10 Fun Things to do in Beijing: Beginner Itinerary Guide

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You know, China as a whole really threw me for a loop. I don’t often get culture shock, for the most part I am extremely adaptable to new situations, and even more so as I continue growing and learning as a traveler. But China flipped everything upside down for me, mostly in a good way. During my first trip to China, I spent two weeks between various cities, but I started off the journey in Beijing. Largely because it was the cheapest city to fly into, but also as the country’s capital and one of the largest cities in China, there are so many things to do in Beijing that it just felt right to start there.

I visited back in 2019, though with a city more than 3 millennia old, I doubt tooo much has changed in terms of the iconic things to do in Beijing, haha. That said, I do want to be transparent that I might be missing some of the newer flashier additions, but overall this list will definitely get you the bulk of history, culture, shopping, and notable things to do in Beijing for a fulfilling itinerary!

Quick Overview

So…what’s the deal with Beijing anyway?

First, if you’re American, you may be pronouncing it wrong. It’s pronounced literally as spelled “bei-jing.” There is no z sound. I KNOW, it shocked me to that it’s not Beizhing…I don’t know where we go that from, but it’s incorrect. Bei. Jing. Beijing. Cool, all on the same page now.

Beijing, formerly known as Peking, is divided into five districts; Dongcheng, Xixheng, Chaoyang, Haidan and Fengtai. With over 21 million people living within the city limits, there’s no way you’re going to be able to tackle EVERY SINGLE cool event or things to do in Beijing, but even having a few days will allow you to see the highlights.

I technically spent six days in Beijing, but two of those I was outside of the city on day trips. Still, four days felt super sufficient in exploring the top things to do in Beijing. I do think some of the attractions were more appealing than others (because of my own personal preference), but they all have their unique charm that might appeal to other travelers. So just note that even if I didn’t vibe with it, don’t discount it off the bat!

Now, without further ado, let’s discover some of the best things to do in Beijing (with a few free attractions for good measure).

Top Things to do in Beijing

To keep things simple (and achievable), we’re going to touch on some of the most iconic things to do in Beijing if you only have a few days to a week. Most of the top attractions and things to do in Beijing only take a few hours, so if you are strategic you can knock multiple ones out in the same day. Beijing is also a fairly convenient city, with most of the major attractions being close to at least one metro station.

Less popular attractions…well, you might have to walk a bit, but I digress haha.

Tiananmen Square (Free Entry)

Tiananmen Square is located in the center of Beijing. The vast square measures 765 x 282 meters, which is almost four (American) football fields! Tiananmen Square is flanked by many of China’s most important buildings and museums such as the Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong’s mausoleum, the National Museum of China and the Forbidden City (more on that last one later).

Tiananmen is best known in the west as the site of protests and the subsequent crackdown, however it remains an important cultural center for China, so it’s kinda one of the MUST things to do in Beijing. At least to peak at it, yanno? Plus, as Tiananmen Square is centrally located, it makes a great starting point for exploring the city.

Address: Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Time needed to visit: under one hour for the square itself
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: free
Nearest metro: Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West (Line 1)

Forbidden City

During the time of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1420 to 1912), the imperial seat of China was located in Beijing at the Forbidden City (The name “forbidden” because normal people could not enter). (Potentially) Surprisingly, the city escaped the destruction of the Cultural Revolution and many of the hundreds of buildings remain intact.

The palaces and buildings within the city cover an area of 720,000 square meters so if you do decide to walk through all/most of it, make sure you bring comfortable shoes. That’s a lotta football fields!

Address: 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District
Time Needed to Visit: 2-4 hours
Opening Hours: 08:30 to 17:00
Entrance Fee –
- Low Season (Nov to Mar): ¥40 ($6 usd)
- High Season (Apr to Oct): ¥60 ($9 usd)
Nearest Metro: Tianmen East or Tianmen West (Line 1)

Tickets should be purchased on the website 10 days in advance, but there is no English translation. You can book a tour of the Forbidden City, or if you have WeChat/Alipay, you can scan the QR code at the entrance on the day. However, there is a limit of 80,000 people so if this has been reached, you won’t be able to enter.

Imma be real with y’all…I really don’t remember paying for a ticket. So I don’t know if I somehow did and I forgot or…I might’ve just walked in. Who’s to say. I don’t advise that though, you should definitely buy tickets haha.

Now…another honestly…this is one of the top things to do in Beijing that felt skippable to me. Or…at least a quick dip in and then dip out. The Forbidden City is cool and extremely important to China’s history and culture, but it wasn’t engaging enough to me. So I wouldn’t say that the Forbidden City is overhyped, buuut…I would’ve been good to leave after fifteen minutes. But that’s just me personally!

Great Wall of China

There are a couple of misconceptions about The Great Wall; one that it can be seen from space, and the other that it was one giant wall enclosing northern China off from the lands north of it. Although neither are in fact correct, it is still one of the most impressive sites in the world and one of the top things to do in Beijing.

The wall consisted of a series of fortifications built at different time periods. Parts of the great wall can be dated as far back as the seventh century BC, however the sections of the wall as we know them today date from the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644).

