Place

Museum of Ancient Architecture

This museum should definitely be visited as it houses some of the most magnificent ruins and remnants of famed Chinese architecture. The halls which store these treasures are themselves historically significant as they were once part of the Altar of Agriculture where Chinese emperors came to pray during plantation and harvesting season and performed rituals pertaining to these. The Hall of Jupiter is amazing and should not be missed.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

Timings: Daily 9 A.M- 4 P.M

Admission: Y 15 Address: Dong Jing Lu 21 Tel: 010-6301-7620

More places in Beijing

Keep exploring Beijing.

Explore all

beijing

Great Hall of the People

Building

The Great Hall of the People is one of ten buildings (creatively known as the Ten Great Buildings) constructed to honor the tenth anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in 1959. All are around today – among them the National Museum of China, the Beijing Railway Station, and the Chinese People’s Revolutionary Military Museum. All were built in the modernist style, heavily influenced by Soviet architecture. The most important of these is the Great Hall of the People, home to the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body.

beijing

Military Museum of the People's Revolution

Museum

This fascinating museum dedicated to China’s military and its history first opened in 1960. The building’s edifice is a striking example of Socialist Realism. Even before entering the museum, there’s no doubt that it’s related to the military. Outside is a row of artillery cannons and a decommissioned boat. Once you get inside, the main hall is filled with tanks, planes, and a rocket.

beijing

Olympic Park

Park

The 2008 Summer Olympics signified China’s return as a global economic power. It’s hard to forget the spectacular opening ceremony. Three years on, the Olympic Park is still there and open to the public. The centerpiece of the park is the Beijing National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest. Its edifice is unmistakable. Though no teams call the Bird’s Nest home, and few concerts or sporting events are held there, it still manages to be profitable thanks to the steady stream of visitors who want to relive Olympic glory.

beijing

Summer Palace

Palace

When the Hailingwang Emperor of the Jin Dynasty moved the capital back to Beijing, he needed a new palace to escape the sweltering summers. The site he chose was on Gold Mountain (now Longevity Hill), about 12km northwest of Beijing. The Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty renovated the palace and the gardens in the 18th century. Kunming Lake was expanded to resemble the famous West Lake in Hangzhou. During the Second Opium War in 1860, the palace was destroyed by British and French forces. Under the Empress Dowager Cixi, the palace was subsequently rebuilt in 1893, only to be destroyed once again during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. The Summer Palace we see today was the product of another restoration in 1903 (also by Cixi). It was open to the public during the Republic of China and eventually turned into a park.

beijing

White Cloud Temple [Baiyun Guan]

Temple

This magnificent and massive temple dates back to 739 A.D. Followers of the Daoist religion come to worship here. Chinese monks in traditional costume also can be seen here. This is an interesting temple to visit.

beijing

The Great Wall

Sight

Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall is not visible from the moon, or even Earth’s orbit. Nevertheless, it is one of mankind’s great engineering achievements. The various kingdoms of ancient China had been no stranger to walled fortifications, and when the Qin Dynasty was established in 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered several existing walls to be merged together. Succeeding dynasties continued expanding the wall and renovating existing sections.

beijing

Capital Museum

Museum

The Capital Museum is one of Beijing’s newest. It first opened in 1981, and moved into its current location in 2005. Initially, it wasn’t much more than a storehouse, completely overshadowed by Beijing’s other museums. Now it stands as one of its best, thank to the new building, which is an attraction in its own right. With more than 60,000m² of floor space and room for 13 concurrent exhibitions, it’s now Beijing’s second largest museum. Inside the huge entrance hall rises all the way to the ceiling. The exhibits are housed across five stories.

beijing

What to do with kids in tow

Activity

Beijing Aquarium This is an inland aquarium which exhibits numerous species of under water creatures. Dolphin shows take place daily and are a highlight of this aquarium. A panda house is located nearby as well.

beijing

Beijing Aquarium

Activity

This is an inland aquarium which exhibits numerous species of under water creatures. Dolphin shows take place daily and are a highlight of this aquarium. A panda house is located nearby as well.

beijing

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Temple

This has to be one of the most stunning edifices in all of Beijing if not in all of China. The hall dates back to the early 1400s. It is made of wood and the roof is absolutely fantastic consisting of blue tiles in intricate design. The pillars that hold it up are also wooden and the number of these is significant since they symbolize time in terms of the number of seasons and the number of months in the year. This imperial structure was burnt to the ground when lightning struck it in the late 1880s but it was rebuilt the following year. This structure is especially dazzling because of the fact that it is approximately 125 feet high and has been built without a single nail being hammered into it!

