Attractions

Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall, nestled in Miyun District about 120 km northeast of central Beijing, is the only UNESCO-listed section of the Wall that retains its original Ming Dynasty appearance. Spanning 5.4 km of rugged ridgeline along the Yanshan Mountains, it boasts the densest concentration of watchtowers anywhere on the Wall—35 in total—and features a spine-tingling Heavenly Ladder and a razor-thin Sky Bridge. Simatai is also the only section in China to offer year-round night tours, when floodlights trace the Wall's sinuous dragon-like silhouette across the dark mountains. For travelers seeking an authentic, less-restored adventure away from the crowds at Badaling or Mutianyu, Simatai delivers raw scenery, Ming-era engineering brilliance, and some of the most dramatic vistas in northern China.

National Museum of China

The National Museum of China, standing east of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, ranks among the world's largest museums by floor space and houses one of humanity's most significant collections. Its "Ancient China" exhibition showcases国宝 treasures like the Houmuwu Ding, the Four-Ram Square Zun, and the enigmatic Sanxingdui bronze masks, offering an unparalleled journey through five millennia of civilization. Admission is free, making this temple of Chinese heritage an essential stop for any visitor seeking to understand the depth and continuity of one of the world's oldest living cultures.

Temple of Heaven Park

The Temple of Heaven, a sprawling 273-hectare imperial park in southern Beijing, stands as the world's largest and best-preserved ancient altar complex where Ming and Qing emperors once performed sacred rites to Heaven. Built in 1420—just decades before Columbus sailed for the Americas—this UNESCO World Heritage site unites three masterpieces along a single north-south axis: the stunning triple-eaved Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the open-air Circular Mound Altar, and the acoustically magical Echo Wall. Its blue-glazed tiles and soaring wooden columns embody a cosmic vision that shaped Chinese civilization for half a millennium.

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, is China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden, hailed as a "Museum of Imperial Gardens." Originally known as the Garden of Clear Ripples (Qingyi Yuan), it was first constructed in 1750 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It was destroyed by Anglo-French forces in 1860 and later rebuilt under the patronage of Empress Dowager Cixi in 1888, when it was renamed the Summer Palace. Centered around Longevity Hill (Wanshou Shan) and Kunming Lake, the garden masterfully integrates natural landscapes with man-made structures, embodying the classical Chinese gardening principle: "Though crafted by human hands, it appears as if created by nature itself." Notable attractions within the garden include the Long Corridor—stretching 728 meters and adorned with over 14,000 colorful paintings—the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiang Ge), the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, the Marble Boat (Shifang), and the Garden of Harmonious Pleasures (Xiequ Yuan), each reflecting profound historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance. Kunming Lake occupies three-quarters of the entire garden’s area and offers scenic boat rides, while the pavilions and halls scattered across Longevity Hill provide panoramic views of Beijing from elevated vantage points. As an outstanding example of classical Chinese garden design and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Summer Palace continues to captivate countless domestic and international visitors with its unique blend of elegance and grandeur.

The Palace Museum

The Forbidden City, located in the heart of Beijing, served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Construction began in the fourth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty (1406) and took 14 years to complete, giving it a history of over 600 years. As the world's largest and best-preserved ancient wooden architectural complex, the Forbidden City covers an area of 720,000 square meters and comprises more than 9,000 rooms, symmetrically arranged along a central axis. It is divided into two main sections: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court, centered on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, was where grand state ceremonies and important rituals were held. The Inner Court includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and the Six Eastern and Six Western Palaces, serving as the living quarters for the emperor and his consorts. With its red walls, golden-tiled roofs, intricately carved beams, and painted rafters, the Forbidden City exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional Chinese architecture and embodies the ritualistic culture of imperial supremacy. Today, as the Palace Museum, it is open to the public and houses a collection of over 1.8 million precious artifacts, standing as a vital symbol of Chinese civilization and a treasured World Heritage Site.

Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace

Located on the east side of Tiananmen, Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace is a comprehensive scenic area that blends imperial ancient architecture, garden artistry, and modern cultural functions. Centered on the Three Great Halls and steeped in centuries of history, the site features vermilion walls and golden glazed tiles that embody profound cultural heritage. Towering ancient cypresses, elegant pavilions, and serene courtyards create an atmosphere that is both solemn and refined. As a public cultural and leisure venue, the palace hosts year-round exhibitions, performances, and community activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors to experience the cultural ambiance of the capital. It is perfect for history enthusiasts, photography lovers, families, and cultural explorers seeking a tranquil retreat in the heart of bustling downtown.

Hongluo Temple

Nestled in the forested hills of Beijing's Huairou District, Hongluo Temple is a 1,680-year-old Buddhist sanctuary, founded in 338 CE—predating many of Europe's great medieval cathedrals. Revered as the premier Buddhist temple of northern China, it carries the saying "In the south lies Putuo, in the north lies Hongluo." The temple is celebrated for its "Three Wonders": a Yuan Dynasty imperial bamboo grove, twin ancient ginkgo trees known as the "husband-and-wife trees," and an 800-year-old pine entwined with wisteria. Combining sacred atmosphere with mountain scenery, it remains a beloved destination for spiritual reflection, blessing-seeking, and quiet escape from the capital's bustle.

Badachu Park

Nestled in the western foothills of Beijing, Badachu Park (Eight Great Sites Park) is a rare Buddhist temple complex where eight ancient monasteries, dating back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, climb a forested mountainside. The park's crown jewel is Ling Guang Temple, which houses one of only two surviving sacred relics of the Buddha's tooth in the world. For just 10 yuan, visitors can wander through 332 hectares of lush woodland (95% forest coverage), hike between centuries-old temples, and enjoy spectacular autumn foliage that rivals any European mountain retreat. It's a perfect escape from Beijing's bustling city center.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall, a 5.4-kilometre highlight of the Ming-era Great Wall, lies nestled in the forested mountains 73 kilometres northeast of Beijing. Often described as the "finest section of the Great Wall," it offers a wilder, less-crowded alternative to the busier Badaling stretch, with dense woodlands covering 96 percent of the surrounding slopes. Visitors ride enclosed cable cars up to the ramparts, where rare twin-sided battlements and an unusual triple-tower fortress known as Zhengguan Tai await exploration. A National AAAAA-rated World Heritage Site, Mutianyu blends centuries of frontier history with sweeping mountain scenery across all four seasons.

National Library of China

The National Library of China, located on Zhongguancun South Street in Beijing, was originally established in 1909 as the Metropolitan Library. It is China's oldest and largest national comprehensive library. The current library complex comprises the Wenjin Street Rare Books Branch and the Baishiqiao Main Library, with a total floor area exceeding 250,000 square meters and a collection surpassing 40 million volumes (items). Its treasures include rare ancient texts such as the Yongle Encyclopedia (Yongle Dadian), oracle bone inscriptions, and Dunhuang manuscripts. Equipped with modern reading rooms, a digital resources center, and exhibition spaces, the library not only offers extensive academic resources but also regularly hosts cultural lectures and thematic exhibitions, making it a vital cultural landmark dedicated to knowledge services, cultural heritage, and public education.