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City Attractions
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 | | The Forbidden City | Located at the centre of the ancient city of Beijing, the Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum, or Gugong in Chinese, is probably Beijing’s top tourist attraction. Its extensive grounds cover 720,000 square metres, and comprise 800 buildings and 9999 rooms. Previously home to 23 successive Emperors, the Forbidden City is located in the heart of Beijing, on the north side of Tiananmen Square. The Forbidden City was listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Address: North of Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District
Admission Fee: 60 yuan to enter Forbidden City. 15 yuan for entrance to Tian'anmen Gate.
| | | | | |  | | The Great Wall of China Near Beijing | The Great Wall of China is a collection of short walls that often follow the crest of hills on the southern edge of the Mongolian plain. Overall, the wall extends about 1500 miles (2400 kilometers). Rebuilding took place in the 20th century and in 1987 the Great Wall of China was made a World Heritage Site.
Simatai Section of the Great Wall (司马台长城)
Address: 110km Northeast of Beijing ( 北京城外东北方向110公里)
Phone: +86 (0)10 69035025, 69035030
Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall (慕田峪长城)
Hours: Park open 6:30am - 7:00pm. Cable car open 8:00am - 5:30pm.
Address: 90 kilometers north of Beijing ( 北京城外北方向90公里 )
Phone: +86 (0)10 61626873
Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall (居庸关长城)
Hours: Open 8:30am to 4:00pm
Address: About 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing. (北京城外西北方向50公里 )
Phone: +86 (0)10 69771665
| | | | | |  | | The Temple of Heaven | The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan, 天坛) is one of Beijing’s most distinctive landmarks. The most impressive building in the park is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The structure’s three-tiered roof and golden dome are certainly among Beijing’s most recognizable symbols.
Hours: 8:00am to 5:30pm (although the park opens at 6:00am to 8:00pm)
Address: Tiantan Gongyuan ( 天坛公园 )
| | | | | |  | | Yuan Ming Yuan (Old Summer Palace) | Located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing next to the Summer Palace ( 圆明园 ), is Yuan Ming Yuan (Old Summer Palace) with a particular historic meaning. It was destroyed by Anglo-French invasion force during the 1860 Opium War. Its known as the Ruins of the Yuanmingyuan (the Garden of Perfection and Light) . YuanMingYuan was where past emperors from Qing Dynasty resided and handled government affairs.
Address: No.28 West Road, Qinghua
Phone: +86 (0)10 6254 3673
Transportation: Take Bus No.331, 333, 810, 814 or Special Bus No.6 and get off at Yuan Ming Yuan
| | | | | |  | | Wangfujing Street | | Wangfujing is a fairly long pedestrian shopping street in the heart of Beijing city. The ever-bustling street is home to a few historical landmarks, major shopping malls, souvenir shops, street food stalls and night markets, as well as, renowned restaurants and tea houses. The largest outdoor screen in Beijing can be found at Wangfujing, and the street is transformed into an impressive, neon-lit spectacle by night. | | | | | |  | | Bei Hai Park | | Half a kilometre west of the north gates of the Forbidden City is the famous Bei Hai Park. One of the most breathtaking parks in China, it was the former palace of past emperors in successive dynasties and is known as the Winter Palace by Westerners. It is now a popular park covering a total area of over 68 hectares, half of which is a lake. It boasts one of the best of China's classical gardens and a splendid landscape in the form of artificial hills, pavilions, halls, temples and covered corridors. | | | | | |  | | The Lama Temple | The Lama Temple (Yonghegong, 雍和宫 ) also known as ‘Palace of Eternal Harmony’ is a Tibetan Buddhist temple belonging to the Yellow Hat sect of Lamaism. The temple, which was built in 1694, is one of the most well-known Tibetan Buddhist temples in China (outside of Tibet itself). Before being converted to a temple, it served as a palace for the son of Emperor Kangxi until he ascended the throne.
The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Fortunes, the final hall located at the rear of the monastery, houses a 25 metre high upright Buddha statue which is carved from a single piece of Tibetan sandalwood. Despite its size, this giant Buddha in no way feels imposing, and is instead friendly and welcoming. A truly spectacular sight!
Hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Address: 12 Yonghegong Dajie, Beijxinqiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing ( 雍和宫大街12号 )
Admission Fee: 25 yuan
| | | | | |  | | Panjiayuan Antique Market | Panjiayuan Antique Market is Beijing’s biggest and best-known arts, crafts, and antiques market. Art lovers and collectors can easily spend hours perusing the endless stalls where traditional and contemporary local artists display their wares. There are countless other shops , many of which are makeshift, selling jewelry, beads, home décor, shoes, art supplies and every other Chinese curio or knick-knack imaginable. There is also a huge selection of Buddhist statues and artwork that is usually found in Beijing’s many temples.
Hours: Open early Saturday and Sunday mornings until about 3pm
Address: Off Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Third Ring Road, Beijing
| | | | | |  | | Tianmen Square | | Tiananmen Square is the largest downtown square in the world which covers an area of 44 hectares, big enough to hold one million people. Being located at the centre of Beijing City ,Tiananmen Square is a popular tourist attraction. Tian'anmen square is named after its magnificent Tian’anmen Rostrum (Gate of Heavenly Peace), which was the first gate of the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This is where you can visit the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People and Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Many also come to witness the national flag raising ceremony. | | | | | |  | | Hutong Square | A hutong is an ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing, where hutongs run into the several thousands. The hutong today is fading into the shade for both tourists and inhabitants. A day tour through hutongs provides a vignette of how the locals live in Beijing. Roaming through Beijing's old, narrow streets, hutongs, by old-fashioned pedicab to visit SiHeYuan, the old quadrangles, and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens-- has attracted more and more overseas visitors.
Address: Outside Lao She Teahouse, Qianmen Xidajie, Beijing (south of Tiananmen Square)
| | | | | |  | | Peking (Beijing) Opera House | Peking Opera is China's national opera which has a history spanning 200 years. The Peking Opera band mainly consists of an orchestra and percussion band. Beijing Opera presents dramatic plays and figures mainly by infusing four artistic methods: singing, dialogue, dancing and martial art.
Adddress: Haihu West lane No. 30, Fengtai District, Beijing, China
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