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Top 20 Best Things to Do in Beijing - 2023
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Discover the top attractions, sightseeing spots, activities, landmarks, and unforgettable experiences in Beijing. Plan your perfect itinerary and make the most of your visit to this vibrant destination.
Updated Sep 2023
- 4.5/516,318 ReviewsFrom59.04
based on 19 reviews"Booking through trip.com was very easy and cheap. If you are in Beijing, you must visit universal studio."Beijing24km from downtownHighlights: Universal Beijing Resort is a highly anticipated theme park destination, including the largest Universal theme park, Universal City Avenue Beijing, and two resort hotels. Universal Beijing Resort combines Chinese cultural elements to create a unique experience. It has seven themed scenic spots, 37 rides and entertainment facilities and landmark attractions, 24 performances, 80 food and beverage outlets and 30 retail outlets.Show Less - 4.8/5147,219 Reviews
based on 14112 reviews"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."Beijing1.7km from downtownHighlights: 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 - 4.7/536,216 Reviewsbased on 11047 reviews"Long line to get in to the cable car, but it goes pretty quick. The first part of the wall right off the cable car is very crowded and it's difficult to walk, but it seemed that most people give up pretty quickly so after only half an hour of walking it was quite empty already. Takes about 5 to 6 hours for the entire walk, including frequent breaks. If you plan to use the cable cars up and down do check the times and plan ahead as they stop pretty early in the day. It was absolutely beautiful though, not much to say about the greatness of it, it's in the name after all."Beijing60.2km from downtownHighlights: The Great Wall of Badaling in Yanqing, Beijing, is a pass for the Ming Great Wall. As the saying goes, "you are not a hero until you reach the Great Wall". Most locals take this spot to be the start of the ascent of the Great Wall. The Badaling Great Wall is the most complete section among the various great walls in Beijing. The total length of this sectionn is 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) with 43 watchtowers, however only 2.3 miles (3.74 kilometers) and 19 watchtowers have been restored and opened to visitors. Compared with other sections, most stairs are not very steep and they are equipped with handrails, so it is a relatively easier climb.Show Less
- 4.7/541,254 ReviewsFrom8based on 15028 reviews"The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. It was an imperial garden in the Qing dynasty."Beijing15.8km from downtownHighlights: 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
- Freebased on 945 reviewsBeijing502m from downtownHighlights: The National Museum of China next to Tiananmen Square is home to many of China's national treasures such as the Four Goat Square Zun and Simuwu Square Cauldron. At the museum, you can view the terracotta warriors of Shaanxi, the sanxingdui masks of Sichuan, and the beast heads of the Summer Palace. Many national treasures that people usually only read about are there for you to see. The museum is divided into five floors with a total of 48 exhibition halls. They have a collection of more than a million items and it takes at least a whole day to explore the museum thoroughly.Show Less
- 4.7/517,456 ReviewsFrom5.48based on 427 reviews"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."Beijing4.1km from downtownHighlights: 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
- 4.6/513,370 Reviewsbased on 12193 reviews"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."Beijing2.3km from downtownHighlights: 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
- Freebased on 7588 reviewsBeijing828m from downtownHighlights: Tiananmen Square is located on the central axis of Beijing. It is the central square of the People's Warlord Era. Many national symbols such as the Tiananmen Tower, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the People’s Heroes Monument are located here. Tiananmen Square is a symbolic location used by the country for important ceremonies, grand gatherings and welcoming foreign dignitaries. Since the founding of the People's Warlord Era, Tiananmen Square has held many military parades and served as a witness to the rise and prosperity of the Chinese nation. Every morning, the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square attracts many tourists.Show Less
- 4.8/517,547 ReviewsFrom6.16