More restaurants in Beijing

Keep exploring Beijing.

Explore all

beijing

Made in China

Located in the grand Hyatt Hotel, Made in China offers a variety of authentic Chinese specialties, including Peking duck. As you might expect in such a nice hotel, the décor is opulent and the food delicious. The service is good and the staff is attentive too. If you want the duck, call in advance.

beijing

Le Cafe Igosso

'Down to earth' best describes the atmosphere inside this restaurant. Unpretentious delicious food coupled with reasonable prices makes this a stop worth making. Sea food lovers and vegetarians will both be satisfied by the dishes listed on this menu. The pastas as in any Italian restaurant are delectable.

beijing

Peking Duck

No trip to Beijing is complete without trying the city’s specialty: Peking duck. This delicacy emerged during the Ming Dynasty and was the meal of choice in the Forbidden City. It has been a staple in Beijing cuisine ever since. Pekin ducks are specifically bred for use in the dish. After the duck is slaughtered and de-feathered, air is pumped in through the neck to separate skin and fat. It is then boiled and left to dry, before finally being cooked in a closed or hung oven.

beijing

Hot Pot

No trip to China is complete without trying hot pot. You start with a cauldron of boiling broth and add whatever meat (usually deli sliced), noodles, and vegetables you want. Traditionally, mutton is used, but pretty much anything you could want is available depending on the restaurant, from the mundane (chicken and beef) to more exotic fare like tripe, fish balls, and even frogs. Many places have a buffet from which you can make a sauce to dip your food in.

beijing

Kejia Cai

This restaurant is especially interesting because the interior epitomizes Han culture. Han cuisine known as 'Hakka' is at its ultimate here. The shrimp and other sea-food dishes are the specialty. Arguably the best food in all of Beijing is served here.

beijing

Lily Vegetarian Restaurant

This is a family restaurant. The interior is simple and sparkling clean. Absolutely divine vegetarian dishes are served here. The soups, the broths, salads and rolls are cooked using quality ingredients.

beijing

Cafe Sambal

This restaurant provides outstanding service and offers a vast array of dishes to choose from. Sea food is the specialty and all kinds of it- lobster to crab to shrimp to trout are excellently cooked. The vegetarian dishes are also delicious.

beijing

Shanghai Fengwei Canting

Set amidst a beautiful man-made forest guests, will be paying more for the ambience and not necessarily the food. The décor and the furnishings are traditionally Chinese. The place is luxuriant and quality food is to be expected. The sea food dishes are exceptionally good.

beijing

Restaurant Bar Lounge [RBL]

This is an extremely posh restaurant. The décor and interior are minimalist, contemporary, chic and stylish. The menu has listed on it eclectic and diverse dishes from sushi to beef to chicken. The deserts too are delectable. Customers will not regret eating here.

beijing

Ariya

Decadent best describes the interior of this restaurant. The Sea food dishes are marvelous and the deserts are to die for.

More hotels in Beijing

Keep exploring Beijing.

Explore all

beijing

St. Regis Beijing

This hotel is located in Chaoyang district. It has a wonderful ambience; the hotel staff is extremely helpful. Rooms and bathrooms are spacious with lovely furnishings. The restaurants serve fantastic quality food. In room facilities include a mini-bar, a hair dryer, a safe, an AC, a DVD Player and a TV. Hotel facilities include restaurants, swimming pool, a gym, squash courts, billiard rooms, a health spa, a salon, laundry service, 24 hour room service, dry cleaning and a shopping mall.

beijing

Novotel Beijing Sanyuan

This hotel seeks to accommodate both business travelers and tourists. The hotel is located nearly ten kilometers from the city center, but conveniently located next to some of Beijing’s bigger tourist draws, including the Beijing Aquarium and Underground City. Furthermore, the hotel is just across from the nearest metro station, which makes navigating the city fairly reasonable. The 305 guestrooms in this establishment each come furnished with cable television, a mini bar, and a safe. The hotel comes with a number of recreational facilities, among them a swimming pool, fitness room, golf course and tennis courts. You will also find a sauna and a beauty center within the hotel. The hotel has one restaurant that serves excellent fare, which comes in addition to the lobby bar. High-speed internet throughout the building, as well as a useful business center, helps make this an attractive location for business travelers as well.

