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Top 10 Local History in Beijing - 2023
Updated Sep 2023
- No.1
The Palace Museum
4.8/5147,221 ReviewsBeijing1.7km from downtownPalacesMuseumsHistorical SitesUNESCO World Heritage - Cultural Sites
"Going Beijing, The Palace Museum is a MUST GO place. You can see China full of architecture history. What a great work that the Chinese had done."Highlights: A vast majority of tourists who visit Beijing for the first time consider the Forbidden City as a place they must see. The Forbidden City, known as Gugong in Mandarin, once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a symbol of ancient China. Although it is no longer China's political centre, you can still feel its former glory once you are within the courtyard and surrounded by the high walls. Its long history has left behind a large amount of precious architecture and cultural relics, making it one of the most important cultural heritage in modern China.Show Less - No.2
Old Summer Palace
No comments yetBeijing14.7km from downtownHistorical SitesGardensHighlights: The Old Summer Palace is a famous imperial garden constructed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries during the Qing Dynasty. It consists of three sections: Yuanming Garden, Changchun Garden, and Yichun Garden. Its excellent view earned it the reputation of "the garden of gardens." However in 1860, British and French troops burned the main buildings into ashes. These days, tourists can only look at the wreckage and imagine its glory during the time of the Qing Dynasty. If your imagination is not good enough, you can learn more about what the garden looked like through the miniature model in Changchun Garden.Show Less - No.3
Summer Palace
4.7/541,254 ReviewsBeijing15.8km from downtownUNESCO World Heritage - Cultural SitesGardens
"The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. It was an imperial garden in the Qing dynasty."Highlights: Situated in the Haidian District northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace is a Unesco World Heritage site that used to be the palace and garden of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. It is the largest and most well preserved royal park in China. Construction of the palace began in 1750 and it served as a residential and entertainment area for the royal members. The palace underwent two major reconstructions after suffering damages during invasions by the Anglo-French Allied Forces and the Eight-Power Allied Forces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Summer Palace can be divided into three sectors: a political activity area centered at the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity; an empress living area concentrated around the Hall of Jade Billows and Hall of Joy and Longevity; and a tour route concentrated along the long corridor, rear hill, and the west sector.Show Less - No.4
Prince Gong's Mansion
4.7/517,456 ReviewsBeijing4.1km from downtownHistorical ArchitecturesFamous Residences
"What a lovely experience. Everything is so well preserved and kept. And the garden with the rock formations are absolutely beautiful. There were lots to see and experience. It's definitely your money worth to fist this place."Highlights: Prince Gong's Mansion near Houhai, is the largest palace from the Qing Dynasty. It was once the residence of Minister Heshen during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Heshen is a famous corrupt official in Chinese history. After Prince Gong moved in, it was renamed Prince Gong's Mansion. Prince Gong's Mansion is a relatively well-preserved palace from the Qing Dynasty. There are more than 30 different types of buildings here. At one point, the garden in the mansion was one the most exquisite mansion gardens in Beijing.Show Less - No.5
Temple of Heaven
4.6/513,370 ReviewsBeijing2.3km from downtownHistorical ArchitecturesHistorical Sites
"one of the must-see places in Beijing, you'll be amaze on an ancient architectural design of this temple. definitely worth to visit. it' looks magical when there's snow fall."Highlights: The Temple of Heaven is a special altar for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Here, they worship the heavens, ask for rain and pray for a good harvest. It is a famous ancient building in China. The Temple of Heaven is divided into two parts, the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. Well-known structures such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Echo Wall are located in the Inner Altar. While visiting the Temple of Heaven, tourists get to experience the grand praying ceremony of ancient emperors, as well as observe the ingenious designs such as the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stones. The wisdom of the ancient craftsmen will not fail to impress you.Show Less - No.6
Fragrant Hills Park
4.7/55,188 ReviewsBeijing21km from downtownMountainsGardens
"They really are fragrant! the pictures cannot describe the scent of this place"Highlights: Fragrant Hills Park is located in Beijing’s western suburbs. It is an imperial forest garden with a long and storied history. Many ancient relics and monuments are scattered throughout the lush wooded area. It is one of Beijing's beautiful ornamental spots and a natural oxygen bar. The red leaves of Fragrant Hills are one of China’s famous sights in autumn. Every September and October, the hills gradually change shades from green to yellow, until eventually the entire mountain turns fiery red. Senyuhu, Yuhua Cave and Qifeng Pavilion are all good places from which to look at the colorful leaves. Since it was first constructed, Fragrant Hills Park already has more than 900 years of history. Biyun Temple, Zongjing Dazhao Temple and Jianxinzhai are three sites to visit while in the park.Show Less - No.7
Beihai Park
4.7/54,472 ReviewsBeijing3.1km from downtownCity Parks
"Nice trees and landscaping. Can row boat. buy souvenirs or have tea in the beautiful tea house."Highlights: Beihai Park lies to the northwest of the Forbidden City. Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai are collectively know as the Sanhai. Beihai Park was once an imperial garden. It is also the park with strongest flavor of old Beijing within the Imperial City walls. In the mornings, elderly locals exercise and take a walk with their caged birds; the afternoons and evenings are the time to taking a rowing trip around the park. When visiting Beihai Park, you can admire the exquisite buildings left behind by the dynasty. You can also sit beside the lake chatting with the seniors, listening to their stories about Beijing.Show Less - No.8