based on 23865 reviews"You can really enjoy the view from within the cable car. Our little girl also loved the experience. Bought our tickets on Trip.com before we went. Good experience"Beijing60.5km from downtownHighlights: Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huairou district, Beijing. To the west of Mutianyu is Juyongguan Great Wall, while to the north is Gubeikou. Since ancient times, this has been a location with military significance and has defended Beijing from attack. Mutianyu Great Wall is principally built on the edge of a steep hill, using the hillside as an advantage. The height of the Great Wall reaches seven to eight meters and the width reaches four to five meters. The main building material is granite, making the structure both majestic and solid. There are many towers on the Mutianyu section. There are 22 towers on the currently open section, which is 2250 meters long.Show Less - based on 907 reviewsBeijing14.7km from downtownHighlights: 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
- 4.7/523,550 Reviewsbased on 95 reviews"it is a good place but not an actual safari wild park experience. animals are captive by pits or fences and they donot allow the visitors to move outside to take pictures anywhere in the park. this needs to be improved. besides this the scenery is nice and they have a separate place for captive animals and birds"Beijing45.8km from downtownHighlights: Beijing Wildlife Park is home to more than 200 species of wild animals. When you come to the park, you can watch exciting animal performances such as bear acrobatics, monkey cycling, and lion loop-jumping. In the free-range area in the park, tourists can feed animals through the iron bars. But beware! Do not extend your hands to the other side of the cage! The Beijing Wildlife Park also has a bird pavilion where you can see many beautiful birds such as flamingos and peacocks, as well as parrots capable of conversing with people. It is a very intriguing experience!Show Less
- 4.5/55,583 Reviews
based on 2541 reviews"I have been there several times. Still like going there to see my favorite animal, penguins 🐧. Very big zoo, you can easily spend a half day."Beijing7.4km from downtownHighlights: The Beijing Zoo is very large and includes many rare animals. It is a must-see attraction. The Beijing Zoo enjoys a long history; it was founded over a hundred years ago. The three areas of the Beijing Zoo include the eastern area, the southern area, and the northern area. The main gate is in the eastern area. The aquarium is in the northern area. Rare animals from China include giant pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, Siberian tigers, white-lipped deer and red-crowned cranes. Rare animals from other parts in the world include chimpanzees from Africa, kangaroos from Australia, leopards from South America, manatees from Mexico and bison from Europe.Show Less - 4.6/55,009 Reviewsbased on 83 reviews"It is a good place to bring your children here. They can learn science practically."Beijing11.3km from downtownHighlights: The China Science and Technology Museum is a national science museum. Apart from numerous science exhibits, there is a science playground for children. Interactive games in the playground help children learn more about science. There are also special cinemas with 3D and 4D effects, allowing you to appreciate the wonder and excitement of science and technology. There museum has five floors, with one floor underground and four above ground. Visitors typically walk directly to the exhibits that interest them after entering the museum. The museum recommends setting aside half a day for a visit.Show Less
- 4.7/513,829 Reviewsbased on 330 reviews"A beautiful town full of character and things to see. An easy bus ride from Beijing Dongzhimen station makes for a perfect weekend getaway. The cable car up to the Great Wall is within the town. lots of good shops and restaurants too."Beijing111.4km from downtownHighlights: Gubei Water Town is located on the northeast side of Miyun County in Beijing. It is about 140 kilometers from the Beijing Municipality. Regarded as 'Wuzhen in Beijing', Gubei Water Town boasts a combination of mountains, water and ancient villages. The town was built on the foundations of five sub natural villages of Simatai Village at the foot of Simatai Great Wall, the most dangerous and majestic section of the entire Great Wall. Visitors may indulge in hot springs, local cuisine, and take a hike up Simatai Great Wall, making this town a great choice for a relaxing getaway in the suburbs of Beijing.Show Less
- 4.7/52,309 ReviewsFreebased on 115 reviews"The explanation is very detailed and serious. After listening to the history of the Qing Dynasty for half a century, from Prince Gong's Mansion to Hexuan Mansion, I feel the same, and the blessing of the cave is full of blessings. Thank you Xiucai for your hard explanation."Beijing4.6km from downtownHighlights: Shichahai consists of three lakes - Qianhai, Houhai, Xihai - and their adjacent areas. It is a large area of beautiful lakes and is also a well-known historic district in Beijing. The former residences, palaces, and other monuments of famous figures are scattered here. In recent years, Shichahai Bar Street has become one of the busiest places in Beijing’s nightlife. If you come to Shichahai in the summer, you can go for a boat ride; in the winter the lakes usually ice over, and the lakes become Shichahai Ice Rink.Show Less
