
Beijing Attractions


Tiananmen Square





The Mutianyu Great Wall
The Mutianyu Great Wall is about 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing. It's the most famous section for foreigners . Unlike Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu has a beautiful landscape all the year round, but less tourists there. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, served as a very important a...
The Mutianyu Great Wall is about 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing. It's the most famous section for foreigners . Unlike Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu has a beautiful landscape all the year round, but less tourists there. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, served as a very important and strategic pass in the old days. There are two unique features of the Mutianyu Great Wall. The other parts of the Great Wall have battlements on the outer sider only. But the surroundding wall of the Mutianyu section with merlons on both sides. So, you can image how important strategic place it was .Sometimes, the enemy came from either side. Another feature of Mutianyu Great Wall is the branch walls. Which was built on the mountain ridge but connected with the main wall. There was the watch tower on the branch wall also.
It's accessible by cable cars from below, and use the toboggan to slide down.
Bus No. 926 to Huai rou Country , and take a Mini bus ( 10 RMB or 20 RMB ) to the Great Wall.

The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, about 20 kilometers away from the center of the city. It is formed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake ,covering a total area of over 290 hectares while Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the whole area. As the best pr...
The Summer Palace is located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, about 20 kilometers away from the center of the city. It is formed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake ,covering a total area of over 290 hectares while Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the whole area. As the best preserved imperial garden in the world and one of the largest of its kind still existing in China today, it was placed on the List of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.
According to the legend ,there were supposed to be 3 islands called Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang to the east of Bohai Bay, where people believed that the Gods lived. One of the island-Penglai Island was where a kind of Chinese herbal medicine grew which was supposed to prolong people’s lives. Emperor Qin Shihuang ,the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty and Emperor Wu Di in the Han Dynasty both sent lots of people to look for the herbal longevity medicine in Penglai Island but both of them failed . After the failure, Emperor Wu Di ordered people to dig a big pool at the back of his palace with 3 artificial hills representing the 3 Fairland Mountains of Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang. Since Han Wu Di built a big pool with 3 artificial hills in his garden, this layout became a traditional legendary style of gardening followed by one dynasty after another. The Summer Palace was also built in this traditional style.
“Although it is artificial, it looks like the masterpiece from the hands of God.” This is a basic construction theory in our ancient Chinese Architecture . And the Summer Palace has been the most beautiful illustration of it.
East Gate of the Summer Palace (Dong-gong-men Stop):
Bus 330、331、332、346、394、712、718、726、732、737、801、808、817、826
North Gate of the Summer Palace (Bei-gong-men Stop):
Bus 303、330、331、346、375、384、393、634、716、718、737、801、808、817、834、Express 5
South Gate of the Summer Palace ( Xin-jian-gong-men Stop):
Bus 374、437、481、952、704、992
West Gate of the Summer Palace ( Xin-jian-gong-men Stop):
Bus 469

The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)


Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall

Organized Tour - If you go with a tour group, try to pick one that not only gets you where you want to go, but also doesn't take you where you don't want to go. Tourists are sometimes not allowed to leave "factories" or "galleries" until they buy something which is, of course, overpriced.


The Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are located in Changping District, about 50 kms to the northwest of Beijing. This imperial cemetery covers an area of 80 km2 with 13 Ming emperors, 23 empresses, many imperial concubines, princes and princesses buried here. These tombs are the best preserved of all Chinese imperial...
The Ming Tombs are located in Changping District, about 50 kms to the northwest of Beijing. This imperial cemetery covers an area of 80 km2 with 13 Ming emperors, 23 empresses, many imperial concubines, princes and princesses buried here. These tombs are the best preserved of all Chinese imperial tombs. There are a total of 13 Ming emperors buried in this area, so it is called the “13 Ming Tombs” in Chinese. In 1961, the Chinese Government listed the 13 Ming Tombs as one of the important monuments under special preservation, and in 2003, the 13 Ming Tombs were listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO.
So far, only 3 tombs are open to the public- Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling. And only the underground palace in Ding Ling was excavated.

