.jpg){kind=link}
01
1 hour
Mutianyu
慕田峪长城旅游区
Mutianyu is a restored section of the Great Wall in Huairou District, north of Beijing.
- Must see
- Nature site
City guide · China
Beijing
Beijing is vast, but its principal historic sights align around the north-south imperial axis. Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan form the central sequence, while the Temple of Heaven lies south and the lake, hutong and palace districts extend north and west. Great Wall sections and imperial tombs are separate day journeys outside the urban core.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type A, C and I · 220 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Not recorded
- No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs
Turn this list into a plan
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walking, subway and city bus
- January: recurring difficult conditions
- February: recurring difficult conditions
- March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- April: good time to visit
- May: best time to visit
- June: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- July: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- August: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- September: best time to visit — current month
- October: best time to visit
- November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- December: recurring difficult conditions
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- worldweather.wmo.int Checked 2026-08-28
- www.cma.gov.cn Checked 2026-08-28
- english.beijing.gov.cn Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
14 places match
14 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
-
-
02 1 hourJingshan Park
景山公园
Jingshan Park is a historic imperial garden located immediately north of the Forbidden City in central Beijing. The park centers on Jingshan Hill, an artificial mound created from earth excavated during the construction of the Forbidden City's moat.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
03 1 hourBeihai Park
北海公园
Beihai Park is an imperial garden located in central Beijing. It is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
04 1 hourShichahai
后海公园
Shichahai is a historic scenic area in central Beijing, comprising three connected lakes: Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai. The name literally means Ten Temple Sea, referencing temples that once bordered the water.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
05 1 hourOld Summer Palace
圆明园遗址公园
The Old Summer Palace, known in Chinese as 圆明园 (Yuanmingyuan), was an extensive complex of imperial gardens and palaces in Beijing. Constructed during the Qing dynasty, it served as a primary residence and administrative center for emperors.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
06 1 hourFragrant Hills
香山公园
Fragrant Hills Park is a historic imperial garden and public park in the Haidian District of northwestern Beijing. The site occupies a forested hillside area and has served as a retreat and scenic destination for centuries.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
07 1 hourTemple of Earth
地坛公园
Ditan Park, known in Chinese as 地坛公园, is a historic imperial altar complex located in Beijing.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
08 1 hourTemple of the Sun
日坛公园
Ritan Park, known locally as 日坛公园, is a historic park located in Beijing's Chaoyang District.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
09 1 hour月坛公园
Yuetan Park, known locally as 月坛公园, is a historic park located in Beijing, China. It forms part of the city's cultural heritage as one of the ancient altar complexes.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
10 1 hourTanzhe Temple
潭柘寺
Tanzhe Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in the Western Hills of Beijing. Known locally as 潭柘寺, it stands as one of the most ancient temples in the Beijing region with deep cultural significance.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
11 1 hourOlympic Forest Park
奥林匹克森林公园
Olympic Forest Park is a major public park in Beijing, China, created as part of the legacy infrastructure for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The local name is 奥林匹克森林公园.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
12 1 hourGrand Canal Forest Park
大运河森林公园
Grand Canal Forest Park is a large green space in Beijing’s Tongzhou District beside the historic Grand Canal. It offers a quieter, more open way to experience the waterway, combining woodland, paths and canal-side scenery.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
13 1 hourHouhai
什刹后海
Houhai is the northernmost of the three lakes in Beijing’s Shichahai water area, alongside Qianhai and Xihai. Its name means “Back Sea,” reflecting its position north of the former imperial city.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
14 1 hourBeijing Garden Expo Park
北京园博园
Beijing Garden Expo Park is a large landscaped park in Fengtai District, created as the lasting venue of an international garden exposition.
- High
- Nature site
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
How the city is laid out
Plan the Forbidden City axis as one long central route and avoid pairing it with a distant outer attraction. The Temple of Heaven and Qianmen fit a southern cluster; Shichahai, Drum Tower and nearby hutongs form a northern cluster. The Summer Palace occupies a western half-day, while any Great Wall section requires its own transport plan.
Checked 2026-08-26
Getting around
Beijing’s official guidance describes the subway as the most convenient public transit for major attractions and transport hubs. Use rail for cross-city moves, then walk within each historic cluster. International bank-card access is available at supported gates under current guidance. Distances and security checks can add time, so leave margins around major monuments and railway stations.
Checked 2026-08-26
Common questions
How many days should I spend in Beijing?
A fixed stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces, then add Great Wall sections and imperial tombs only when the available time supports a separate journey.
What is the best way to organise sightseeing in Beijing?
Group places by district instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Start with the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces; treat Great Wall sections and imperial tombs as separate routes with their own travel allowance.
How do I get around Beijing?
Use Walking, subway and city bus. Walk within compact clusters and consult the linked official transport information before making longer transfers or relying on a particular route.
Can I explore Beijing mainly on foot?
Only within individual neighbourhood clusters. The main visitor areas are separated by distances, waterways, major roads or regional approaches, so longer links normally need public transport or a licensed vehicle.
Which Beijing sights need separate transport planning?
Plan Great Wall sections and imperial tombs separately from the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces. Check the current route, return connection and any access requirements on the official source before departure.