Things to do in Beijing

Much of Beijing has been beautified and restored in preparation for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and never has any other city in China seen such a diverse range of attractions. Old favourites such as the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven Park and the Lama Temple are cultural icons of Beijing and it can take days to explore just single sections of these attractions, while several outstanding parks and museums offer alternatives.

Beijing Aquarium

The Beijing Aquarium is the largest inland aquarium in the world and offers a great day out for the family, especially on hot or rainy days. Attractions at the aquarium are aplenty and include: a shark aquarium, where visitors can dive alongside the sharks, and a mammal pavilion with dazzling displays. Other marine life includes whales and dolphins as well as a whole host of colourful creatures. There is also an Amazon rainforest area on-site.

Beijing Underground City

Mao had a network of tunnels built under Beijing as a direct result of Russia’s nuclear arsenal and the fear that it would destroy China. Construction work started in the late 1960s, with the idea being to transfer the city underground. Today, much of the tunnels are inaccessible to tourists; however, you can visit certain sections of the network, where warehouses, hotels and restaurants were built. There are dozens of entrances to the tunnels that are hidden away among the shops along Qianmen's main streets.

Beijing Zoo

Although Beijing Zoo is not highly revered, it does have some pandas and is also home to the impressive Beijing Aquarium, which is the main attraction. More impressive than the zoo’s displays is its location within ancient gardens, complete with attractive lakes and fine old buildings.

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City harks back to the grand days of the almighty Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of Beijing’s unmissable attractions. Also known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City is home to magnificent courtyards and ancient structures, and is best seen early in the morning, before the tourist hordes arrive. The palace remains relatively untouched, although a partially hidden Starbucks coffee shop on a corner somewhat spoils the effect.

Great Wall

Parts of China’s greatest tourist attraction and icon are within reach of Beijing and are an absolute must on any itinerary. The wall remains the world’s longest manmade structure, stretching across 4,000 miles of mountainous terrain, from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur, and separating North China from Inner Mongolia.

Construction started in the 3rd century BC and went on until the 17th century. The Badaling section of the Great Wall is the most accessible from Beijing by bus or taxi, but it is also, unfortunately, the busiest section. One section is accessible by ski lift and it is advisable to wear warm layers in the winter due to the altitude. The Jin Shan Ling, Huang Shan and Si Ma Tai sections are further away from Beijing, but are not so busy with tourists.

Lama Temple

Lama Temple is a series of temples in the northeast of the city, which were built by Chinese emperors who were interested in Tibetan Buddhism. There are five huge halls and courtyards here, with classic upturned, tiered eaves and impressive, highly decorative archways. Inside the various temples and courtyards are fine carvings and statues of Buddhas, gods and demons as well as Tibetan-style murals. Home to Tibetan and Mongolian monks in the past, the Lama Temple still harbours many monks.

Milu Yuan

Milu Park harks back to the days when the Yuan, Ming and Qing emperors spent their time hunting deer, pheasant and rabbit as well as practicing military exercises. The park is located on the Southern Marshes and is the best place in Beijing to view and study animals.

Pere David's deer (the milu) is the park’s main attraction; a deer-like animal which became extinct in China during the Qing dynasty yet was rescued by Lord Bedford who procured 18 milu from zoos across Europe. This was at the end of the 19th century and, today, there are now hundreds in the ecology centre and in the wild. Also on-site is the excellent World Extinct Wildlife Cemetery, other endangered animals, pesticide-free plots of land and a maze.

Summer Palace

Beautifully located on the shores of Kunming Lake, near Beijing, the Summer Palace features extensive gardens and palaces, built by the Qing emperors in the mid-1700s. Although the palaces were twice razed by foreign armies, they were rebuilt and have lost none of their original glory and splendour, with elaborate pavilions, walkways, bridges and gardens. The whole site is extremely grand and features many quiet areas such as the ruins and caves of the back hill area. The front hill and west bank are busier but nonetheless beautiful.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven was constructed at the same time as Tiananmen Square by the Yongle emperor and was originally intended to promote the health of the empire by being a site for performing rites and sacrifices. The attraction features a large and impressive altar to Heaven and a lively park where the locals practice tai chi in the mornings. The temple can be found to the southeast of Qianmen and Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square
The massive Tiananmen Square was Mao’s answer to the Forbidden City and is the largest square in the world, which is able to accommodate a million people at a squeeze. The square is fascinating and ideal for people-watching and hanging out, with its vast space and Soviet-style buildings. Numerous important buildings surround the square including: the Gate of Heavenly Peace; Great Hall of the People; Front Gate; Museum of Chinese History; and the Chairman Mao Mausoleum. The four marble lions standing in front of Tiananmen Gate are also impressive, while the flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk is also worth a look.

Museums
Beijing has a good collection of museums including the Museum of Chinese History, which features China's largest collection of historical artefacts (some of which are fake) and the Museum of Chinese Revolution. For a glimpse at modern art, take a look at the Red Gate Gallery, which was founded by an Australian art historian. The Ancient Observatory is also popular and features bronze astronomical instruments, which include intricately-decorated hoops, slides and rulers hailing from the 17th and 18th centuries.