Jinshanling Great Wall
The initial section of the wall has been restored to original condition, so I was totally amazed by its historic beauty and landscape. Unlike the bareness of Simatai section, Jinshanling is the real Great Wall in my heart. There was nobody on the Wall when we were hiking. The Great Wall is all y...
The initial section of the wall has been restored to original condition, so I was totally amazed by its historic beauty and landscape. Unlike the bareness of Simatai section, Jinshanling is the real Great Wall in my heart. There was nobody on the Wall when we were hiking. The Great Wall is all yours! More pictures in my mini-album in Synotrip.
Cable Way: CNY 50 (round-trip) ; CNY 30 (one-way) By Bus 1. Take a bus to Miyun County at Beijing Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station, and take the local tourist bus to Jinshanling Great Wall in Miyun County. 2. Take a bus to Chengde at Liuliqiao Long Distance Bus Station, the bus leaves at about every one hour between 08:00 and 18:00, and get off at Jinshanling Intersection, and take a taxi or walk to Jinshanling Great Wall.

Beijing National Stadium
The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the bird's nest will be the main track and field stadium for the 2008 Summer Olympics and will be host to the Opening and Closing ceremonies. In 2002 Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. Pritzker Prize-winning archi...
The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the bird's nest will be the main track and field stadium for the 2008 Summer Olympics and will be host to the Opening and Closing ceremonies. In 2002 Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron collaborated with ArupSport and China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. The stadium will seat as many as 100,000 spectators during the Olympics, but this will be reduced to 80,000 after the games. It has replaced the original intended venue of the Guangdong Olympic Stadium. The stadium is 330 metres long by 220 metres wide, and is 69.2 metres tall. The 250,000 square metre (gross floor area) stadium is to be built with 36 km of unwrapped steel, with a combined weight of 45,000 tonnes. The stadium will cost up to 3.5 billion yuan (422,873,850 USD/ 325,395,593 EUR). The ground was broken in December 2003, and construction started in March 2004, but was halted by the high construction cost in August 2004.
In the new design, the roof of the stadium had been omitted from the design. Experts say that this will make the stadium safer, whilst reducing construction costs. The construction of the Olympic buildings will continue once again in the beginning of 2005.
In depth
The stadium's appearance is one of synergy, with no distinction made between the facade and the superstructure. The structural elements mutually support each other and converge into a grid-like formation - almost like a bird's nest with its interwoven twigs. The spatial effect of the stadium is novel and radical, yet simple and of an almost archaic immediacy, thus creating a unique historical landmark for the Olympics of 2008.
The stadium was conceived as a large collective vessel, which makes a distinctive and unmistakable impression both from a distance and when seen from up close. It meets all the functional and technical requirements of an Olympic National Stadium, but without communicating the insistent sameness of technocratic architecture dominated by large spans and digital screens.
Visitors walk through this formation and enter the spacious ambulatory that runs full circle around the stands. From there, one can survey the circulation of the entire area including the stairs that access the three tiers of the stands. Functioning like an arcade or a concourse, the lobby is a covered urban space with restaurants and stores that invite visitors to stroll around. Just as birds stuff the spaces between the woven twigs of their nests with a soft filler, the spaces in the structure of the stadium will be filled with inflated ETFE cushions. Originally, on the roof, the cushions were to be mounted on the outside of the structure to make the roof completely weatherproof, but the roof has been omitted from the design in 2004.
While the rain was to be collected for rainwater recuperation, the sunlight was to filter through the translucent roof, providing the lawn with essential ultraviolet radiation. On the facade, the inflated cushions will be mounted on the inside of the structure where necessary, e.g. to provide wind protection. Since all of the facilities -- restaurants, suites, shops and restrooms -- are all self-contained units, it is possible to do largely without a solid, enclosed facade. This allows for natural ventilation of the stadium, which is the most important aspect of the stadium's sustainable design.
The sliding roof was an integral part of the stadium structure. When it was to be closed, it would have converted the stadium into a covered arena; however, the sliding roof was eliminated in an effort to cut costs and increase overall safety of the radical new structure.
Pagination
Beijing Articles