beijing

Sofitel Wanda Beijing

Budget Hotels

This luxury hotel deserves its five star label. The hotel is located in the heart of the city, a short distance from many of Beijing’s most popular attractions, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Each of the 417 rooms comes with the latest high-tech amenities and 24-hour room service. A range of options for room type and size allows you to customize your stay to your needs. The hotel has a number of restaurants and lounges that serve all types of cuisine; Traditional Chinese, Japanese and French cuisine among them. The hotel also has a spa, fitness center, and an indoor pool for your comfort and relaxation. Business travelers will find that the hotel has many seminar rooms, which, like everything else here, are decorated beautifully in Sofitel’s artistic manner. Business travelers will also have access to the business center, which provides for basic printing needs and is serviced with high-speed internet. Large ballrooms can fit over one thousand guests, making this an excellent location for large gatherings and events. A stay here will certainly be convenient and luxurious.

beijing

Feiying Binguan

Budget Hotels

This hotel cum hostel has extremely reasonable rates, whilst guests have to help themselves to most things the rooms and bathrooms are quite comfortable. The hotel's proximity to the metro station and bus stops is a huge advantage as well. In room facilities include the TV and AC. Hotel facilities include a bar, laundry facilities [self-service] and internet access.

beijing

Novotel Peace Beijing Hotel

Moderate Hotels

This hotel enjoys a central location being situated in the Dongcheng District. Prices are more than reasonable and the rooms and bathrooms are comfortable. In room facilities include a mini-bar, a hair dryer, a safe, an AC Satellite TV. Hotel facilities include restaurants, a bakery a pool and Jacuzzi, a gym, a sauna, laundry service, dry cleaning and 24 hour room service.

beijing

Haoyuan Binguan

Moderate Hotels

This hotel has a good location. It is a renovated house belonging to the Qing Period. The décor keeps in mind the style of that time- lanterns, statues of lions, canopies and courtyards are all to be found. Rooms are quite comfortable. In room facilities include a fridge, AC and satellite TV and a hair dryer. Hotel facilities include a restaurant, internet access, laundry service and dry cleaning.

beijing

The Peninsula Palace Beijing

This hotel is arguably the best in town- it is both extravagant and luxurious. The location is perfect - it is situated in Dongcheng, the centre of the city. The service is impeccable as the facilities available here. In room facilities include satellite TV, AC, 42 inch Plasma TV, DVD player, wireless internet, a mini-bar, a hair dryer and a safe. Hotel facilities include babysitting services, car rental service, restaurants, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a health spa, massage services, laundry service, 24 hour room service and dry cleaning, saunas, and a shopping arcade.

beijing

China World Hotel

Moderate Hotels

This hotel is located in the Choayang District. The location is excellent. The rooms and bathrooms are tastefully furnished and more than comfortable and the service is outstanding. In room facilities include a mini-bar, a hair dryer, a safe, an AC and a TV along with broadband internet. Hotel facilities include restaurants, swimming pool, tennis courts, a health spa, a salon, laundry service, 24 hour room service, dry cleaning, and a shopping mall.

beijing

Hilton Beijing

This hotel is located in northeast Chaoyang. Hilton is famous worldwide for its service which fails to disappoint. The décor of the rooms and bathrooms is both chic and stylish. In room facilities include a mini-bar, a hair dryer, a safe, an AC and satellite TV. Hotel facilities include restaurants, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, squash courts, a tennis court, a health spa, massage services, a salon, laundry service, 24 hour room service, dry cleaning, babysitting services and a car rental service.

beijing

Grand Hotel

This hotel was built in 1990. The location is excellent and rooms look out on to the Forbidden City. Rooms and bathrooms are spacious enough with elegant furnishings. In room facilities include a mini-bar, a hair dryer, a safe, an AC and Satellite TV along with broadband internet. Hotel facilities include restaurants, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a health spa, a gym, massage services, a shopping mall, 24 hour room service, laundry service and dry cleaning.