts rich Chinese history and culture. From the red walls of the Forbidden City to the majestic pass of the Great Wall, from the scenery of the royal gardens to the fireworks in the deep alleys, there are so many places worth visiting, which is difficult to choose. For first-time travelers, an effective travel in a limited time needs careful planning. This article selects top 10 must-visit attractions, covering world heritage, royal gardens, and new landmarks, each of which represents Beijing’s profound historical and cultural heritage.
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Certification
Foreign visitors to Beijing need to ensure that the protection license is valid for at least 6 months, and hold a valid Chinese visa or confirm that they meet the visa free entry conditions. The original passport is required for hotel check-in, ticket exchange for scenic spots and high-speed rail ride. Please take it with you. The Forbidden City, Badaling Great Wall, the summer palace and other major scenic spots all support foreign tourists to use their passports to book tickets on the official wechat official account. Passport number and name are required when making an appointment. When entering the park, you can pass through the gate with the reservation QR code and the original passport. Some scenic spots need to exchange paper tickets at the manual window. Universal resort can purchase tickets with passports on the official app, and directly brush the passport QR code when entering the park.
Best Time
Beijing has the most comfortable climate in spring and autumn. The best time to visit is from April to may, when flowers bloom in spring, and from September to October, when it is crisp and crisp in autumn. It is hot and rainy in summer and cold and dry in winter, but there are fewer tourists in the off-season and the ticket price is lower. Beijing is the most stunning in autumn. The red leaves of Xiangshan Mountain, the colorful forests on both sides of the Great Wall, and the Ginkgo biloba in the summer palace are all seasonal landscapes that cannot be missed.
Ticket Reservation
Most popular scenic spots in Beijing implement the real name reservation system, and tickets need to be purchased in advance on the official wechat official account. Tickets to the Forbidden City are open for booking seven days in advance. Tickets in peak season are usually sold out within a few hours after they are released. It is recommended to book immediately after confirming the itinerary. The Badaling Great Wall, the summer palace, the temple of heaven, Prince Gong’s residence and other scenic spots also need to be booked in advance. All scenic spots are closed on Monday (except legal holidays). Please arrange your itinerary reasonably
Transportation
Beijing has a well-developed subway network, and most scenic spots can be directly reached by subway. It is recommended to use Yitong app or Alipay to swipe the code to enter the station without purchasing a physical ticket. Didi can be used to take a taxi in the city. Metro Line 1 connects Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Wangfujing and universal resort, and is the line with the highest tourism utilization rate. Line 4 passes through the summer palace and the summer palace. Line 5 covers the temple of heaven. Line 6 connects NanLuoGu lane and Shichahai in series. Badaling Great Wall needs to take suburban railway line S2 from huangtudian station, or take bus No. 877 at Deshengmen directly
Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Beijing
National Palace Museum
The Palace Museum is a landmark building in Beijing. It was called the Forbidden City in ancient times. It has experienced two dynasties and three generations for 600 years. As the largest and best preserved wooden structure palace complex in the world, the Forbidden City is the top scenic spot in Beijing and even in China. 980 buildings and more than 8700 rooms have witnessed the history of more than 500 years in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The majesty of the Taihe hall, the delicacy of the treasure hall, and the tranquility of the imperial garden are all worth savoring. The Palace Museum is the most beautiful after snow, with red walls and yellow tiles covered with snow, as quiet as a picture. It is suggested to avoid the peak of tour groups when entering the park in the morning. After entering from the noon gate, go along the central axis first, and then visit the six palaces in the East and West. If time is limited, treasure Museum and watch museum are preferred. It is located at No. 4, Jingshan front street, Dongcheng District. The ticket is 60 yuan in the peak season and 40 yuan in the off-season. You need to make an appointment in the wechat app of the National Palace Museum seven days in advance. It is closed on Monday and can be reached at Tiananmen east station of Metro Line 1.
Badaling Great Wall
He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a hero. Badaling Great Wall is the most representative section of the great wall of the Ming Dynasty. It winds on the Yanshan Mountains like a giant dragon flying through the clouds. Badaling is divided into the South Building and the north building. The North eighth floor is the highest point and the best place to overlook the panorama. It is recommended that you take the cable car directly to the North seventh floor to save energy. There are a lot of people on weekends and holidays. It is recommended to arrive before 8 a.m. If you want to avoid crowds, you can choose Mutianyu Great Wall as an alternative. It is located at the north entrance of Guangou ancient road, Jundushan, Yanqing District. The ticket is 40 yuan in peak season and 35 yuan in off-season. You need to make an appointment at Badaling Great Wall public account 11 days in advance. You can get off at Jishuitan station of Metro Line 2 and walk to Deshengmen to take bus 877 directly, or take the intercity train from Beijing North Station.