Yonghe Temple
4.7/51,966 ReviewsBeijing4.8km from downtownTemplesHistorical Architectures
"The residence of Youngzheng emperor of Qing dynasty, the lamaist spirit ,the functioning temple. This us incredible cultural Heritage which is a part of Beijing ancient legacy. Very interesting place. Must see if you are in Beijing. The monastery has many unique artifacts. To understand that, just need to come and see"Highlights: Yonghe Temple was once the residence of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Emperor Yongzheng was the prince and had not yet stepped up to the throne. It is also the place where Emperor Qianlong, the son of Emperor Yongzheng, was born. Nowadays, Lama Temple is a well-known monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing. The incense often burns brightly. There are also many precious cultural relics in Lama Temple, such as the 500 Arhat Mountain carved out of sandalwood, the giant Buddha niche carved out of silkwood, and the 18-meter-high Buddha carved out of white sandalwood.Show Less - No.9
Jingshan Park
4.7/53,546 ReviewsBeijing2.6km from downtownMountainsCity ParksGardens
"For me, Jingshan Park was nearly as the Beijing Children''s Palace when I was a child. The Children''s Palace took over some parts of the Jingshan. I had to go to there every weekend for my class.My best memory was riding the bicycle with my parents to there. At that time, my dad always be the guidance of us, we passing through many alleys which i''ve never heared about. Beijing fainted in the rays of the sunset, the old-gray-brick-walls were gradually wrapped around with golden voile, the summer-light-wind brings a special scent of the sandalwood, that''s my memory of childhood."Highlights: Jingshan Park is situated on the central axis of old Beijing. It was an imperial garden during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The park's central peak was once the highest point of the old city. The building at its summit, called the Wanchun Pavilion, is must-see for visitors to Jingshan Park. From here you can enjoy views of the whole of the center of Beijing, and photograph the whole of the Forbidden City. This is also where the last emperor of the Ming dynasty, the Chongzhen Emperor, committed suicide by hanging.Show Less - No.10
Zhongshan Park
4.7/51,007 ReviewsBeijing1.3km from downtownCity Parks
"The park is large in size and beautiful in environment, and is a natural oxygen bar. There are many ancient buildings and cultural heritages in the park. In addition, the lakes, lawns, flower beds and other landscapes in the park are also very beautiful. Today, Yuxuan Tea House is also here. You can go to have a cup of tea and have a snack. Tasting the main winter vegetable bag is also comfortable and leisurely."Highlights: Beijing Zhongshan Park is centered on the "Sheji Altar" used by the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties to worship. In addition to visiting historical buildings and learning about ancient sacrificial culture, there are many green plants and flowers in the park. Every spring, flowers such as Chinese roses and tulips bloom, and in autumn there are golden ginkgo leaves. It is a good place for leisurely strolls, photography and sightseeing in the city. Tour Overview Zhongshan Park is not large in size, about 600 meters long from north to south, and about 300 meters wide from east to west. Zhongshan Park is mainly to visit the historical buildings, green plants and flowers in the park. Sheji Altar The Sheji Altar is located in the center of the entire Zhongshan Park and is also the core scenic spot of the park. The Sheji altar was originally an altar where the emperors sacrificed to the gods of the earth and the five grains in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The altar was decorated with five-color soil from all over the country. This five-color arrangement is very special in ancient buildings, so you can take a good look. There are also some palace buildings and exhibition halls in the Ming and Qing Dynasties around the Sheji Altar, which can be visited and photographed. Among them, the buildings such as the Defence and Peace Square have a long history and contain stories about the rise and fall of China over the past century. You can take a good look at the introduction under the archway. Tanghuawu and Huifang Garden Tanghuawu and Huifang Garden are two small gardens with elegant layout, especially Tanghuawu, which has pavilions and waterside pavilions, like a beautiful small garden. These two gardens are now dominated by flower displays. Every spring, the flowers are in full bloom, which is very suitable for viewing flowers and taking pictures. From April to May in spring, a tulip festival will be held in the park, and the tulips planted in large areas will open up beautifully, attracting a large number of tourists to watch. In fact, before the Tulip Festival, there are still roses and other flowers in full bloom, and you can come to watch the flowers throughout the spring, which is very beautiful. Every autumn, a small ginkgo forest in the park has golden leaves, which is also a good choice for photography. In addition to viewing the landscape, there is also a concert hall in the park, where performances are often performed. There are also simple amusement facilities such as bumper cars and Yile City in the park, which can bring children to entertain. In addition, boating is available on the river behind the park.Show Less - No.11
Tiananmen Tower
4.7/51,103 ReviewsBeijing1km from downtownHistorical Architectures
