Tourism, China, BeiJing
Welcome to Beijing, the sprawling capital of China, a perfect blend of imperial history and modern vitality. In this travel guide, we'll explore the best sights of this magnificent city, from the iconic Great Wall of China to the bustling streets of ancient hutongs. Detailed itineraries, in-depth local insights, and practical travel tips will make your trip to Beijing unforgettable.
The Forbidden City is arguably one of Beijing's most iconic landmarks, offering a glimpse into China's imperial history. This vast complex served as the imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Closed Mondays) Address: No. 4, Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing Ticket Price: ¥60 – ¥80 Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Location: Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing Ticket Price: 45 – 60 RMB Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM Address: Dongcheng District, Beijing Admission: Free Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Address: No. 19, Xinhongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing Ticket Price: ¥20 – ¥30 Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM Address: No. 1, Tiantan East Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing Ticket Price: ¥15 – ¥35
Hutongs of Beijing
Hutongs are ancient and narrow alleyways, filled with traditional courtyard houses. Stroll through them and experience the charm of old Beijing.
Recommended hutongs: Nanluoguxiang, Guozijian Street, and Yandaixie Street.
Beijing Museum
National Museum of China
It is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and is one of the world's largest museums.
Beijing Museum
National Museum of China
It is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and is one of the world's largest museums.
Visitor Information: Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Closed Mondays) Address: No. 16, East Chang'an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing Admission: FreeA trip to Beijing isn't complete without tasting the famous Peking duck. Restaurants like Quanjude are renowned for this delicacy.
Beijing Cuisine
Peking Duck
A trip to Beijing isn't complete without trying the famous Peking duck.
Festivals in Beijing
Experience vibrant festivals such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, each with unique local customs and celebrations.
Beijing Festival
Experience vibrant festivals such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, each with unique local customs and celebrations.
Frequently Visited Scenic Spots
The Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Yonghe Temple, Yuanmingyuan, Beijing Central Axis, Universal Beijing Resort, Olympic Park, 798 Art Zone, Shougang Park, Gubei Water Town.
Frequently Visited Shopping Areas
Mainly Xiushui Street, Hongqiao Market, and shopping districts such as Wangfujing, Qianmen, Guomao area, Sanlitun, Blue Harbor, Capital Airport, and Daxing Airport.
Popular product categories include tea, pearls, silk, traditional Chinese medicine, jade, and small appliances. Favorite foods include Peking duck, Beijing hot pot, Old Beijing fried noodles, and Kung Pao chicken. Preferred payment methods: Inbound tourists typically use cash and bank cards, with an increasing trend towards mobile payments such as WeChat Pay and Alipay. Beijing continues to launch diverse tourism routes and consumption spaces around themes such as "Capital, Ancient Charm, New Look, Culture, Ecology, Dual Olympic City, Sub-center of the City, and Beijing Central Axis." Yesterday (the 18th), the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism released the Top Ten Demonstration Scenarios for Beijing Tourism.
01
Tourism and Holiday Demonstration Scene
Gubei Water Town + Great Wall Scenery
Gubei Water Town is Beijing's first national-level tourist resort, known as the "Starry Sky Town at the Foot of the Great Wall," "Jiangnan Town at the Foot of the Great Wall," and "Romantic Town at the Foot of the Great Wall." Gubei Water Town features a combination of "Northern folk houses + Jiangnan water town + Great Wall scenery," and includes various business formats such as street shopping, specialty restaurants, intangible cultural heritage experiences, water dance shows, nighttime drone performances, and displays of Chinese cultural trends.
02
Nighttime Cultural and Tourism Consumption Demonstration Scenarios
Liangma River Scenic Waterfront + Chaoyang Park + Blue Harbor
Liangma River Scenic Waterfront is a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster area. Expanding from its core to areas such as Chaoyang Park and Blue Harbor, it embodies the deep integration of commerce, culture, and tourism in Beijing, the empowerment of tourism by technology, and the city's nighttime vitality.