There are a few sections of the wall reachable from Beijing, with the easiest and most popular being Badaling, so I’m going to recommend that one since it is the most convenient and is the most wheelchair accessible. Now, since I am Kay and un poco loco, I went to like six different sections of the Great Wall. It was…an adventure for sure, but I do not recommend it.

One, because it was expensive lol. But also because while there are someee variations (especially with the more “wild” sections), you really get the gist of it with just one section. So…just visit Badaling for the most straight-forward option.

Address: 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng
Time Needed to Visit: half a day to a full day
Opening Hours: 06:00 to 19:00
Entrance Fee –
- Low Season (Nov to Mar): ¥35 ($5 usd)
- High Season (Apr to Oct): ¥40 ($6 usd)
Nearest Metro: Beijing North Railway Station

You can purchase tickets at the ticket office at the entrance to the wall. Be aware that it is busier in the morning. If you go in the late afternoon, there are far fewer people. Moderate level of fitness required if you with to hike the 3.5km (~2.1miles) open to the public.

Take the bullet train from Beijing North Railway Station. There are 13 trains daily between 06:30 and 18:00. The journey takes just 20 minutes and tickets cost ¥30 ($5 usd). You can also take bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station, close to Jishuitan Metro. The journey takes around 90 minutes and costs ¥12 ($1.7 usd). Alternatively, you can book a guided tour of the Great Wall to learn more of the history, and there are also options to add on the Ming Tombs.

Summer Palace

One of the best things to do in Beijing is to visit the beautiful Summer Palace on the outskirts of the city. The palace sits atop a large lake with a backdrop of mountains. The USESCO listed Summer Palace was built during the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912) as an escape from the heat of the city. The area covers 540 acres of serene gardens, lakes and buildings. It’s one of the most scenic things to do in Beijing.

Address: Yuantian Road, Xiaoshan District
Time Needed to Visit: three to four hours
Opening Hours: 06:30 to 18:00
Entrance Fee–
- Low Season (Nov to Mar): ¥50 ($7.50 usd)
- High Season (Apr to Oct): ¥60 ($9 usd)
Nearest Metro: Beigongmen (Line 4)

I personally only spent about an hour since I had added it onto my itinerary as an afternoon activity and it was approaching closing time. I did one walk around the a garden that circled a very scenic pond, and that felt good to me. It ended up being one of my favorite things to do in Beijing. Of course, you could definitely spend a whole four hours here if you’re someone who loves to stroll.

Temple of Heaven

Another ode to the Qing and Ming Dynasties, the Temple of Heaven was a place the imperial place of worship and sacrifice. The beautiful round temple is situated in a large green park and offers a wonderful escape from the city.

The towering temple was constructed in 1420 to mark the eighteenth year of reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. Here sacrifices were made to ensure a good harvest.

Address: 1 Tiantan East Road, Dongcheng District
Time Needed to Visit: 1-2 hours
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:30 (the park and outer gates are open from 06:00 to 10:00).
Entrance Fee –
- Low Season (Nov to Mar): ¥28 ($4 usd)
- High Season (Apr to Oct): ¥34 ($5 usd)
Nearest Metro: Tiantan Dongmen (Line 5)

Yonghe (Lama) Temple

Omg I know I know, there’s a lottt of temples on this list, but this one is just gorgeous! I suppose they all are, so if you’re a fan of looking at stunning architecture, this is one of the best things to do in Beijing! If not…well, just pick one and you should be good. The Yonge Lama Temple is one of the largest and best-preserved lamaseries (Buddhist spiritual center) in China. The temple was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty and was the home a young prince named Yongzhen who later went on to become Emperor.

The Lama Temple is one of the most impressive Buddhist sites outside of Tibet. The temple is conveniently located close to some of Beijing’s hutongs which can be explored after a visit.

Address: 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District
Time Needed to Visit: around one hour
Opening Hours: 09:00 to 16:30
Entrance Fee: ¥25 ($4 usd)
Nearest metro: Yonghegong (Line 2 & 5)

Bell and Drum Towers

The Bell and Drum Towers located in central Beijing were ancient musical instruments which went on to become the clocks of the city to keep time. First constructed in 1272, they have been rebuilt several times after suffering fires.

There are daily drum performances put on for tourists from 09:30 to 16:45.

Address: Zhonglouwan Hutong, Andingmen, Dongcheng District
Time Needed to Visit: around one hour
Opening Hours: 09:30 to 16:45
Entrance Fee: ¥30 ($4.50 usd)
Nearest Metro: Shichahai (Line 8) or Guloudajie (Line 2)

Try Peking Duck

One of the most famous foods from Beijing is the Peking Duck. Which has been a favorite of city residents since imperial times. The ducks are cooked in large stone ovens until the skin is crisp, and then served with a thin pancake, spring onion, cucumber and hoisin sauce.

