The 7 BEST Things to Do in Beijing, China!
So, you’re planning a trip to Beijing, China and trying to find the best things to do in Beijing?
In just 24 hours of arriving in China for the very first time both Jordan and I had fallen head over heels in love with travelling China. The food, the people and the stunning architecture coupled with the perfect weather in early December.. How could you not? 😍
In this blog post we will go over the 7 best things to do in Beijing, including our recommendations to get the Great Wall of China to yourself!
From ancient world wonders to modern marvels, no trip to mainland China would be complete without visiting Beijing, so let’s get into it!
Beijing China Mini Guide
How to travel Beijing, China in bite-sized form to help you plan less and travel more!
Want to watch not read? Check out the China Vlogs here.
Best time to visit
- Peak Tourist Season (July to August)
- Best Time to Travel (Spring or Autumn)
Where to stay
- ($) Donghua Hotel
- ($$) Orange Hotel Wangfujing
- ($$$) Hilton Hotel Wangfujing
TOP ATTRACTIONS
*prices shown are accurate at the time of writing and, unless otherwise stated are in USD.
7 Epic Things To Do In Beijing China!
In this list we are going to cover ancient sites, must try foods and even our top tips & tricks for travelling China.
Super quickly, before we get into it as a general guide make sure you bring these things with you to each and every attraction:
🛂 Passport: You’ll need this with you at all times while travelling China anyway, but your tickets will be connected to your passport number!
💦 Water: These sights are huge and you will be walking around for longer than you realise, make sure to bring some water with you!
📸 Camera: This one’s obvious, right?!
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The Great Wall of China
Okay, we all know what the Great Wall of China is so instead of giving you a top line overview, I’m going to tell you a couple of fun facts we learnt about the wall on our journey!
🧱 It’s not just one wall – The Great Wall is actually a series of natural barriers and walls built by different dynasties over 2,000 years. If you combined all the sections, it would stretch over 21,000 km (13,000 miles) or about half the circumference of the Earth!
🌜You can’t see it from space – Despite the popular myth, astronauts have confirmed that the Great Wall is not visible to the naked eye from the Moon. However, certain sections can sometimes be seen from low Earth orbit under perfect conditions.
🚶♂️ Which Great Wall section should you visit?
First thing to note, is there are multiple ways to get to the Wall, with options to fit different timeframes, budgets, and adventure levels. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular sections:
Badaling – The Most Famous (and Busiest) Section
As you may know, the Badaling is the most well-known and easiest section to visit, located about 70 km from Beijing. It’s fully restored, has cable cars, and is the go-to choice for many first-time visitors.
✅ Pros:
- The most accessible section, with direct transport from Beijing
- Well-maintained with smooth walkways & plenty of facilities
❌ Cons:
- Can get extremely crowded, especially on weekends and holidays
- Feels the most “touristy” compared to other sections
Mutianyu – A Great Balance of Accessibility & Scenery (Group Tour Option)
Mutianyu is another restored section, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Beijing, this section is known for its beautiful landscapes, fewer crowds, and a fun toboggan ride down!
✅ Pros:
- Less crowded than Badaling but still well-restored
- Offers a mix of hiking, cable cars, and the famous toboggan ride
❌ Cons:
- Harder to reach without a tour or private driver
- Still a popular tourist spot, so it can get busy
Mutianyu – Private Tour (For a More Flexible Experience)
This is what we did and OMG do we think it was worth it. Not only was the experience stress free but with a flexible schedule we opted to head there as soon as it opened (7:30/8am).
This meant a wakeup before sunrise but this is how we got the Great Wall of China to ourselves!!
✅ Pros:
- No waiting for other people in a group
- More time to explore at your own pace
❌ Cons:
- More expensive than group tours
- You miss out on meeting other travelers if that’s your vibe
Visiting the Great Wall is a must-do experience that will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip to Beijing.
