Sights in Běijīng
-
A
Bell Tower
First constructed in 1272 but felled numerous times by fire, the tower’s present structure dates from 1745. Climb up the steep steps (carefully) to gawk at the 63-tonne bell.
reviewed
-
China Art Gallery
The China Art Gallery has a range of modern paintings and hosts occasional photographic exhibitions. The subject matter of art on display is frequently anodyne – especially from Chinese artists – so consider a trip to 798 Art District for something more electrifying. There's no permanent collection so all exhibits are temporary.
reviewed
-
Cow Street Mosque
Dating back to the 10th century, this Chinese-styled mosque is Běijīng's largest and was the burial site for several Islamic clerics. Surrounded by residential high-rises, the temple is pleasantly decorated with plants and flourishes of Arabic. Look out for the main prayer hall (only Muslims can enter), women's quarters and the Building for Observing the Moon (望月楼; Wàngyuèlóu), from where the lunar calendar was calculated. Dress appropriately (no shorts or short skirts).
reviewed
-
B
Dashilar
Just west of Qianmen Dajie, this recently restored historic shopping street is a fascinating way to reach the antique shop street of Liulichang to the west. A collection of lǎozi hào (shops with history) include Ruifuxiang, Tongrentang, the Neiliansheng Shoe Shop and Liubiju. It's also an excellent place to snack and find accommodation.
reviewed
-
Drum Tower & Bell Tower
Repeatedly destroyed and restored, the Drum Tower originally marked the centre of the old Mongol capital. The drums of this later Ming-dynasty version were beaten to mark the hours of the day. Stagger up the incredibly steep steps for impressive views over Běijīng's hútòng rooftops. Drum performances are given hourly from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 4.50pm.
Fronted by a stele from the Qing dynasty, the Bell Tower originally dates from Ming times. The Ming structure went up in a sheet of flame and the present structure is a Qing edifice dating from the 18th century. Augment visits with drinks at the Drum & Bell Bar.
Both the Drum and Bell Towers can be reached…
reviewed
-
National Stadium & National Aquatics Center
It's now hard to imagine that this was the scene of rapturous sporting exultation in August 2008, but such is the fate of most Olympics projects. You can enter the inspiring National Stadium – colloquially known as the Bird's Nest – in an attempt to recapture the euphoria of '08 and even ascend the medals podium for a further Y200, or simply admire the architecture for free from the outside. In the winter of 2010, it re-emerged as a snow park; visionaries see its future as a shopping mall and entertainment complex. The nearby Water Cube is well worth a gander from the outside, and at the time of writing was set to open as Asia's largest indoor water park.
reviewed
-
Natural History Museum
The main entrance hall to the recently restored Natural History Museum is hung with portraits of the great natural historians, including Darwin and Linnaeus. Escort kiddies to the revamped dinosaur hall facing you as you enter, which presents itself with an overarching skellybone of a Mamenchisaurus jingyanensis – a vast sauropod that once roamed China – and a much smaller protoceratops.
Some of the exhibits, such as the spliced human cadavers and genitalia in the notorious Hall of Human Bodies, are flesh- crawlingly graphic.
reviewed
-
C
Wan Fung Art Gallery
This Beijing branch of the Hong Kong-based gallery deals in contemporary Chinese figurative art in traditional mediums like oil or watercolour.
reviewed
-
D
Drum Tower
Dominating the area, the drum tower provides a great view over the nearby hutong rooftops. The drums were beaten here hourly in ancient times to keep the proles punctual.
reviewed
-
E
National Art Museum of China
More English captions would be nice, but this professional museum attracts Chinese art lovers with often excellent temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art from home and abroad.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
F
Jǐngshān Park
A feng shui barrier shielding the Forbidden City from evil spirits (or dust storms), Jǐngshān Park was formed from the earth excavated to create the palace moat. Come here for classic panoramas over the Forbidden City's russet roofing to the south. On the eastern side of the park a locust tree stands in the place where the last of the Ming emperors, Chongzhen, hanged himself as rebels swarmed at the city walls.
reviewed
-
G
Central Academy Of Fine Arts Gallery
A short stroll from Wangfujing Dajie and part of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, this rather old-fashioned but centrally located exhibition hall displays a selection of Chinese art in a variety of media over three floors.