There are many such restaurants serving traditional Peking duck around the hutongs and just off Tiananmen Square. Some of the best include:

Siji Minfu Restaurant
Beijing Dadong Roast Duck
Dadong Roast Duck
The Horizon (Kerry Hotel)
Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant
Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Once you have Peking Duck in Beijing…honestly everywhere else is just going to be a disappointment. It is SO GOOOOD. Sorry to all my vegans and vegetarians but man…I’d fly back for the duck alone.

Old Summer Palace

The Old Summer Palace is a controversial place and stirs strong feelings in many Chinese people. Yuanmingyuan as it was known in imperial times, was a beautiful series of palaces, gardens, pavilions and lakes that was looted and burned to the ground by the French and English during the second Opium war.

All that remains of the palace now is rubble, making it more appealing to dark tourists.

Address: Yuanmingyuan Park, Haidong District
Time Needed to Visit: one to two hours
Opening Hours: 07:00 to 18:00
Entrance Fee: ¥10 ($1.50 usd)
Nearest Metro: Yuanmingyuan (Line 4)

Baiwang Mountain Forest Park

If you’re looking for a nature escape, the Baiwang Mountain Forest Park is one of the best things to do in Beijing. A beautiful forest park in the hills above the city and very close to the Summer Palace, making it a two birds one stone situation. There are great views across Beijing and the surrounding mountains from the pavilion at the top.

Address: 19 Beibeikou, Heishan, Haidan District
Time Needed to Visit: 2-3 hours
Opening Hours: 07:00 to 18:00
Entrance Fee: ¥30 ($4.50 usd)
Nearest Metro: Anheqiao North (Line 4)

Getting to Beijing from Beijing Capital Airport

The airport express leaves terminals 2 and 3 regularly from 06:00 to 22:30. The train links with Beijing metro at Dongzhimen where you can transfer to anywhere in the city. Cost is ¥25 ($3.5 usd). Depending on where you’re staying in the city, your hotel might also offer free or cheaper airport shuttles like The Orchid Hotel (in an older part of town, more residential and less touristy) or the Beijing Le Zai Nan Luo Gu Xiang Wang Fu Jing (near the Forbidden City by metro).

Getting around the city

Beijing is a huge place, but many of the top things to do are located together (Tiananmen Square, hutongs, Forbidden Palace, Bell and Drum Towers etc). The best way to get around is by using the metro and then exploring each area on foot.

With the exception of the Great Wall all of these Beijing attractions are reachable by metro.

Taxis are best avoided as they can be difficult to hail, especially for foreigners who many drivers see, to ignore. If you do take a taxi ask for the meter to be turned on rather than accepting an arbitrary inflated fee. Same if you take a small tuk tuk, and agree on the price PER PERSON. One tried to scam me by saying the price we agreed upon was per person instead of total. I just walked away after paying the agreed price (I also didn’t have any more than that so…#CantScamABrokeGirl)

Local buses, although cheap at only ¥1 or ¥2 are best avoided for non-Mandarin speakers unless you know the exact route. The timetables are not in English and buses tend to get very crowded. Remind me to tell you about the time I rode the bus for like…an hour in the wrong direction in Chengdu, China lol.

Another great way to get around is by making use of the shared bikes. You will need the Alipay or Wechat apps for this and be able to (or have a friend that) speaks Mandarin. I didn’t take the bike route, but it would definitely help keep your feet intact after all that walking. Plus, I can see it being very cute – it might even be another cute option for things to do in Beijing. Maybe I’ll just sign up for a Beijing bike tour, haha.

Best Time to Visit Beijing

While there is no “bad weather, only ill-prepared clothing,” being mindful of when you visit can make your experience a lot more comfortable and give you a better experience.

Autumn (fall) is a great time to visit Beijing as the heat of the summer fades and the nearby mountains erupt into a fiery cascade of oranges, reds and yellows. I visited in November and the temperatures were alright, though a little chilly in the mornings and nights. The scenery was gorgeous though! Next time I might aim for October.

Spring is another pleasant time in the city after the snows of winter have melted. The flowers will definitely liven up the city, and all of the garden strolls will be that much more beautiful. Just…try to avoid Chinese New Year if at all possible. It will be…packed.

If it can be helped, I don’t typically recommend summers or winters, as they are both extremely uncomfortable. Summers can be hot and smoggy and winters are very cold (think -4F/-20C).

Conclusion: Things to do in Beijing

Whewww okay wow I can’t believe we got through all of that! I know it wasn’t a full itinerary (I might need another trip to Beijing for more data!), but hopefully it will be a good start to planning your next trip to China if you’re stopping by the capital to take in some of the best things to do in Beijing. I’ll be putting together another list of some of the free (and almost free) things to do in Beijing at a later date, but this should get ya the basics.

While my personal favorite city so far is Chengdu (volunteering with Pandas definitely swayed me!), Beijing is a must visit in my opinion. There’s also a TON of great day trips you can take from Beijing, which I highly recommend if you have the time. I visited Tianjin on a day trip and it was such a great change of pace.

Have you ever been to Beijing? What did you think of the city? What would you add to your “must do” things to do in Beijing? Let me know in the comments below!

10 Fun Things to do in Beijing: Beginner Itinerary Guide

Quick Overview