Prospect of the Palace Museum
Summer Palace
The summer palace is the best preserved imperial palace. It is recommended to enter from the North palace gate and climb the mountain before visiting Kunming Lake. Renting a battery boat and boating on Kunming Lake is the best way to enjoy the reflection of the Buddha fragrance Pavilion in the summer palace. The address of the summer palace is at No. 19, Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District. The combined ticket is 60 yuan and the gate ticket is 30 yuan. You need to make an appointment at the summer palace public account seven days in advance. It is closed on Monday (some scenic spots), and can be reached at beigongmen station of Metro Line 4.
Temple of Heaven
The temple of heaven is a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped heaven. Its shape vividly reflects the idea of a round sky and a round place in ancient China. Among them, the round roof of the hall of prayer for good fortune points directly to the sky, and the magical structure of the echo wall allows the sound to reverberate continuously among the stone walls. In the early morning, the old people exercise Tai Chi here, and birds chirp among the ancient trees, which is the unique atmosphere of the temple of heaven. The blue tile and red column in the hall of prayer for good fortune are particularly eye-catching under the blue sky, which is the best background for taking photos and punching cards. The coupon includes the prayer hall, echo wall and Circular Mound Altar, which are the core areas to be seen. It is recommended to enter through the east gate, with the smoothest route. The address is at No. 7, inner Dongli, Tiantan, Dongcheng District. The combined ticket is 34 yuan and the gate ticket is 15 yuan. You need to make an appointment at the Tiantan public account seven days in advance, and the subway line 5 can reach the East Gate Station of Tiantan.
Prince Gong’s Mansion
Prince Gong’s Mansion is the largest one in the Qing Dynasty. It was once the residence of Hetao and later the residence of Prince Gong Yixin. The first half of the palace is a magnificent mansion, and the second half is a deep and beautiful classical garden. The tablet of blessing in the back garden was written by Emperor Kangxi. The western gate in the back garden, the Grand Theater and the blessing stele are not to be missed. The residence and garden will take about 1.5 hours each, so it is recommended to reserve sufficient time. It is located at No. 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District. The ticket is 40 yuan. You need to make an appointment at the official number of Prince Gong’s mansion Museum 11 days in advance. The museum is closed on Monday. It is 5 minutes’ walk from exit b of Beihai North Station of Metro Line 6.
The Old Summer Palace
As the garden of ten thousand gardens, the old summer palace used to be dazzling. The looting by the British and French forces in 1860 left this magnificent royal garden in ruins. Today’s Dashuifa site is the symbol of the old summer palace. The remaining stone columns of the Western Pavilion tell a history of humiliation in the sunset. In summer, the old summer palace lotus is in full bloom. The 100000 square meter lotus pond is one of the best places to enjoy lotus in Beijing. The Western Pavilion site is the core attraction, and you need to buy a pass. It is suggested to enter from the south gate, first visit the ruins area, and then visit the garden forest area. The address is at No. 28, Qinghua West Road, Haidian District. The through ticket is 25 yuan and the gate ticket is 10 yuan. You need to make an appointment at the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park public number 10 days in advance. You can reach Yuanmingyuan station on Metro Line 4.
Nanluo Guxiang
Nanluo Guxiang is one of the most representative Hutong blocks in Beijing, with a total length of 787 meters from north to south, and eight hutongs on both sides of the street. It used to be the center of Dadu in the Yuan Dynasty, and a complete Hutong pattern has been preserved so far. Featured shops, cultural and creative shops and snack stalls are scattered on both sides of the main street, which is a good place to experience the life of old Beijing. Avoid the commercial hustle and bustle of the main street, get into the Yuer alley and Maoer alley, and you will see the real life in the alley – quadrangles, old locust trees, and old people playing chess. It is recommended to try some old Beijing snacks such as candied haws, fried noodles with soy sauce, bean juice coke rings, etc. The address is in Nanluo Guxiang, Dongcheng District, which is free of charge. It can be reached at Nanluo Guxiang station of Metro Line 6 or line 8.
Shichahai
Shichahai is the largest open scenic spot in Beijing, which is composed of the front sea, the back sea and the West Sea. It is one of the most popular places in the old city, with both lake light and water color, Hutong dwellings, bars and restaurants. Yinding bridge is the symbol of Shichahai. Standing on the bridge, you can see the outline of Xishan Mountain when the weather is fine. It is best to come at six or seven in the evening. It is best to walk along the lake or sit in the Qingba and listen to the singing. Ginkgo biloba is golden in autumn and catkins are flying in spring. It is located in Shichahai Scenic Area, Xicheng District, and is free of charge. It is accessible from Beihai North Station of Metro Line 6 or Shichahai station of Metro Line 8.