The Forbidden City
No visit to Beijing would be complete without visiting one of the most famous palaces in the world! It’s crazy to think that this massive complex was once off limits to the public for over 500 years! Now, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most visited attractions in China.
Just remember to buy your tickets in advance as they frequently sell out due to a daily visitor limit.
Get your tickets here:
Viator Forbidden City Tickets & Tours | Get Your Guide Entry Ticket
🏯 Did You Know?
- The Forbidden City was once home to 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties!
- It covers 180 acres, making it the largest imperial palace in the world. P.s You’ll want to wear comfy shoes!
✍️ Plan Your Visit:
Have I mentioned how huge this complex is? I mean, with 9,999 rooms, it would take 4+ hours to visit the whole thing!
The history here is insane, and having a guide makes it way more interesting. There are options for audio guides, tours or (of course) you can wander at your own pace and read the signs dotted throughout!
We opted for the Audio Tour (40 CYN / $5.51 USD / $8.66 AUD). This thing was PACKED with information and includes an LED screen that guides you through that labyrinth that is the Palace Museum. In the end, I was glad we had the Audio Guide ,however, there were plenty of signs throughout with all the key information!
✨ Must Visit Spots
✔ Hall of Supreme Harmony – The grandest hall where emperors held ceremonies
✔ Imperial Garden – A peaceful escape at the back of the palace
Personally, one of my favourite stops we made throughout the Imperial Palace was the cafe and restaurant! That’s right, within the Forbidden City that was constructed in 1406-1420 you can grab a (slightly overpriced) cappuccino! 🤯
My final tip is to get there early, we opted for the opening time slot and as we were there in winter we were treated to an amazing sunrise and golden hues as we entered.
🔥 REMINDER: The Forbidden City has a strict daily visitor limit, so we highly recommend booking your tickets as soon as you can!
🎟️ Booking Tickets for the Forbidden City
Tickets for the Forbidden City are available 7 days in advance. You can purchase directly, or as we would suggest, book through a third party such as Viator, Get Your Guide or Trip. This is because you can book further in advance and the agency confirms your tickets 7 days in advance.
You can grab yours here:
Viator Forbidden City Tickets & Tours | Get Your Guide Entry Ticket
Temple of Heaven
So, after The Great Wall of China, this was the Temple I was looking forward to the most! The Temple of Heaven is where emperors came to pray for good harvests and communicate with the heavens.
🏛️ Is The Temple of Heaven Worth It?
In a word, yes! The symmetry and symbolism here offers some of the most stunning architecture in Beijing! Plus, you can get a super cute Temple of Heaven shaped icecream (YUM!) there is more in this complex than meets the eye, make sure to check out:
- The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: The main attraction and architectural masterpiece somehow built without the use of a single nail!
- Circular Mound Altar and Echo Wall play with sound in crazy ways!.
🎟️ Tickets & Tips
- Opening Hours: 6 am – 8pm
- Entry Fee: 15-35 CNY depending on season & access level. Get a combo ticket if you want to explore everything!
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning would offer fewer crowds and a chance to see locals exercising. We visited in the afternoon and it was PACKED but fun!
Get Your Tickets Now:
Viator | Get Your Guide
👉 Read More: Where to Get The CHEAPEST Temple Of Heaven Tickets
Travel Safer & Easier
Peking Duck – A Culinary Delight
When in Beijing, you have to try Peking Duck – it’s not just food, it’s a cultural experience! This iconic dish has been around since the imperial era and is often considered one of the best duck dishes in the world.
🍽️ What’s All the Hype About?
Peking Duck is roasted to perfection and traditionally served with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and sugar. This dish is so popular you will see chefs carving Peking Ducks in the windows of restaurants throughout Beijing!
Where to Try the Best Peking Duck in Beijing:
Okay, so I had previously read a blog post that recommended Da Dong restaurant for the locals favorite Peking Duck. On our walk there, we met a group of three locals who steered us to this location, right near the Palace Museum.
They said it was cheaper and better, two key words if we’ve ever heard them! So, we put our trust in the friendly locals and I am so glad we did.
