Traveling in Beijing: What to Do and Where to Go on Your Beijing Vacation

Overview

Beijing is most well known for its role in China's imperialism, so, when most people imagine a trip to Beijing, they picture a city full of temples and palaces fit for emperors. And, while these ancient buildings still stand, they are now situated among the skyscrapers and freeways that make Beijing one of China's most modern cities. Northern Beijing is the home of the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, the most visited and scenic section of the old barrier between dynasties. Mid-Beijing is home to the Forbidden City -- the Chinese imperial palace during the mid-Ming and the Qing Dynasties -- now a World Heritage site. North of the Forbidden City lies Tiananmen Square, home of the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. In western Beijing lies the Summer Palace, another World Heritage site, and one of the top destinations in China known for its combination of breathtaking natural and manmade scenery.

Historical and Architectural Attractions

A trip to Beijing would be incomplete without taking the time to revel in the sheer beauty and immensity of the city's historical landmarks. Beijing is home to many World Heritage sites, including the Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China, the Ming Dynasty Tombs, the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, and the Temple of Heaven. It's the enrapturing combination of brilliant architecture combined with striking landscape that makes these destinations an absolute must-see (and photograph) for tourists.

Nightlife