Beijing, the capital of China, is the political, cultural and historical heart of the country and home to roughly 22 million people in the wider metropolitan area. The city has been a national capital for more than 800 years and holds seven UNESCO World Heritage sites within or near its boundaries, more than any other capital in the world. Beijing combines imperial palaces, ancient temples and the Great Wall of China with a futuristic skyline, world-class museums and one of the most exciting food scenes in Asia. This 2026 guide walks through the top sights, the food, the practical details and a few tips for a first visit.
A Short History of Beijing
Beijing has more than 3,000 years of recorded history and served as the imperial capital under five different dynasties: the Liao, the Jin, the Yuan, the Ming and the Qing. Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty, made the city his capital in 1271 and named it Khanbaliq, the “Great Capital”, described in glowing terms by Marco Polo a few years later. The Ming emperor Yongle rebuilt the city on a grand scale in the early 15th century and constructed the Forbidden City, which became the seat of imperial power for nearly 500 years.
Modern Beijing took shape in the 20th century. The fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912 ended over two thousand years of imperial rule, and the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 turned the city back into the political centre of the nation. The 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, the only city in history to host both, accelerated the construction of new metro lines, sports venues and cultural districts that have transformed the modern face of the capital.
Top Attractions in Beijing
The Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
The Forbidden City is the largest preserved imperial palace complex in the world and the most visited museum on the planet, drawing over 17 million visitors a year. Built between 1406 and 1420 under the Ming emperor Yongle, the palace served as the home of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for nearly five centuries. The complex covers 720,000 square metres and holds 980 surviving buildings with a total of around 8,700 rooms (the popular legend of “9,999 rooms” reflects the symbolic number rather than the actual count). A six-metre-deep moat and a 10-metre-high wall surround the entire complex.
The Forbidden City was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987 and now operates as the Palace Museum. Inside, you can walk through the great ceremonial halls along the central axis, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, then explore the Imperial Garden and the inner courts where the emperors and their families actually lived. The museum holds nearly 2 million imperial artefacts, including jade, ceramics, paintings and the personal possessions of the last emperor Puyi. Tickets must be booked online in advance, and the complex closes on Mondays.
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square, just south of the Forbidden City, ranks as the largest public square in the world and the symbolic centre of modern China. The square holds the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (where the embalmed body of the founder of the People’s Republic still lies in state) and the imposing Great Hall of the People, the seat of the Chinese parliament. The Tiananmen Gate at the northern end, with its famous portrait of Mao, gives the square its name and connects the square to the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China ranks as one of the most famous human-built structures on the planet and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The wall stretches more than 21,000 kilometres across northern China, although the most famous and best-preserved sections were built during the Ming dynasty between the 14th and 17th centuries. The wall was built to defend imperial China from nomadic invasions, snakes through mountains, deserts and grasslands and crosses dozens of provinces.
Several restored sections of the wall sit within reach of Beijing for a day trip:
- Badaling. The closest and most heavily restored section, about 70 km northwest of the city. The easiest to reach by public transport and the busiest, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Mutianyu. A more scenic section about 70 km north of Beijing, with a cable car up and a fun toboggan ride down. Less crowded than Badaling and a popular choice for families.
- Jinshanling. A partially restored section about 130 km from the city, ideal for hikers who want a more authentic and less polished experience.
- Simatai. The only section open at night and connected to the Gubei Water Town resort, which offers a stay-overnight experience next to the wall.
Whichever section you visit, bring sturdy walking shoes, plenty of water, sun protection and a light jacket for windy weather. The wall climbs steeply in places and the steps are uneven, so allow several hours for the visit.
The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), in the southern part of the city, is the most famous Taoist temple complex in China and another UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple was built in 1420 under the same emperor who built the Forbidden City and was used by the Ming and Qing emperors for the annual ceremony of praying for a good harvest. The most recognised structure is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a circular wooden building 38 metres high built without a single nail. The surrounding park is one of the favourite morning gathering spots for older Beijing residents, who come to practise tai chi, dance, sing opera and play chess.