798 Art District
798 Art District is the most representative cultural and creative park in Beijing, which is transformed from abandoned electronic industrial plants. The mottled brick walls, exposed pipes, and tall plant space share a room with modern art exhibitions, galleries, design studios, and cafes, forming a unique industrial+artistic atmosphere. There are hundreds of art institutions gathered here. UCCA Ullens Contemporary Art Center is the landmark of 798 and holds top art exhibitions at home and abroad all year round. There are many restaurants and cafes in the park. Lunch or afternoon tea can be served here. 798 is also surrounded by caochang art area, which can be visited together. The address is at No. 2, Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District. The park is free of charge. Tickets are required for special exhibitions. After getting off at Wangjing South Station of metro line 14, you can transfer to bus or take a taxi.
Universal Beijing Resort
Universal Beijing resort is the Third Universal Studios theme park in Asia and the fifth Universal Studios theme park in the world. After opening in 2021, it has quickly become a new landmark for Beijing tourism. The park is divided into seven major theme scenic spots, including the Harry Potter magic world, the transformers base, the land of Kung Fu Panda, the Jurassic world nubula Island, the little yellow man paradise, Hollywood and the future water world, with a total of 37 entertainment facilities and attractions. The night light show of Hogwarts castle in the Harry Potter Park, the Decepticon roller coaster of transformers, and the Chinese garden design of Kung Fu Panda are all experiences that can not be missed. There are many tourists, so it is recommended to buy yousutong to reduce the queue time. Download the official app in advance to check the queue length and plan the route reasonably. Harry Potter Park and Jurassic Park are the two most popular areas. It is recommended to rush to these two areas in the morning. It is located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Beijing Harbin Expressway and East Sixth Ring Road in Tongzhou District. The ticket starts from 418 yuan on weekdays and 638 yuan on peak days. You need to buy tickets in advance from the app or app of universal Beijing Resort and make an appointment for the admission date. It is accessible from the universal Resort Station of Metro Line 1.
The Crowded Universal Beijing Resort
Tips for Beijing Travel
Ticket
Tickets to the Forbidden City will be released at 8 p.m. seven days in advance. If they are not available, they can be refreshed within half an hour after the release. Some unpaid tickets will be released again. Universal resort’s premium express is more difficult to buy than tickets, so you can consider buying a single express channel, which is about one-third of the price of the whole project. Tickets for the great wall and the summer palace are relatively sufficient, but it is still recommended to book one day in advance at the weekend morning. Tickets for all scenic spots will be booked as soon as possible after the itinerary is confirmed. Temporary changes to the itinerary may face the situation that there are no tickets to buy.
Catering
After the visit to the Forbidden City, you can walk to Wangfujing or Donghuamen for dinner. These two places have rich food choices and are within walking distance. There are chain fast food restaurants outside the North palace gate around the summer palace, and several Beijing style restaurants outside the east gate. There are many time-honored brands near the Hongqiao market outside the east gate of the temple of heaven, and the Shabu Rou shop outside the south gate is relatively concentrated. Food and beverage prices around Shichahai are generally on the high side, and Yinding bridge goes north to Gulou Street, which is the first choice for cost performance.
Iteration
The Beijing subway transfer station is a long walk away. For example, Dongzhimen Station Line 2 needs to exit the gate and take a section of ground passage to transfer to the airport express line, so it is not convenient to carry luggage. The walking distance from Xizhimen Station Line 2 to line 4 is more than 400 meters. When using the map software to plan the route, do not only look at the total length of time, click on the details to check the number of transfer steps. Transfer schemes with a walking distance of more than 300 meters should be avoided first. It takes 20 minutes to walk from Wangfujing to the Forbidden City. You need to transfer once by subway, and it is farther to get in and out of the station than to walk.
Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Beijing: An Ancient and Modern Integration
The top ten must see scenic spots in Beijing have concentrated the 3000 year history of the city and the 800 year imperial capital charm of Beijing. The red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City are symbols of power in the imperial era. The majestic pass of the Great Wall is the spiritual totem of the Chinese nation. The lakes and mountains of the summer palace are the ultimate aesthetic of royal gardens. The blue tile dome of the temple of heaven is a philosophical expression of the unity of heaven and man. Prince Gong’s residence witnessed the transition of the Qing Dynasty from prosperity to decline. Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai preserved the fireworks of old Beijing. 798 Art District and universal resort showed the contemporary vitality of Beijing. This city not only has a profound historical heritage, but also has a fashionable young flavor, which is suitable for everyone to explore. May you leave a wonderful memory of your trip in Beijing.