Ten Famous Hutongs
Of the more than 1,000 alleys left, there are ten most distinctive ones attracting thousands of tourists from home and abroad. Some of them are famous for the old-style buildings, while some house many traditional and time-honored workshops. Walking along the crisscrossing lanes, you will definately immerse in the peaceful atmosphere.
South Gong and Drum Lane (Nanluogu Xiang)
Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street (Yandai Xiejie)
Mao'er Hutong
Guozijian Street
Liulichang Cultural Street
Jinyu Hutong
Dongjiaomin Lane (Dongjiaomin Xiang)
Xijiaomin Lane (Xijiaomin Xiang)
Ju'er Hutong
Bada Hutong
Besides, there are still many less famous ones also worth a visit, such as Yichi Street - the shortest one, Jiuwan Hutong, with 13 turnings, and Lingjing Hutong - the widest one.
Business Hours in China
The business hours differ for different enterprises and cities in China. Hotels, restaurants, post offices, banks, government apparatus and private enterprises all have their different work hours.
...The business hours differ for different enterprises and cities in China. Hotels, restaurants, post offices, banks, government apparatus and private enterprises all have their different work hours.
Shops are open from 10:00 to 21:00, while some may be open earlier at 09:00 and last to 22:00. During the May Day Holiday (May 1st-7th) and the National Day Holiday (October 1st-7th), all shops prolong their service hours by half hour to one and a half hours. However, it is different during the traditional Spring Festival. Shops are closed early in the afternoon on the eve of the Chinese New Year and shorten their hours.
Most big restaurants are open 10:00-21:00, and restaurants may have afternoon break between approximately 14: 30-17:30 in some cities. Some small restaurants supplying breakfast opens earlier at 06:30, and there are also restaurants offers round-o'clock service. Restaurants will prolong their service time during the holidays and even stay open overnight on the eve of the Chinese New Year.
Post offices don't have the same business hours in a city. Most offices open at 8:30 or 9:00 and are closed at 17:00 or 18:00. At weekends, festivals and holidays, the working hours is shortened by one to three hours. It is the same with banks. But some banks may be closed at weekends and during holidays, for there are many self-service banks installing with CDM, ATM, and Self-service Fee Paying Machine.
The business hours for government apparatus are mostly 09:00-17:00, with an hour's break at noon. The private enterprises practice eights working hours a day, from 08:00-08:30 to 18:00, and permit a flexible period for lunch and siesta.

The best season to visit Beijing
Beijing has a continental climate with four distinctive seasons, long, hot summers and long dry, cold winters. Spring and autumn have beautiful weather, warm and dry, but both are extremely short....
Beijing has a continental climate with four distinctive seasons, long, hot summers and long dry, cold winters. Spring and autumn have beautiful weather, warm and dry, but both are extremely short. Many tourists avoid spring because of the famed sandstorms, but there are less and less of these and they do not last long. The summer rain falls during July and August, and can make everything fresh. Autumn is definitely the golden season, cool and comfortable. Winter is cold and dry with little snow.
The best season to visit Beijing is probably autumn. Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, when hotels typically raise their rates and the Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. Autumn months (September to November) have the best weather and fewer tourists. Spring is less pleasant - not many tourists but lots of wind and dust (northwesterly winds blow in masses of fine loess from Mongolia). In winter, you'll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts - just remember it's an ice box outside. Everything is chock-a-block during the Chinese New Year (in January or February). Have a look at our Beijing tours and choose your time of travel.
Pagination
Top Beijing Tours

One day tirp to Bajiao Zhai, a noticeable Danxia Landform.
This is a tailor-made trip for nature-lovers and fans of photography. Danxia rock formation in the inland basin is a red rock debris, and later uplift due to the movement of the earth-crust, erosion of rocks by the water and weathering, which was dominant in the hillside to collapse back, kept down the rocks to form the red mountain block. This area was listed in the Natural Heritage of the world in 2009 by UNESCO. Bajiao Zhai Village is a combination of strategic place, steepy mountian, elegant scenery and secluded remote....Read more
This is a tailor-made trip for nature-lovers and fans of photography. Danxia rock formation in the inland basin is a red rock debris, and later uplift due to the movement of the earth-crust, erosion of rocks by the water and weathering, which was dominant in the hillside to collapse back, kept down the rocks to form the red mountain block. This area was listed in the Natural Heritage of the world in 2009 by UNESCO. Bajiao Zhai Village is a combination of strategic place, steepy mountian, elegant scenery and secluded remote. It is reputed as the "Soul of Danxia Landform". Here you can enjoy the sunrise or sunset and the sea-cloud. 1. I'll pick you up at 8:00 am in your hotel, and transfer to Bajiao Zhai Village by our private van. On the way, you can enjoy some terraced fields, bamboo groves and the wooden residences of the natives.(3.5 hours by ride) 2. First, we'll visit the village and have lunch in the village, and then we'll hike the mountains, the scenery including the group of snails looking up the sky, the ancient trail, Eye-stone, Joss stick of dragon's head and the Treasured sword Peak.(4 hours by hike) 3. After appreciating the sunset, after dinner in Ziyuan county, we'll take the bus back to your hotel around 10:00 pm.