reviewed
-
H
C5art
This cool white space showcases Beijing’s up-and-coming artists, especially those who are involved in the conceptual arts. Tell the guard at the gate you’re looking for the gallery and he’ll show you the way.
reviewed
-
I
Fǎyuán Temple
With its air of monastic reverence and busy monks, this bustling temple east of Cow Street Mosque was originally constructed in the 7th century. Now the China Buddhism College, the temple follows a typical Buddhist layout, but make your way to the fourth hall for its standout copper Buddha seated atop four further Buddhas, themselves atop a huge bulb of myriad effigies. Within the Guanyin Hall is a Ming-dynasty Thousand Hand and Thousand Eye Guanyin, while a huge supine Buddha reclines in the rear hall.
reviewed
-
J
Ming City Wall Ruins Park
As late as the early 1950s, Beijing was still a walled city. Now, all that remains of the fortifications is this slender strip of restored wall in a small park. Follow the footpath along it, and check out the bullet holes in some of the bricks.
reviewed
-
K
Niujie Mosque
Beijing’s largest and most important mosque dates back to the 10th century and is a fascinating mix of Islamic and Chinese architectural styles. People here are friendly, but dress appropriately and avoid it on Friday, the Muslim holy day.
reviewed
-
L
Courtyard Gallery
A good-looking pit stop on the way to the imperial palace, this micro-gallery and blank white minimalist space in the basement of its namesake moat-side restaurant, across the way from the Forbidden City's Dōnghuá Gate, displays a thoughtful range of contemporary works.
reviewed
-
M
Qianmen
This 15th-century gate, also known as Zhengyangmen, was once part of the city walls that divided the ancient inner city from the outside world. At the time of writing it was closed for renovations, but when open it offers a view over Tiananmen Sq.
reviewed
-
N
Beijing Museum of Red Chamber Culture & Art
A tranquil oasis in busy Xuanwu, this is a replica of the garden in Cao Xueqin’s classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Mansion. Cryptic English signs explain key points in the story. It’s sometimes called the Grand View Garden.
reviewed
-
O
Beijing Exhibition Hall
Opened in 1954 to mark the fifth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, this hall is a monstrous cousin to Stalin's notorious 'seven sisters' buildings that dot the Moscow skyline. It now hosts trade and professional conventions.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
P
Longtan Park
One of Beijing’s nicest parks, artfully landscaped Longtan has bridges, pavilions, playgrounds for kids and a waterfall. Escape the summer heat by hiring a boat (Y60 per hour, Y200 deposit) and cruising the large artificial lake that dominates it.
reviewed
-
Q
Rìtán Park
Established as an altar for ritual sacrifice to the sun, this is one of Běijīng's oldest and most pleasant parks. The square altar, typically surrounded by kite flyers and playing children, is ringed by a circular wall, while the rest of the park is devoted to pines, quietude, the rituals of taichi practitioners and martial arts shīfu. The park is also home to a decent outdoor climbing wall if you want to climb off calories acquired from the park's gaggle of popular bars and restaurants.
reviewed
-
R
Mei Lanfang Former Residence
The most iconic Peking opera performer of all, Mei Lanfang (1894–1961) was famous for playing female roles and popularising Peking opera in the West. This museum in his former home shows his costumes and photos of him performing. English captions.
reviewed
-
S
Zhìhuà Temple
You won't find the coffered ceiling of the third hall (it's in the USA) and the Four Heavenly Kings have vanished from Zhìhuà Gate (智化门; Zhìhuà Mén), but the Scriptures Hall encases a venerable Ming-dynasty wooden library topped with a seated Buddha and a magnificently unrestored ceiling, while the highlight Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall (万佛殿; Wànfó Diàn) is an enticing two floors of miniature niche-borne Buddhist effigies and cabinets for the storage of sutras (its caisson ceiling currently resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Creep up the steep wooden staircase (if it is open) at the back of the hall to visit the sympathetic effigy of the Vairocana (毗卢)…
reviewed
-
T
CCTV Building
The new headquarters for China Central TV is like no other building in the city, or anywhere else. This Dutch-designed behemoth, with its open centre, seemingly defies gravity. The cheeky locals call it ‘big shorts’, as it reminds them of a pair of trousers.
reviewed