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, was the imperial summer retreat of the Qing dynasty. The complex covers 290 hectares, three-quarters of which is taken up by the artificial Kunming Lake. UNESCO inscribed the palace on the World Heritage list in 1998 as “a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design”. Highlights include the Long Corridor, a 728-metre covered walkway decorated with more than 14,000 individual paintings, the Marble Boat commissioned by the empress dowager Cixi, and the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, which offers panoramic views over the lake.
Imperial Gardens and Parks
Beijing holds dozens of imperial gardens and parks thanks to the many palaces built by the various dynasties.
The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
The Old Summer Palace, also known as the Ruins of Yuanmingyuan, was built starting in 1707 and served as the private garden of the Qing emperors for over 150 years. The site combined traditional Chinese landscape design with European Baroque pavilions designed by Italian Jesuit architects. British and French troops looted and burned the palace to the ground in 1860 during the Second Opium War, and the haunting marble ruins still lie scattered across the grounds today as a powerful reminder of the event. The vast park includes lakes, gardens, recreated pavilions and the famous European-style ruins of the Western Mansions.
Beihai Park
Beihai Park, just northwest of the Forbidden City, is one of the oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens in China. It was originally laid out during the Liao dynasty and rebuilt and expanded over the following centuries. The park centres on a large lake with a small central island crowned by the white Tibetan-style stupa built in 1651, one of the most recognised silhouettes in central Beijing. The park represents the legendary Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang mountains of Chinese mythology. Walk through the Garden of Jade Florets for unusual flowers with distinctive tones, scents and shapes, or rent a paddle boat on the lake during the warmer months.
Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park, immediately north of the Forbidden City, is a small but essential stop. The artificial hill at the centre of the park rises 45 metres and offers the single best view in Beijing: a clear panorama down the central axis of the Forbidden City, with the golden roofs stretching towards Tiananmen Square. The hill was built from the earth dug out to create the moat around the Forbidden City and once served as the highest point in the entire imperial city.
Hutongs and Traditional Beijing
Beyond the imperial monuments, the soul of old Beijing survives in the hutongs, the narrow alleyways of single-storey courtyard houses that once filled the entire city. The most famous and best-preserved hutongs lie around the Houhai Lake area and the historic Drum Tower and Bell Tower. The tradition of riding through the hutongs on a rickshaw remains a popular tourist activity, and many old courtyard houses have been converted into boutique hotels, cafes and craft shops.
Don’t miss the Lama Temple (Yonghegong), the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, with a 26-metre statue of the Maitreya Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk. The nearby Confucius Temple and the historic Imperial Academy on Guozijian Street round out one of the most rewarding walking circuits in central Beijing.
Beijing Cuisine and Food
Beijing has a rich culinary tradition shaped by the imperial court, the long winters and the influences of cuisines from across the empire. The dish that defines the city is Peking duck (Beijing kaoya), a roasted duck with crispy skin served with thin pancakes, spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce. The most famous restaurants include Quanjude (founded in 1864), Da Dong (modern, refined and Michelin-recommended) and the smaller Siji Minfu, popular with locals.
Other Beijing specialities to try:
- Zhajiangmian. Hand-pulled noodles served with a thick fermented soybean sauce and shredded cucumber.
- Jianbing. A savoury crepe filled with egg, crispy wonton, scallions and chilli sauce, the classic Beijing breakfast.
- Hot pot (huoguo). A simmering broth at the centre of the table for cooking thinly sliced lamb, vegetables and noodles.
- Lamb skewers (yangrou chuan). Grilled over charcoal and dusted with cumin and chilli, sold at street stalls and markets.
- Tanghulu. Skewered candied fruits, originally hawthorn berries, coated in a hard sugar shell.
For a sample of everything in one place, head to Wangfujing Snack Street or Qianmen Street, both lined with traditional vendors and old restaurants.