Beijing - Xi'an - Shanghai 10days study tour
Day 01 Arrival at Beijing
On arrival in Beijing, you will be met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Beijing. Free for the rest of the day.
Day 02Beijing (B L)-- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo
After breakfast at your hotel, start your tour with the visit to Tiananmen Square(40minutes), the largest public square in the world. Then move on to the Forbidden City(2hours), the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Lunch at a special restaurant.
...Read moreDay 01 Arrival at Beijing
On arrival in Beijing, you will be met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Beijing. Free for the rest of the day.
Day 02Beijing (B L)-- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo
After breakfast at your hotel, start your tour with the visit to Tiananmen Square(40minutes), the largest public square in the world. Then move on to the Forbidden City(2hours), the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Lunch at a special restaurant.
Then move on to Beijing zoo(1.5hours), which is one of the oldest zoos in China and has one of the largest animal collections in the country. The zoo and its aquarium has over 450 species of land animals and over 500 species of marine animals. In all, it is home to 14,500 animals. More than six million visitors come to the zoo each year. The zoo was founded in 1906 during the late Qing Dynasty. Like many of Beijing's parks, the zoo's grounds resemble classical Chinese gardens, with flower beds amidst natural scenery, including dense groves of trees, stretches of meadows, small streams and rivers, lotus pools and hills dotted with pavilions and historical buildings.
Day 03 Beijing ( B L )--Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Green, outside look the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, Shaolin kungfu school
Morning excursion to the most beautiful section of the Great Wall - the Mutianyu Great Wall. The hike takes about 2-3 hours. After lunch at Chinese Restaurant, Then head to the Olympic Green to have an outside look at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube(1hour). Shaolin Kung Fu is a huge scientific system, not the general sense of the "branches" or "boxing kinds". Chinese martial arts enjoy a huge structure complex with many branches, among which shaolin kung fu has the dominant place by its long history, the complex system and excellent technology boundary. Back to your hotel.
Day 04 Beijing-Xi'an( B L )
Hands-on D.I.Y Chinese dumplings(2hours) at the local family in Gaobeidian, enjoy these with other Chinese dishes and this will be your Lunch. Afternoon learn the Art of paper cutting, visit the gaobeidian school. After the tour, we go to the train station to Xian. Overnight on the train.
Day 05 Xian ( B L )--Big Wild Goose Pagoda square, Muslim Bazaar, Xi'an City Wall
Arrive in Xian, pick up. Breakfast at hotel. The Muslim Bazaar, the Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi'an.The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall,souvenir shop,coffee and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. We visit massive Xian City Wall. Have a nice walk in the North Square to view the fully illuminated Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Musical Fountain Performance.
Day 06 Xian ( B L )-- Qin Terracotta Army, Shaanxi Historical Museum
Morning pick up by local guide. Enjoy your full day visit to the Qin Terracotta Army, one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. Afternoon, visit the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.
Day 07 Xian--shanghai ( B L )
Visit Bell tower and Drum tower. Farmer paintings, and learning the painting. Then go to airport to catch a flight. Pick up by shanghai local guide, only transfer to hotel.
Day 8 Shanghai ( B L )-- Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Jade Buddha Temple. Jade Buddha Temple is a key temple in Shanghai that thriving with flows of disciples every day, especially on the 1st and 15th day of every lunar month as well as all the traditional Buddhism festivals. Visit pearl factory, it's a nice place to buy a necklace or bracelet. It is very good gift from China. Visit the lovely old Yuyuan Garden look nine zig zag bridge with golden fish pond, bridges and pavilions. Explore the Bund in the evening.
Day 9 Shanghai ( B L )--Shanghai Museum, People Square, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV tower, Children's Palace
The Shanghai Museum which is the largest museum of ancient Chinese art in Shanghai. Visit the People Square and Nanjing Road for shopping. Visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower 2nd level. Visit the Children��s Palace 30-45minutes.
Day 10 Shanghai ( B )
Your China Experience is over all too soon as you transfer to the airport and board the homebound international flight, bidding a fond farewell to this ancient land.