03
Demonstration Scenarios of Integrated Commerce, Culture, Tourism, and Sports Consumption
Huaxi Live•Wukesong + Wukesong Stadium
Huaxi Live•Wukesong is a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster and a national-level tourism and leisure street. Adjacent to it is the Wukesong Stadium, an important venue for large-scale concerts and major sporting events in Beijing. Together, they create a mutually beneficial and diversified consumption model of "traveling with concerts" and "traveling with sporting events."
04
Integrated Tourism and Leisure Demonstration Scene
Leduo Port Holiday Plaza + Ming Tombs
Leduo Port Holiday Plaza is a national-level tourism and leisure street, integrating entertainment, tourism shopping, and leisure vacation. The Ming Tombs is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a concentrated display area of Ming culture. The two areas together constitute a micro-vacation demonstration scene integrating sightseeing and shopping leisure.
05
Demonstration Scene of All-Season Sports and Ecotourism Integration
Yanqing Olympic Park + Beijing Expo Park
The Yanqing Olympic Park is a national-level ski resort, which has now developed into an all-season tourist resort area for summer vacation and leisure, and winter ice and snow sports and tourism. The Beijing Expo Park is the venue for the World Horticultural Exposition, with a large number of horticultural-themed pavilions and a cluster of high-end hotels in the surrounding area. The two areas together constitute a demonstration area for the integration of sports and ecotourism suitable for all seasons.
06
Demonstration Scene of Industrial Heritage Tourism Transformation
Shougang Park
Shougang Park brings together diverse consumption scenarios such as Winter Olympics venues, Liugonghui Shopping Mall, Shangri-La Hotel, SoReal Urban Science Fiction Park, and the launch site for high-end brands from the No. 3 Blast Furnace. It has also continuously hosted the China International Fair for Trade in Services and the Beijing New Year countdown event. The industrial heritage has been transformed and upgraded, becoming a new landmark for urban revitalization.
07
High-end Conference, Exhibition and Tourism Demonstration Scene
Yanqi Lake Scenic Area + Hotel + Convention Center
Yanqi Lake International Convention Center is an important venue for national diplomatic events and major state affairs, serving as the national reception hall. It is surrounded by numerous high-end hotels such as Yanbai Mountain Villa, Yanqi Hotel, and Sunrise Kempinski Hotel. The Yanqi Convention Center hosts major brand events and large-scale exhibitions and forums annually, offering comprehensive convention and exhibition services. The adjacent Yanqi Lake Scenic Area integrates water activities, entertainment, leisure, and sports, boasting beautiful scenery.
08
Red Tourism Demonstration Scene
Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Site + Xiangshan Park
The Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Hall and the CPC Central Committee Beijing Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Site (former site) within Xiangshan Park together constitute the CPC Central Committee Beijing Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Site. The Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Site is integrated with the national 4A-level tourist attraction Xiangshan Park to create a red tourism demonstration scene.
09
Demonstration Scene of Cultural, Sports and Tourism Integration in the "Dual Olympic City"
Beijing Olympic Park
Beijing Olympic Park is located at the northern end of the northern extension of Beijing's central axis. It was the core venue for the 29th Summer Olympic Games in 2008 and the 24th Winter Olympic Games in 2022, and is currently the world's only "Dual Olympic" park, boasting several well-known Olympic venues such as the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube (Ice Cube), and the Ice Ribbon. The park has received over 500 million visitors to date, serving as a demonstration scene showcasing Beijing's charm as a "Dual Olympic City" and embodying the deep integration of sports and tourism.
