Beijing

Undoubtedly one of the world’s top tourism destinations — and officially one of the New Seven Wonders of the World — the Great Wall stretches for thousands of kilometres across northern China. From Beijing, the easiest section to reach is Badaling, about 70 km from the city. It’s well restored and has a cable car, but it also draws the biggest crowds. Mutianyu is another popular choice with fewer tour groups if you go early. For a wilder feel, head to Simatai or Jinshanling, where much of the wall is original and the hikes are longer. Huanghuacheng is partly submerged by a reservoir, so you get the unusual sight of watchtowers half surrounded by water.

Tiananmen Square is where Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The square is dominated by the red Tiananmen Gate and Mao’s enormous portrait, which you’ll see everywhere. Every morning at sunrise, there’s a flag-raising ceremony, and on the first day of the month, it’s done with a military band. The square is also home to the Monument to the People’s Heroes, a 38-metre granite obelisk in the centre, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, where people still queue to pay respects.

Once home to China’s emperors, the Forbidden City has more than 800 buildings and nearly 10,000 rooms. This vast imperial household opened to the public in 1949, and it’s remarkably well-preserved. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, covered in thousands of dragon motifs, hosted grand ceremonies, while the Palace of Heavenly Purity was where emperors lived, with bedrooms and private halls. Walking through the courtyards and along the red walls, it’s easy to feel the scale and ritual of life here.

Built in the mid-18th century for the Qing emperors as a retreat from the heat of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is a vast imperial garden centred on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, both man-made. The lake was modelled on Hangzhou’s West Lake, with islands, bridges, and long covered walkways. Scattered around are pavilions, temples, and a recreated riverside street designed to look like a traditional market town. Later restored under Empress Dowager Cixi, it became her favoured residence. Today, it’s worth visiting not just for the palaces themselves, but for the long lakeside walks, shaded courtyards, and the sense of space that feels very different from central Beijing.

Built in the early 1400s, around the same time as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors prayed for good harvests. The vast park contains several ceremonial buildings, the most striking being the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its blue-tiled roof and intricate wooden ceiling. The original hall was destroyed by lightning in 1889 but rebuilt soon after. Other highlights include the Hall of Abstinence, where emperors fasted before rituals, and the Circular Mound Altar — a three-tiered marble platform symbolising heaven itself. Today, the park is as much about everyday life as it is about history: locals gather here in the mornings for tai chi, dancing, and music.

Built in 1694 as the residence of the future Yongzheng Emperor, the site was later converted into a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and remains one of the most important of its kind outside Tibet. The complex is a series of richly decorated halls and courtyards filled with incense smoke and prayer wheels. Inside the Falun Dian stands a bronze statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school. The highlight for many is the towering 18-metre-tall Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood, housed in the Wanfu Pavilion.

Once a 1950s military factory complex, 798 has been converted into Beijing’s best-known contemporary art district. The old concrete workshops and warehouses now house galleries, studios, and design shops, featuring everything from major exhibitions to small, experimental shows. You’ll find photography, video art, installations, and plenty of one-off pieces that change all the time. The area has also filled up with cafés, bars, and restaurants, so it’s easy to spend a few hours wandering, eating, and people-watching. It’s in the Dashanzi area, northeast of the centre, and the mix of Mao-era industrial buildings and modern art is half the experience.

Liulichang, whose name means 'Glazed Tile Factory', started as a hub for Beijing’s literati and artisans and remains a centre for traditional arts and culture. The 750-metre street is full of shops selling Chinese paintings, calligraphy brushes, ink stones, antiques, and rare books — perfect for collectors or anyone curious about traditional crafts. Restored and expanded in the late 1980s, it’s a good place to wander slowly, soak up the old-school atmosphere, and maybe pick up a souvenir that feels genuinely local.

Oriental Plaza is a massive complex combining retail, offices, serviced apartments, and a hotel, but the shopping area is the main draw for visitors. Shops are arranged in themed zones, offering a mix of international and local brands, along with cafés and restaurants. A central feature is the colourful musical fountain, and the mall also includes a cinema and other attractions family-friendly attractions.

China World Mall in Beijing’s Chaoyang District is a modern, multi-level shopping complex that brings together both luxury and mid-range brands. You’ll find international designers such as Dior and Gucci, alongside home décor stores, electronics shops, and more affordable fashion outlets. The mall also has a cinema, an ice rink, and a range of cafés and restaurants.

Ten Fu’s Tea is a well-known chain stocking a wide range of high-quality Chinese teas from across the country. Stores carry green, oolong, black, and scented teas, along with teapots, accessories, and gift sets, perfect place if you want to bring home a piece of traditional tea culture.

Hongqiao Market, often called the Pearl Market, is one of Beijing’s most visited indoor markets and a handy stop if you’re after jewellery or general bargains. The upper floors are packed with pearl vendors, especially freshwater pearls, and it’s worth taking a lap before committing, as quality and prices vary noticeably from stall to stall. Lower levels mix electronics, clothing and assorted souvenirs. If you’re looking to pick up jewellery, it helps to compare shops and examine pieces closely; some vendors will customise items on the spot.

Qianmen Street is one of the oldest and most well-known shopping streets in Beijing. It stretches about 840 metres along Beijing’s historic central axis, just south of Tiananmen Square and heading towards the old city gates. The pedestrianised boulevard pairs Qing-style façades and carved archways with modern shops and restaurants, creating a mix of old Beijing charm and contemporary retail. On one end you’ll find long-established shops selling fine teas, silks and Chinese medicines; venture further and you’ll hit familiar international brands, cafés and snack stalls.

Liulichang Street is a compact, pedestrian thoroughfare in central Beijing that’s long been associated with scholars, artists, and calligraphers. Here you’ll find shops specialising in the 'four treasures' of the Chinese scholar: brushes, ink sticks, paper, and ink stones. There are also galleries selling scrolls, paintings, seals, and other cultural curios.

Wangfujing Street in the Dongcheng District is one of Beijing’s best-known shopping avenues, with a commercial history stretching back to the Ming Dynasty. The pedestrian area runs for around 1.8 km and features large modern malls as well as older “time-honoured” shops selling teas, silk fabrics, and traditional goods. Just off the main street, you’ll find the well-known snack alleys, where scorpion skewers and other unusual items are sold largely for the spectacle.

Xidan Joy City is the main modern mall in the Xidan commercial district, drawing a younger, fashion-focused crowd. Spread over more than ten floors, it houses international brands with a good selection of contemporary Chinese labels, along with electronics shops, cafés, and a large food court, plus a handful of entertainment spaces, including a Ferris wheel.