Beijing Entertainment and Nightlife
Beijing offers everything from traditional opera and acrobatic shows to live music and modern clubs. Some of the best places to spend an evening:
Beijing Opera and Traditional Performances
Liyuan Theatre, located inside the Qianmen Hotel, is one of the best places for foreign visitors to experience authentic Beijing Opera. The theatre runs nightly performances at 19:30 and provides English subtitle boards so non-Chinese speakers can follow the story. Other excellent venues include the Huguang Guild Hall (Huguang Huiguan), a beautifully restored Qing-dynasty opera building, the Beijing Concert Hall for classical music, and the Capital Theatre (home of the Beijing People’s Art Theatre) for modern Chinese drama.
Acrobatics and Tea House Shows
The famous Chaoyang Theatre hosts world-class acrobatic shows that are easy to enjoy without any Chinese language. Tea house performances at the Lao She Teahouse in the historic Qianmen area combine traditional snacks with martial arts, opera, comedy and folk music in a single evening, all in a Qing-dynasty setting.
Bars and Clubs
For a more contemporary night out, head to Sanlitun, the international entertainment district that holds the largest concentration of bars, clubs and restaurants in the city. The trendy Gulou (Drum Tower) area offers craft beer bars, live music venues and indie cafes, while the historic Houhai lake area combines lakeside drinks with hutong charm.
How to Get to Beijing
Beijing is served by two major international airports. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), the older and busier hub, sits about 30 km northeast of the city centre and connects via the Airport Express line. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), opened in 2019 and designed by the late Zaha Hadid, is one of the largest single-terminal airports in the world. Daxing sits about 46 km south of the city and connects to downtown via a high-speed metro line in around 20 minutes.
High-speed trains link Beijing to every major Chinese city. The journey from Shanghai takes about 4.5 hours, from Xi’an about 4.5 hours and from Hong Kong about 9 hours. The main station for most high-speed services is Beijing South Railway Station.
Getting Around the City
The Beijing Metro is one of the largest and most efficient subway systems in the world, with more than 20 lines covering every major sight. Tickets are cheap and signs are bilingual in Chinese and English. Buses cover the rest of the city, and ride-share via Didi works for short trips. The historic central districts and hutong areas are best explored on foot or by bicycle, and the city has invested heavily in dedicated bike lanes over the past decade.
Best Time to Visit Beijing
Beijing has a continental climate with four very distinct seasons. The most pleasant months for sightseeing run from April to early June and again from September to October, when temperatures sit between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius and the skies stay clear. Summers (July and August) get hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms. Winters (December to February) drop well below freezing but bring crisp blue skies and a chance to see the Forbidden City under a fresh layer of snow.
Avoid the first weeks of May and October, when Chinese national holidays bring enormous domestic crowds to every major site.
Practical Tips
- Visa. China has expanded its visa-free transit policy and many nationalities can now visit Beijing for up to 240 hours without a visa. Check the official requirements before you book.
- Currency. Chinese yuan (CNY). Mobile payment via Alipay and WeChat Pay dominates everywhere, even at small street stalls. Set up a Tour Card on either app before you arrive.
- Language. Mandarin is the official language. English is more common in Beijing than in most Chinese cities, especially around major hotels and tourist sights, but a translation app helps for everything else.
- SIM and internet. A local SIM or eSIM works best, and most travellers also use a VPN to access services blocked in China such as Google, Facebook and WhatsApp.
- Air quality. Beijing air quality has improved dramatically since the 2010s thanks to strict government measures, but pollution levels can still spike, especially in winter. Check the daily AQI before planning a long outdoor day.
- Tickets. Most major sites, including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall sections, require advance online booking and a passport for entry.
Final Thoughts
Beijing rewards travellers who give the city the time it deserves. Spend a morning walking the Forbidden City, an afternoon climbing the Great Wall, an evening eating Peking duck and a long lunch wandering the hutongs around Houhai, and you start to see why this Chinese capital has shaped the country for over eight centuries. The mix of imperial palaces, ancient walls, Buddhist and Taoist temples, modern skyscrapers and one of the great culinary traditions of Asia makes Beijing one of the essential city breaks of any trip through China.