10
Demonstration Scene of Public Cultural Services and Tourism Integration
Three Major Cultural Buildings in Beijing's Sub-center
The three major cultural buildings in Beijing's Sub-center (Beijing Art Center, Beijing City Library, and Beijing Grand Canal Museum) are not only public cultural service facilities, but also popular tourist attractions due to their unique architectural styles, diverse cultural performances, and pleasant reading spaces. This architectural complex showcases the architectural achievements of Beijing's Sub-center as a project of national significance, and as a demonstration scene of the tourism utilization of public cultural services, it is gradually becoming Beijing's urban living room.
What comes to mind first when you think of Beijing? Is it the majestic Forbidden City, the bustling Wangfujing Street, or the unforgettable Beijing cuisine? Hehe, I bet it's mostly the latter! So, without further ado, let's begin our Beijing culinary journey!
First up, of course, is the kingpin of Beijing's culinary scene—Beijing roast duck! This dish is a symbolic icon of Beijing, praised by both domestic and international tourists and locals alike.
First up, of course, is the kingpin of Beijing's cuisine—Beijing roast duck! This delicacy is a symbol of Beijing, and both domestic and international tourists and locals alike rave about it.
The tender meat, crispy skin, paired with a special sweet bean sauce, scallions, and cucumber strips, is simply divine! One bite, and your mouth is filled with fragrance, utterly delightful. Moreover, there's a certain ritual to eating Peking duck: first, dip the duck skin in white sugar, then wrap it in pancakes, scallions, and cucumber strips before eating. Only then can you truly appreciate the layers and rich flavor of the Peking duck!
II. Old Beijing Hot Pot – A Breath of Fresh Air in the Hot Pot World
Next, we'll introduce a traditional Beijing delicacy – hot pot. This dish is truly a breath of fresh air in the world of hot pot!
Select high-quality lamb slices, lightly dip them in a boiling copper pot, then dip them in a special sesame sauce—the taste is irresistibly delicious! Moreover, the way to eat hot pot is particularly important—the cooking time is crucial. The meat slices shouldn't be overcooked or undercooked; just the right amount is needed to maintain the meat's tenderness and juiciness!
III. Beijing Imperial Cuisine—A Culinary Heritage of Royal Style
Speaking of Beijing's culinary culture, one cannot ignore imperial cuisine. This is a precious legacy passed down from the ancient imperial palace! Imperial cuisine is world-renowned for its exquisite selection of ingredients, meticulous preparation, and beautiful presentation.
IV. Old Beijing Snacks—Food Memories from the Streets and Alleys
Walking through the streets and alleys of Beijing, you're sure to be attracted by all sorts of snack stalls, right? These snacks are unique to old Beijing! For example, fried noodles with soybean paste, braised pork offal with baked wheat cake, and fried liver are all indispensable parts of the locals' daily lives! Although these snacks look simple and unpretentious, their flavors are incredibly authentic and distinctive!
V. Grilled Meat on a Hot Plate—An Ancient Culinary Art
Speaking of grilled meat, everyone is familiar with it, right? But have you ever tried grilled meat on a hot plate in Beijing? This is a very ancient cooking method! Sliced meat is placed on a hot plate and grilled over a fire, then paired with various seasonings—the taste is simply amazing! It's irresistible! Moreover, this method of grilling meat retains the original flavor of the meat, making it healthier and more satisfying!
V. Grilled Meat on a Hot Plate—An Ancient Culinary Art
Speaking of grilled meat, everyone is surely familiar with it, right? But have you ever tried grilled meat on a hot plate in Beijing? This is a very ancient cooking method! Slices of meat are placed on a hot plate and grilled over a fire, then paired with various seasonings—the taste is simply divine! It's irresistible! Moreover, this method of grilling meat also preserves the original flavor of the meat, making it healthier and more satisfying to eat!
VI. Guijie Food Street—A Foodie's Paradise
Next up is a paradise for Beijing's foodies—Guijie Street! It's a hub of all kinds of food shops and snack stalls. Whether it's spicy crayfish or barbecue and hot pot, you can find it here! Every night, it becomes incredibly lively and bustling, as if all the city's culinary delights have gathered here! It's a place you'll never want to leave!