Eating here was one of my favourite memories from our time in Beijing. (check out the vlog here to see why!)
How to Eat Peking Duck:
This might seem obvious to most, but we had no clue so lets quickly go over how to eat Peking Duck.
- Firstly, Grab a wrap (using your hands is totally fine!)
- Secondly, Start with the skin (dip it in sugar—trust me!)
- Thirdly, Add the meat (dunk it in Hoisin Sauce and spread it around)
- Fourthly, Top with scallions and cucumber
- Finally, Roll it up and enjoy!
Tiananmen Square
Given that Tiananmen Square is one of the largest public squares in the world, it is no wonder it makes for an essential stop in Beijing.
Located in the heart of the city, Tiananmen Square is home to countless historical events, from the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China to protests that changed the course of the nation.
Here you will find the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong which is re-done every year! 🤯
🎟️ Getting Tickets/Reserving Times
The good news is, visiting Tiananmen Square is completely FREE!
Check out my blog post here for a step by step on how to get free tickets.
Of course, if figuring out WeChat is something you have no interest in, you can go through third parties who will secure you a reservation.
🌞 Best Time to Visit
You can reserve tickets for four different time slots, the flag raising (sunrise), morning, afternoon or evening. For a unique experience the flag raising is for you!
We attended in the afternoon and while the ques to get in where long, Tiananmen Square was not super busy!
🔥 Important: There are a few different entry points to Tiananmen Square, the Red Wall security checkpoints can have long lines due to their optimal location.
Wangfujing Street
Wangfujing is one of Beijing’s most famous shopping streets, with unique sights, street food, restaurants and central location – it’s no wonder this is the area we recommend you stay in!
This street is stunning during the day, but for the full effect you’re better off heading here at night! Follow your nose to try different street foods and keep your eyes peeled for a 3D LED billboard. 🤯
Of course, if shopping is your thing, this is the place to be – you will find luxury brands, epic malls and local gems.
The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace was once the royal family’s summer retreat (must be nice!) This offers a perfect escape from the bustling city of Beijing with epic parks, lakes, gardens and of course insanely beautiful palaces!
👀 READ MORE: How To Get Cheaper Summer Palace Tickets
💦 Kunming Lake – Take a boat ride to get unique views of the Palace grounds
🏛️ Long Corridor – The world’s longest painted corridor, stretching over 700 meters!
🌉 Seventeen Arch Bridge – This bridge is said to represent the 17 provinces of China during the Qing dynasty.
🪷 Tower of Buddhist Incense – An iconic structure with a stunning view of the entire palace, built to honor Buddhism.
⛰️ Longevity Hill – Hike up for a panoramic view of the Palace Grounds.
🎟️ Ticket Info
Tickets range from 10-30 CNY depending on the season. There are also combo tickets available as some temples within the complex (such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense) require an additional ticket.
You can purchase tickets through the WeChat Portal to avoid paying inflated costs.
Or for an easier option, you can book through a third party such as Get Your Guide or Viator.
Make sure to wear comfy shoes because you’ll be walking a lot!
FAQs on Things To Do in Beijing
Where should I stay in Beijing?
I would recommend finding a hotel in the Wanfujing area. Here you will find plenty of restaurants, shopping and be close to key attractions and public transport.
Things to do in Beijing at Night?
There is a number of amazing night markets throughout Beijing. One area to check out is Shichahai – here you will find street food, restaurants and bars on a colourful river.
Best Chinese Food to Try?
You can’t go wrong! We loved Beijing Pie and ended up here more than once – it had reasonable prices, delicious food and great locations (near Wanfujing and anmen square)
Final Thoughts on Things To Do in Beijing
Beijing is a city that has our hearts, we had such an incredible time here and got to check off some major bucket list items. Not only that, but we had amazing cultural experiences, moments with locals and ate our weight in delicious foods. What more could you ask for?
Have you been to China? What was your favourite thing to do in Beijing? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
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