Beijing’s top tourist attractions, from the old standbys to the hidden gems

Posted: September 30, 2026 | Author: Rick Dunham | Filed under: Discovering China, Dunham's Discourses, Uncategorized | Tags: Asia, Beijing, Beijing tourism, Beijing Zoo, China, China tourism, Forbidden City, Great Wall, history, Lama Temple, pandas, Summer Palace, tea, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, travel, Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park, Zhoukoudian | Leave a comment

By RICK DUNHAM

In more than 13 years in Beijing, I’ve visited just about every museum I could find. As a history major and a journalism professor, I’ve explored dozens of sites with ties to Chinese history and some that even pre-date modern humans. I’ve hiked the Great Wall 40 times, from its western terminus in Gansu province to the Yalu River bordering North Korea.

I’ve seen domestic tourism explode in China and the number of museums in the nation more than doubled. Visiting cultural sites “has become trendy among citizens in Beijing,” says Yin Li, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. Tourism is a much more user-friendly experience today than it was a decade ago, from ubiquitous QR codes to more modern toilet facilities.

Beijing boasts hundreds – yes, hundreds – of museums, cultural attractions, parks, historical sites and other locations for visitors to see. As Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, said recently, “the city bears witness to more than 3,000 years of cultural history.”

There’s no way to see it all in a short visit. Or even if you are here for a year or two. But try to pack in as much as you can in whatever time you have. Here are some of the best tourist opportunities Beijing has to offer.

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The Core Four

I hope this guide will help you to prioritize your adventures in China’s capital city and environs. It’s a wonderful place to explore. Enjoy!

These are the Beijing tourist attractions that every visitor must see. If your family is visiting, take them there. If someone has just two or three days in town, figure out a way to squeeze all of these in.

The Great Wall

Photo by Rick Dunham

The Forbidden City

The Summer Palace

The Temple of Heaven

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Memorable sites you don’t want to miss

Everyone has to make choices. You can’t see everything. But there are some places that you should try to find time to see, whether your visitor is here for four days or three months.

Many of these memorable sites can be combined with the must-see sites on a single itinerary. Yuanmingyuan is close to the Summer Palace and can be visited together in an outing. The same is true of the National Museum, Tian’anmen and the Forbidden City (admittedly, a very long and intense day). And the Beijing Zoo, with its delightful pandas, is a short subway ride away from the city center.

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

The ruins of Yuanmingyuan are one of the most stunning parks in Beijing. They range from traditional Chinese architecture of the Ming era to Italian-Chinese fusion palaces of the 18th century. All were destroyed by British and French invaders. (Photo by Rick Dunham)

The National Museum

Tian’anmen Square

Lama Temple (Yong He Gong)

The Beijing Zoo

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Highly recommended half-day trips outside of the city

If you have access to an automobile, or have enough spending money to rent a driver for a few hours, these historically significant sites are well worth your time.

Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Qiao)

Anti-Japanese resistance museum and Wanping walled town

Zhoukoudian (Peking Man caves, park and museum)

Ming Tombs

A historical photo of the Ming Tombs, circa 1950s.

Jiaozhuanghu tunnels and exhibit

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The Second Tier — but still first rate

Everyone has to make choices. These are all great options, if you have time to visit. Look at a map and try to cluster as many sites that are in the same general vicinity as possible. For example, you can visit Jingshan or Behai after a trip to the Forbidden City. Or combine the Bell and Drum Tower with a visit to Houhai for food, recreation or tourism.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower

The Drum Tower between the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese invasion.

Jingshan (Coal Hill)

Beihai Park

Olympic complex

Military Museum

A young boy practices on a jet aircraft simulator at the Military Museum. (Photo by Rick Dunham)

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Hidden Gems

These stops are not in many tour books. But they are all memorable.

Beijing Ancient Observatory

Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park

Confucius Temple

Photo by Rick Dunham

Paleozoological Museum of China

The universities: Tsinghua and Beida

Photo by Rick Dunham

Tea tours

Hutong tours

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New and Nice

Beijing has been on a museum building binge in recent years as the ruling Communist Party underscores Xi Jinping’s theme of “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Among the results are some interesting new museums that showcase Chinese traditional culture, historical accomplishments and modern might.

Museum of the Communist Party of China

Chinese Traditional Culture Museum

The Grand Canal Museum

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Hiking and outdoor activities

Chinese families love to spend weekends outdoors. Older people spend much of their leisure time in the city’s plethora of parks. Young couples also stroll through the romantic and beautiful surroundings. Whatever your mood, there is a park for you. Whether you are seeking flowers, or a challenging hike, or 50 kinds of bamboo – you can find it somewhere in the Big City. Sometimes it’s free. Otherwise, the entry fee is inexpensive.

Purple Bamboo Park

More than 50 varieties of bamboo are on view at Purple Bamboo Park, located near the zoo. The purple bamboo is the most famous, of course. The yellow duck boats are a favorite for visitors.

Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan)

Olympic Forest Park

China National Botanical Garden

This massive park is known to many locals as the Beijing Botanical Garden. (Photo by Rick Dunham)

Ritan Park (Temple of the Sun)

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Popular with younger people

Several zones in Beijing are particularly popular among younger people for their combinations of culture, restaurants, art, entertainment, bars, diverse nightlife, and, yes, even some museums tucked away for further exploration. Many of them are near hutong neighborhoods, which add to their charm, though they can cause you confusion and minutes lost while looking for your destination.

Houhai

Sanlitun

Sanlitun, with its alleys, hutongs and gleaming glass shopping malls, is the social center for young professionals, students and the diplomatic set.

Wudaokou

798 Art District (Dashanzi)

An old warehouse area has been transformed into the funky arts district. For a quarter-century, it is the closest thing Beijing has to a Bohemian quarter, with galleries, cafés and gathering spots for the intellectual set, both Chinese and expat.

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Your top tourist attractions in Beijing?

Do you have any more tourist destinations you’d like to add to the list? Please post a comment and explain why you would add your favorite place to this compilation.

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