Itineraries
Where to stay
Shichahai and the hutongs for old-Beijing lanes; the east side of the Forbidden City for first-timers who want the palace on foot; Qianmen for the Temple of Heaven and time-honored restaurants.
The areas: Shichahai and the hutongs, East of the Forbidden City, Qianmen.
Where to stay in Beijing: areas and adviceHotels in BeijingPlaces to see
All things to do in ChinaRuinsBadaling Great WallA section of the Great Wall 60 km northwest of Beijing, listed by UNESCO in 1987.Entry: Real-name tickets; reserve ahead at busy times
NatureBeihai ParkOne of the oldest imperial gardens in China, laid out around a lake with Qionghua Island at its heart.Entry: Pay at the gate
TransportBeijing North Railway StationThe Xizhimen rail station with frequent trains to Badaling Great Wall station.Entry: Book train tickets with your passport
TransportBeijing West Railway StationThe rail hub for high-speed trains to Xi'an North, the fastest taking a little over 4 hours.Entry: Book train tickets with your passport
FoodDi'anmen Outer StreetThe street running north to the Drum Tower, with time-honored snack and paomo restaurants.Entry: Pay as you go
FoodGuijie (Ghost Street)One of Beijing's earliest snack streets, known for crawfish, with many restaurants open around the clock.Entry: Pay as you go
FoodHuguosi StreetA lane of time-honored snack shops, including the Huguosi Snacks flagship founded in 1956.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointJingshan ParkA hilltop royal garden directly north of the Forbidden City, on Beijing's central axis.Entry: Pay at the gate; exhibition periods cost more
TempleLama Temple (Yonghe Temple)Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, a former imperial residence that is still an active place of worship.Entry: ¥[fee]
NeighborhoodNanluoguxiangA pedestrian hutong district laid out in a grid in the Yuan dynasty, open all day.Entry: Free to visit
FoodNiujieOx Street, Beijing's Muslim quarter, known for halal Beijing snacks and long-standing restaurants.Entry: Pay as you go
MuseumPalace Museum (Forbidden City)The walled imperial palace of the Ming and Qing emperors, entered from the south through the Meridian Gate.Entry: Book online ahead; no same-day tickets
FoodQianmen StreetA pedestrian street south of Tiananmen Square, home to time-honored roast duck and shaomai restaurants.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointSeventeen-Arch Bridge, Summer PalaceThe long stone bridge across the Summer Palace lake, famous for low winter sun shining through its arches.Entry: Included in Summer Palace entry
NeighborhoodShichahai lakeside at Yinding BridgeA lakeside hutong area north of Beihai Park, known for the Yinding Bridge and old Beijing lanes.Entry: Free to visit
NatureSummer PalaceA Qing imperial garden of halls, corridors and pavilions around a lake, rebuilt and renamed in 1886.Entry: Park daily; extra-ticket halls closed off-season Mondays
TempleTemple of HeavenThe largest surviving complex where emperors worshiped Heaven and prayed for good harvests.Entry: Park daily; halls closed Mondays except public holidays
FoodXisi North StreetA north-south street of time-honored Beijing eateries, from Yanji cold noodles to steamed buns.Entry: Pay as you go