Beijing Top Ten

The Olympics has catapulted Beijing into a top destination to visit. Here is our guide to the top ten must-sees in Beijing.

Published 10 August 2008 in Travel Articles

1. Great Wall of China
This has to be top of the hit list for first time visitors to Beijing. Unsurprisingly, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Legacy in 1987. It spans 6700 km and it took over 200 years to complete. The intention was to keep invadors out and the locals in. Qin Shihuang (221-210 BC), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty ordered the building of the wall to keep out the Huns from the North. At its closest point it is less than 60km/40 miles from Beijing.

The wall is crumbling and some segments have been restored with four main sites available from Beijing: Badaling, Mutianyu, Huanghua Cheng and Simatai.

Sites:
Badaling: 44 miles (70 km) North West of Beijing. Bus 1 from Qian Men
Entry: RNB 45
Open: 7.30am-5pm daily

Mutianyu: 56 miles (90 km) North of Beijing. Bus 6 from Xuanwu Men
Entry: RNB 34
Open: 7am-6.30pm

Huanghua Cheng: 37 miles (60 km) North of Beijing
Entry: RNB 25
Open: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 7.30am-5.30pn Sat, Sun

Simatai: 68 miles (110 km) North East of Beijing. Bus 6 from Xuanwu Men
Entry: RNB 40
Open: 8am-5pm

2. The Forbidden City - Gu Gon in Chinese - aka Palace Museum
For almost five centuries, from the Ming Dynasty to the Quing Dynasty, The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors and their household as well as serving as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese Goverment. It was called The Forbidden City, because entry was strictly prohibited and unauthorised entry would lead to death!

This rectangular-shaped monument is located in the middle of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square and is an exemplary example of traditional Chinese palatial architecture. It is laid out over a huge area of 720,000 square metres that has over 800 buildings and 9999.5 rooms (because only heaven could have 10,000 rooms).

Although this is the historic heart of the Chinese Empire dating back to the 15th century, most of the buildings now date back to the 18th century. The city wall is red, but, as yellow is the symbol of the royal family, the Fobidden City is mostly yellow. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles, decorations are in yellow and so is the ground.

It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

Address: Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District
Forbidden City website
Entry: RNB 60 April 1-October 31, RNB 40 November 1-March 31
Buy your tickets at the Meridian Gate or to avoid queues enter from the Gate of Divine Prowess and visit in reverse.
Open: 8.30am to 5pm. April 16-October 15, to 4.30pm October 16-April 15, Allow three hours.
Getting there: Subway Tian'an Men Xi or Tian'an Men Dong

3. Ming Tomb (13 Tombs in Ming Dynasty)
The thirteen tombs of the Ming Emperors are located 50km Northwest of Beijing at the foot of the Tianshou Mountains. Construction of the palatial mausoleum started in 1409 and lasted 4 years. Only the Chang lLng, tomb of Emperor Zhu Di and his empresses, the Dingling tombs, mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the thirteenth and longest serving emperor during the Ming Dynasty and the Zhaoling tomb (the twelfth emperor of the Ming Dynasty) are open to the public.

Each emperor's tomb was built at the foot of a separate small hill, but they share a main road called the Sacred Way, and visitors are allowed to walk along its 7 km (4.3 miles) if they wish. Spirit Way is part of this approach and is lined with 18 pairs of giant guardians.

Getting there: Tourist bus routes 1,2,3,4,5. Bus 845 from Xizhi Men (near subway) to Zhengfa Daxue in Changping then a taxi or bus 314 to Da Gong Men.
Entry: to the scenic spots is free.
Spirit Way: RNB 3-
Chang Ling Tomb: RMB 30 November 01 to March31 / RMB 45 (April 01 to October 31
Dingling Tomb: RMB 40 November 1 to March 31 / RMB 60 (April 1 to October 31)
Open: Chang Ling Tomb: 8:30am-5.30pm / Dingling Tomb: 8.40am- 6pm.

4. Tian'anmen Square
This is the biggest city-based square in the world and it was here in 1949, from a rostrum on Tian'anmen Guangchang (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), that Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Tian'anmen Square is circled by Tian'anmen (Gate of Heaven Peace) on its north; the Great Hall of the People on its west; on the east lies the National Museum of China. There are Monument to the People's Heroes and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum on the south.

Tourists and locals mingle here and kite fliers use it to enjoy their sport. This is also where national celebrations are held and where leaders address their people. To give you an idea of size, there are lampposts kitted with megaphones so that crowds of 10,000 people can hear. You can visit the balcony that speakers use (for a small fee) and from here you will get a lovely view over the square. At night the square is lit up giving off a lovely glow.

At sunrise and sunset, the Chine flag, located at the northern end of the square, is raised and lowered by a squad of military men of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Traffic is halted for the occasion and many come to view, so get there early to get a pitch with a good view. You can enter the square freely until 10.30pm.