VII. Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant – A Great Place to Taste Authentic Roast Duck
Speaking of roast duck, there's one restaurant that you absolutely must mention: Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant! This restaurant is highly praised for its authentic roast duck flavor and excellent service! From the selection of duck meat to the roasting process, they strictly control every step to ensure that every dish meets the highest quality standards! If you want to eat the most authentic Beijing roast duck, then this is the place to be!
VIII. Fangzhuanchang No. 69 Zha Jiang Mian – A Representative of Traditional Beijing Flavor
The next shop I'm going to introduce is a representative of traditional Beijing flavor – Fangzhuanchang No. 69 Zha Jiang Mian! This shop is world-renowned for its unique Zha Jiang Mian flavor! The noodles are chewy and elastic, the Zha Jiang sauce is rich and delicious, and paired with cucumber shreds, bean sprouts, and other vegetables, it's simply amazing! If you want to eat the most authentic Beijing Zha Jiang Mian, then this is the place to be! I guarantee you'll want more!
Nine, Manhengji Hot Pot – A Perfect Combination of Spicy and Beijing Flavors
Speaking of hot pot, there's one restaurant in Beijing that you absolutely must mention: Manhengji Hot Pot! This restaurant is widely praised for its perfect combination of spicy and Beijing flavors! The broth is made with a variety of chilies and spices, resulting in a rich, spicy, and delicious flavor. Paired with various fresh ingredients, it's simply irresistible! Moreover, the service here is exceptionally attentive and meticulous, making you feel right at home! If you want to eat the most authentic Beijing hot pot, then this is definitely the place for you!
Address: Sanlitun Road, Dongzhimenwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
08. Fucheng Road Food Street
There is a boutique food street outside Fuchengmen in Beijing, located between Dinghui Bridge and Hangtian Bridge. It is 3 kilometers long and about 30 meters wide. It is the most concentrated and highest-end food street in Beijing, catering to business banquets. Here you can find not only traditional Beijing cuisine, but also Cantonese, Hangzhou, Huaiyang, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and other regional flavors.
Old Beijing has a saying, "The east is rich, the west is noble," with many party, government, and military compound buildings concentrated in the west of the city. As night falls and the lights gleam, luxury cars and BMWs gather in front of the upscale restaurants here. Fucheng Road's food street is practically exclusively for the nouveau riche. If you want to eat authentic bird's nest, shark fin, and abalone, this is the place to be. Moreover, every restaurant here is luxurious and imposing, exuding domineering power. If you don't decorate your place with ornate carvings and magnificent decorations, you'd be embarrassed to open a shop here. For the nouveau riche, this is the perfect place to prove their wealth and power, and naturally, the quality of the girls here is also high. Address: Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing. 09. Xiaoyun Road Food Street. Xiaoyun Road is located between Sanyuan East Bridge on the Third Ring Road and Xiaoyun Bridge on the Fourth Ring Road. It's a long street running from southwest to northeast, a rare sight in Beijing. Lined with office buildings such as Jingxin Building, Modern Grand Building, Pengrun Building, Datong Building, and Air China Building, as well as upscale apartments like Jingrun Water Garden Villas, the area is very upscale, attracting a fashionable crowd. Therefore, the restaurants here naturally reflect this trend, offering mostly international cuisine. There are many famous restaurants on Xiaoyun Road, but they are generally small and known for their ambiance.
For example, there's the popular Lukang Town, the Thai-style Lemon Leaf, and the romantic French restaurant Faust. Various price ranges and flavors are available, and their unique and charming tastes create a sophisticated atmosphere on Xiaoyun Road, allowing you to enjoy delicious food in a comfortable space and experience happiness in an elegant environment.
For example, there's the popular Lukang Town, the Thai-style Lemon Leaf, and the romantic French restaurant Faust.
