Beijing
About Beijing
Beijing is a living palimpsest: 3,000-year-old hutongs run beneath 21-century ring roads; Ming-dynasty temples sit beside Zaha Hadid curves. Once the imperial seat of Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it is now the political and cultural heart of modern China. Street culture mixes royal ritual with everyday hustle: morning tai-chi on the Temple of Heaven's stones, afternoon craft-beer in a Gulou courtyard, midnight skewers of cumin lamb on Ghost Street. Local food is hearty, wheat-based and salty-sweet: Peking duck with lacquer-crisp skin, hand-pulled noodles in sesame sauce, lamb hot-pot scented with wild cumin, and sugary hawthorn tanghulu on a stick.
故宫 | Forbidden City
600-year imperial palace complex of 9,999 rooms and vermilion walls.
天坛公园 | Temple of Heaven
Cerulean-roofed temple where emperors prayed for harvests; locals still do tai-chi at dawn.
颐和园 | Summer Palace
Lakeside retreat of Empress Dowager Cixi—dragon boats, marble boat and 728 m Long Corridor.
八达岭长城 | Badaling Great Wall
Best-restored section of the Wall, 40 min by high-speed train from downtown.
慕田峪长城 | Mutianyu Great Wall
Less crowded, forested ridge with cable-car and toboggan descent.
北海公园 | Beihai Park
1,000-year-old imperial lake garden—white pagoda island and pedal boats.
什刹海 | Shichahai (Houhai)
Willowed lakes ringed by bars, hutongs and courtyard cafés; rent a rickshaw or paddleboard.
798艺术区 | 798 Art District
Former military electronics factory turned graffiti-covered contemporary art village.
南锣鼓巷 | Nanluoguxiang
800-year hutong turned indie shopping lane; duck into micro-courtyards for craft coffee.
雍和宫 | Yonghegong Lama Temple
18 m sandalwood Maitreya statue inside a Ming-prince palace turned Tibetan temple.
景山公园 | Jingshan Park
Coal-hill lookout with postcard-perfect Forbidden City skyline at sunset.
首都博物馆 | Capital Museum
Award-winning architecture housing 200,000 pieces of Beijing history.
奥林匹克公园 | Olympic Park
Bird's Nest & Water Cube glowing neon at night; free light shows.
恭王府 | Prince Gong's Mansion
Qing-prince garden with opera stage, rockery maze and world's longest painted corridor.
张一元天桥茶馆 | Zhang Yi Yuan Tianqiao Teahouse
Old-world teahouse with nightly acrobatics and Peking opera.
便宜坊烤鸭 | Bian Yi Fang Roast Duck
600-year-old 'closed-oven' duck—crisp skin, juicy meat, cheaper than Quanjude.
宝瑞门钉肉饼 | Baorui Men Ding Meat Pie
Golf-ball sized pies that burst with peppery pork juice.
爆肚张 | Bao Du Zhang
Family stall serving paper-thin tripe in sesame-garlic sauce since 1980s.
蝎王府羊蝎子 | Xie Wang Fu Lamb Spine Hot Pot
300-year recipe; lamb vertebrae simmered in 20-spice broth.
黑窑厂街糖油饼 | Hei Yao Chang Sugar Doughnut
Beijing's viral breakfast—deep-fried cruller coated in molasses.
牛街清真小吃街 | Niujie Muslim Snack Street
Cluster of stalls: donkey rolls, pea cakes, halal beef buns.
簋街 | Ghost Street
Neon-lit 24-hour strip famous for spicy crayfish and chuan'r skewers.
护国寺小吃 | Huguo Temple Snacks
One-stop shop for fermented-mung-bean juice, pea-yellow cakes and fried liver.
馄饨侯 | Hun Tun Hou
Beijing's OG wonton chain; sesame broth and bite-size pork parcels.
杏园餐厅 | Xing Yuan Restaurant
Knife-shaved noodles in rich beef stew—open since 1956.
华天延吉冷面 | Hua Tian Yan Ji Cold Noodles
Ice-cold buckwheat noodles in sour radish broth, perfect summer lunch.
胖妹面庄 | Pang Mian Chongqing Noodles
Tiny hutong joint serving numbing-pepper 'wan-za' noodles.
南馆烤串 | Nan Guan Skewers
¥1 lamb sticks grilled over charcoal in a hidden courtyard.
西单翅酷 | Xidan Crazy Wings
Legendary chili wings that will make you cry happy tears.
富华斋饽饽铺 | Fu Hua Zhai Pastry Shop
Imperial pastries—rose-petal cakes and 'donkey rolls'—handmade in open kitchen.
High value, low price local experiences
胡同骑行 | Hutong Bike Tour
Rent a shared bike and weave through 700-year-old lanes with guide or app.
故宫盖章打卡 | Forbidden City Passport Stamps
Collect 50+ dragon-stamps inside the palace; ¥30 booklet.
胡同剪纸课 | Paper-Cutting Workshop
90-min class in a courtyard home; take home a zodiac silhouette.
私人太极晨练 | Private Tai-Chi at Temple of Heaven
Master-led session at dawn, bamboo fan provided.
中药香囊手作 | Herbal Sachet DIY
Grind mugwort & sandalwood, sew your own aromatherapy pouch.
京剧脸谱彩绘 | Peking Opera Mask Painting
Paint your own Monkey King or White Snake mask.
故宫角楼摄影 | Corner Tower Photoshoot
Local photographer snaps you at the best golden-hour angle.
胡同三轮车 | Hutong Trishaw Ride
Old-timer pedals you through Beihai to Prince Gong's Mansion.
老北京相声茶馆 | Crosstalk Teahouse Show
Evening of bilingual stand-up over jasmine tea and sunflower seeds.