Tour to the Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in China
1. Tuvas Village in Kanas, Xinjiang
Kanas Tuvas Village is near mysterious Lake Kanas. The small village is located in a valley, and only has about 80 houses. These Swiss-style wooden houses are all surrounded by wooden fences, scattered among pine trees and birch trees.
Tuvas is an ancient minority group. They traditionally lived as hunter-gathers. It is said that the Tuvas people are the descendants of one group of Genghis Khan’s troops. Kumiss, yogurt, milk tea, and butter are special snacks there.
2. Jiaju Tibetan Village, Danba, Sichuan Province
...Read more1. Tuvas Village in Kanas, Xinjiang
Kanas Tuvas Village is near mysterious Lake Kanas. The small village is located in a valley, and only has about 80 houses. These Swiss-style wooden houses are all surrounded by wooden fences, scattered among pine trees and birch trees.
Tuvas is an ancient minority group. They traditionally lived as hunter-gathers. It is said that the Tuvas people are the descendants of one group of Genghis Khan’s troops. Kumiss, yogurt, milk tea, and butter are special snacks there.
2. Jiaju Tibetan Village, Danba, Sichuan Province
Jiaju Tibetan Village is known as the "Tibetan fairyland". Jiaju Tibetan Village is on a slight hill slope, and consists of about 140 houses. These unique houses are all built with crown-shaped roofs, red eaves, and white walls, which make the houses look like little castles among the forest.
3. Baoshan Stone City, an Naxi Ancient Village Built on a Huge Rock
Baoshao Stone City was built on a huge mushroom-shaped rock, and only has about one hundred houses. The houses are laid out in and orderly way, built on the rock, and linked by stone steps. The locals often chisel the local rock into stone tables, stone benches, stone hearths, and stone water vats.
The Naxi people have cut rice terraces and planted crops (such as rice, wheat, and corn) on the hills around the mushroom rock. The Naxi people there still lead an original life; you can experience the colorful Naxi culture there.
4. Hongcun and Xidi, Two Ancient Villages Near the Yellow Mountains
These two ancient villages have been included in the list of World Cultural Heritage. Both of these villages have a history of more than 900 years. They are renowned for their peaceful rural scenery, well-kept ancient buildings: unique Anhui style dwellings, and profound culture. The mountains, the rivers, and the ancient dwellings, make two highly picturesque landscapes.
Location: Only about 40 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains, you can take a bus from Yellow Mountain Scenic Area to Xidi or Hongcun. The distance between Hongcun and Xidi is about 25 kilometers. You can hire a bike after you arrive at one of them, and then cycle to the other village.
For artists: When visiting these ancient villages, you might want to bring your sketch pad and join the art students and artists, who go out there to capture their beauty on paper.
5. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village: the Largest Miao Village in China
If you are interested in the Miao Minority, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village can be a great destination for deepening your understanding of Miao history and culture.
Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village consists of more than ten natural hamlets (including the famous Silversmith Hamlet), which are all built on hills. The Miao people are keen on silver ornaments, and their unique silver ornaments are all made exquisitely.
The Miao Minority has many festivals, and the most famous two are: Miao New Year and Guzang Festival (牯藏节, an ancestor-worship celebration based on Miao culture).
Transportation: Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is about 210 kilometers from Guiyang City (the capital city of Guizhou Province), which is equivalent to a 3.5-hour drive.
6. Wuyuan in Jiangxi: the Most Beautiful Villages in China
Wuyuan is noted for having "the most beautiful villages in China". In fact, Wuyuan is a county, with many ancient Ming and Qing style architectural features, including 113 ancient ancestral halls, 28 ancient mansions, 36 ancient dwellings, and 187 ancient bridges.
Every village in Wuyuan is built with a river in front, and mountains behind. These villages with elegant buildings are all peacefully harmonious with the natural scenery. Hiking in the surrounding countryside is a popular activity there.
Transportation: Wuyuan is only about 90 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains, and buses linking these two attractions are available every day.
7. Ancient Hakka Villages with Unique Earthen Buildings
You might think these large round or square buildings are fortifications, not dwellings. In fact, they are the Hakka people’s houses: earthen buildings, which are mainly built in flying-saucer-like shapes.
These ancient earthen buildings are mainly located in Fujian Province, especially in Nanjing Prefecture (南靖县) and Yongding Prefecture (永定县). Some of them have hundreds of years of history. If you want to have a visit, two ancient villages are recommended: Hongkeng Village (洪坑村) and Chuxi Village (初溪村) in Yongding Prefecture.
Both of these two villages have a history of hundreds of years, and are built among hills and by rivers. There, you can learn about the construction of earthen buildings, the history of the Hakka, and enjoy the peace brought by the natural scenery.
Transport: Yongding is about 307 kilometers (a 4-hour drive) from Xiamen (check out the transport between Xiamen and Yongding).