Getting There: Bus No.1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 52, 57, 22, 54, 120, 802, special bus No.1 and get off Zhongshan Park stop or Tian An Men stop. Subway: Tian'anmen Xi or Tian'an Men Dong or Qian Men
Entry: Tiananmen Square: Free
Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace): RMB 15
The Great Hall of the People: RMB 15
Chairman Mao's Mausoleum: RMB20 Visit in the morning to avoid queues.
The National Museum of China: RMB30

5. Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)
This is a large park and temple complex that served as a sacred site for five centuries during the Ming and Quing emperors. Here the emperor would make sacrifices during the winter solstice, and pray to heaven and his ancestors, on behalf of his people for bumper harvests. In fact, the complex has the largest sacrificial place in Beijing with imperial altars to Heaven, Earth, the Sun, the Moon super natures.

The park has a large tower made from wood without nails and a thousand species of trees, some over 600 hundreds of years old. Locals go there to practise martial arts and play chess.

There is also an echo wall built in a complete circle. If you stand by the wall, the words are carried along the wall and can be heard on the other side.

Address: on the east of Tianqiao, Chongwen District 67018866
Open: Park 8am-6pm, Temple 8am-5pm
Entry: Park free, Temple RMB 30
Getting there: Buses 6, 20, 39, Subway Chongwen Men or Qian Men

6. Summer Palace
Located in the north west corner of Beijing next to the university, this was once a place of rest and relaxation for the emperor but now it is used as a public park.

Pride of place is the huge lake and a promenade encircling it. There are towers, halls and temples that climb the hillside if you do to you will get a fabulous view over the lake and its environs. You can rent an electric powered boat or join a group on teh dragon boat. Boat rides stop at 4.30pm.

Entry: RNB 50 April-October, RNB 40 Novenber to March. Audio guides are available for RNB 30
Open: 8.30am-8pm April to October, 7am-7pm November to March. Last admission 2 hours before closing.
Getting there: From Beijing centre a taxi will take 50 minute. Subway Xizhi Men then bus number 32 or 808 from the zoo.

7. Underground City
This is an underground bomb shelter just beneath the city. It was built more than 20 years ago and opened to the public in 2000. It was built as a result of the Sino-Soviet border conflict in 1969 over Zhenbao Island in northeast China's Heilongijang River. This was bult in case of nuclear attack. It took 300,000 locals four years to complete the underground city and it spanned 85 square kilometres 8 metres below the surface. There were hundreds of entrances via trap doors to the shelter and most of these are hidden by shops and houses.

It was designed to house 40% of the capital's population who would have access to shops, restaurants, clinics, schools, theatres, reading rooms and even hairdressers. A mushroom cultivation farm was also installed to grow foods that require little light.

Address: There 62 West Damochang Street, Qianmen, tel. 6702-2657.

8. Wangfuijing Dajie (Street)
This street is the traditional centre of Beijing that has been renovated into a pedestrian-only zone in 2000 and this is where you should go to for some retail therapy. The street is not for the faint hearted - it is very long and if you were to walk the length of it without stopping to window shop, it would take around half an hour. There are two shopping malls, one of which, the Oriental Plaza, sprawls over two blocks to the east, potentially adding another 15 minutes.

Shops include food stalls, department stores, Chinese art, silk, tea and souvenir shops. Don't forget to pop into the chopstick shops. At night all the neons light up the streets and some shops stay open to 9pm. The highlight is the night market offering a range of open-air food stalls.

To the north is city's most important church, the triple-domed, Baroque style St Joseph's Church. It is also known as the East Cathedral. First built in 1655 t was renovated a few times after a fire, an earthquake and destruction during the Boxing Rebellion. It's recent renovation cost over US$2million. It is approached by a gateway and piazza and beautifully lit up at night.

Getting there: Subway Wangfujing
Open: Night market 5.30pm-10pm
Address St Joseph's Church: 74 Wangfujing Dajie
Getting there: Sumbway Dengshikou

9. CCTV Tower
If you have had your fill of ancient history, this modern tower may fit the bill. It is home to TV and radio stations and if you go up you'll get a great view over western Beijing. Later you can dine at its revolving restaurant.

Getting there: The tower is in the western suburbs of Beijing and can be reached by subway by getting off at the Gong Zhu Fen (110) Line 1 station and walking north 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively you can get a taxi.

10. Beijing Zoo
Situated in the Xicheng District, Beijing Zoo is the largest in China. This is a fully fledged zoo with more than 3,500 species from around the world. But its unique feature is its giant pandas.

Address: 131 Xi Zhi Men Wai Avenue, Xi cheng District, Beijing, 100044, Tel: +86 10 6831 4411
Beijing Zoo website
Open: 7.30am to 6pm
Getting there: The Beijing Zoo is located in the north west of Beijing not too far from the center. Taxi is your best bet for getting there, but you do have the option of taking the subway to Xi Zhi Men station (201) on Line 2 followed by walking 15 to 20 mins or taking a short bus ride.

Click here for our need-to-know guide to Beijing

HAVE YOU BEEN TO BEIJING. DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR TOP TENS? LET US KNOW.

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