"Although the appointment is difficult and the security check is cumbersome, you can see the panoramic view of Tiananmen Square after going up. The People's Heroes Monument and Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall are directly in front of it. It is very intuitive to feel the central axis, which is very spectacular."Highlights: Tiananmen Tower is the main entrance of the Imperial City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and is also the landmark building of Beijing. Tiananmen Tower is one of the ancient Chinese city towers, and is well known to the world for its outstanding architectural artistry and special political status. During the National Day, the national leaders will review the three armed forces on the Tower. Ascending the Tower, you can visit the historical living rooms and see the textual and photographic exhibitions about the Tower's history. You can learn about the changes of Tiananmen Tower and the important events held here. You can also overlook the entire Tiananmen Square and the bustling Chang'an Street. The view is spectacular.Show Less - No.12
Temple of the Earth
4.6/5843 ReviewsBeijing5.5km from downtownHistorical Sites
"Ditan Books Market is back. Since Yongle 19 years (1421 AD), Mingcheng ancestors moved to Beijing, and established the planning pattern of Beijing City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As a capital city of nearly 500 years in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing has gradually formed the Temple culture of the "Nine Temples and Eight Temples", of which the "Nine Temples" include the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of the Earth, The Temple of the Sun, the Moon, the Shezhu Temple, the Taisun Temple, the Prayer Valley Temple, the First Farmer Temple, the First Silkworm Temple, the "Eight Temples" include the Tai Temple, the Temple of Literature, the Temple of Emperors of all ages, the Lama Temple, the Fengxian Temple, the Shouhuang Palace, the Transcendental Temple, and the Temple of the Tangzi. Among the "Nine Temples", the Temple of Heaven is undoubtedly the largest and highest-status. There were 22 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties who held more than 600 sacrifices in the Temple of Heaven, and the Temple of Heaven is still one of the landmark buildings in Beijing until now. The second place in the "Nine Tanks" is the altar of the earth, also known as the "Fangze Tan", which is the largest altar of sacrifice in China. The altar was built in Ming Jiajing nine years (1530 AD). The two dynasties of the Ming and Qing Dynasties held more than 400 sacrifices here. The masonry on the altar was specially set to an even number, and the even number was a "yin number", which was consistent with the statement of "Tianyang and Diyin". The ancient Ming Dynasty trees, which have been more than 400 years old, stand around the altar, which is spectacular. For those who live in Beijing all year round, the altar has another special status: the almost annual Temple Fair and the Temple Book Market. The Ditan Temple Fair can be said to be the largest, most hot and most influential temple fair in Beijing. The entire Ditan Park is full of a variety of food, small commodities, entertainment stalls, although the quality, price and hygiene of the snacks sold at the temple fair are all "worried". But I didn’t go to the Ditan Temple Fair for the New Year. I always feel that the “year taste” is a bit worse, so every year’s Ditan Temple Fair is always rubbing shoulders, people are crowded by everyone, but it has been suspended for three years since the beginning of the epidemic, right? Speaking of Ditan Book Market, it is another "highlight moment" in Ditan Park. The city's bookstores and publishers will be concentrated here. The price is also quite favorable. You can see so many discounted books at the same time in a book market, and the book category is also comprehensive. This is definitely a "festival" for readers, so the passenger flow to the Ditan Book Market is at some times as good as the Ditan Temple Fair. The Ditan Book Market began in 1997 and was closed until 2012, and the reason for the shutdown is mainly the impact of online stores and e-books. This year, after more than ten years, Ditan Book Market is back, for people who have visited Ditan Book Market for more than ten years, of course, they have to go and see it! During the book market, you can see the dense stalls when you enter the park. Although today is a working day, there are still many people visiting the book market. Many popular stalls are crowded. I found the feeling of visiting the book market more than ten years ago. From the west gate into the park, the door is the stall of the Chinese bookstore, there are books, cultural and creative, audio-visual products, stretching a few streets, it is definitely the largest and most popular one in the book market. In addition to the altar and the park in the northeast corner of the park fitness activities, the whole park is almost full of various stalls, which is spectacular."Highlights: The Temple of the Earth was the place where the emperor perform sacrificial rituals during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It corresponds to the Temple of Heaven. The buildings in the altar are all square in shape. The Temple has many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as places for offering sacrifices and items on exhibit. You can come here to learn more about the processes of the worship. Every autumn, many people also come here to admire the yellow leaves of the ginkgo, which is very suitable for photography.Show Less - No.13
Confucius Temple and The Imperial College Museum
4.7/5835 ReviewsBeijing4.8km from downtownMuseumsMemorial Temples"Very nice place! I''d like to introduce this place to you guys! Enjoy the real culture!"Highlights: Confucius Temple and The Imperial College Museum are famous ancient buildings in Beijing, consisting of two parts: Confucius Temple and Guozijian. Confucius Temple was built in the Yuan Dynasty, and had been used as the place for worshipping Confucius in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. From the Yuan Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. More than 50,000 names, birthplaces and ranks of Jinshi were carved in the stone tablets. The Guozijian is the heighest level educational institution and administering organ during Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is also the place where the Emperor personally lectures. Many ancient buildings such as Jixian Gate, Taixue Gate and Glazed memorial Arch in Guozijian. Biyong Hall is the main body of Guozijian, and Yilun Hall next to is where the ancient Emperors lectured.Show Less
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