- 4.6/52,870 Reviewsbased on 1262 reviews"Beijing National Stadium so called "Bird's Nest" was perfectly beautiful with sophisticated and unique structures. What a wonderful and special design."Beijing9.9km from downtownHighlights: The Bird's Nest is officially called National Stadium. It is located on the northern part of Beijing. In 2008 it hosted the Beijing Olympics. Due to its magnificent architecture and the international competitions that are regularly hosted there, it has become a famous landmark in recent years. The exterior of the Bird's Nest is made up of intersecting steel sections that look like branches forming a huge nest. The unique shape of the stadium is truly stunning. The Olympic cauldron, shaped like a torch and originally mounted on top of the Bird's Nest, has been moved to the Torch Square northeast of the stadium. It is still visible from the outside of the stadium. Nearly 100,000 spectator seats fill the interior of the Bird's Nest. Their bright red color is magnificent.Show Less
- Freebased on 1398 reviewsBeijing9.9km from downtownHighlights: The Olympic Garden was one of the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There are many Olympic quality sports facilities to discover, like the Birds Nest (National Stadium), the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) and Olympic Forest Park. Because this was one of the venues of the Olympics, it has become one of Beijing’s landmark tourism sites.Show Less
- Freebased on 91 reviewsBeijing7.1km from downtownHighlights: The Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution is a large comprehensive military history museum in China. The entire building looks very majestic. The museum is divided into basic exhibitions and temporary exhibitions. Basic exhibitions include different theme pavilions with a central focus on China's military history. It demonstrates the important military events, figures, works, science and technology and weapon development in the past 5,000 years. It also shows the new achievements of modern China's national defense construction and the regularization of the people's army.Show Less
- 4.5/55,274 Reviewsbased on 288 reviews"It was a fascinating experience. Seeing sea animals would be attractive for kids. I loved dolphin show."Beijing7.2km from downtownHighlights: Located in the Beijing Zoo, the Beijing Aquarium is home to thousands of marine animals and is a great place to take children to learn marine knowledge. When you visit the Beijing Aquarium, you can see a variety of marine animals in different shapes and sizes, as well as wonderful performances by animals such as dolphins and sea lions. In the Beijing Aquarium, you can go to the rainforest wonder area to experience the rich tropical atmosphere, touch the big turtles and starfish in the windy beach area or go to a town near the Bering Strait to watch the lovely white whales in the distance. In the Chinese National Treasure Pavilion, you can also see the live feeding of Chinese sturgeons.Show Less
- 4.7/515,458 ReviewsFrom40.89based on 772 reviews"The tickets on weekdays and weekdays are slightly different prices, take note. It’s easy to find if you take the subway (Beijing happy valley station - exit B). Once inside, each roller coaster offers a normal line and a “fast pass” line. The normal line varies based on the busyness of the park. The fast pass line allows riders to skip to the front of the line. Each “fast pass” costs ¥80 and only works once. We bought 3 and waited normally for other rides. Fun time"Beijing8.5km from downtownHighlights: Beijing Happy Valley is located in Beijing's East Fourth Ring. It is one of the famous theme parks in Beijing. There are seven theme areas: the Firth Forest, Atlantis, Lost Maya, Aegean Harbor, Shangri-La, Ant Kingdom, and Happy Hour. Beijing Happy Valley has more than 40 entertainment facilities, nearly 100 landscapes, performances, and theme games for visitors to thoroughly enjoy themselves. A visit to Beijing Happy Valley often lasts for more than half a day. There are restaurants in each of the theme areas in the area, and there are also shops selling drinks.Show Less
FAQ
What are some Best Things to Do in Beijing?
Some Best Things to Do in Beijing include:Universal Beijing Resort|The Palace Museum|Badaling Great Wall|Summer Palace|National Museum of China
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Beijing?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Beijing include:Universal Beijing Resort:4.5|The Palace Museum:4.8|Badaling Great Wall:4.7|Summer Palace:4.7|Prince Gong's Mansion:4.7
At what locations in Beijing can Best Things to Do in Beijing be found?
The Best Things to Do in Beijing are mainly located in:Universal Beijing Resort:Beijing|The Palace Museum:Beijing|Badaling Great Wall:Beijing|Summer Palace:Beijing|National Museum of China:Beijing
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