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Beijing
From ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, Beijing (Běijīng, 北京), spins a breathless yarn of triumph, tragedy, endurance and innovation.
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Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
Forbidden City
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Enclosed by 3.5km of citadel walls at the very heart of Beijing, the Unesco-listed Forbidden City is China’s largest and best-preserved collection of…
Temple of Heaven Park
Temple of Heaven Park & Dongcheng South
An oasis of methodical Confucian design, the 267-hectare Temple of Heaven Park is unique. It originally served as a vast stage for solemn rites performed…
Summer Palace
Beijing
A marvel of Chinese garden design and one of Beijing's must-see attractions, the Summer Palace was the royal retreat for emperors fleeing the suffocating…
Tian'anmen Square
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Flanked by triumphalist Soviet-style buildings, Tian'anmen Sq is an immense void of paved stone (440,000 sq metres, to be precise) at the symbolic centre…
Beihai Park
Beijing
Beihai Park, inside the old Imperial City, looks much as it would have done in the 18th century when it served as Emperor Qianlong's private gardens. The…
Southeast Corner Watchtower
Temple of Heaven Park & Dongcheng South
This immense fortress, part of the Ming City Wall Ruins Park, guarded the southeast corner of Beijing's city walls. Originally built in 1439 but repaired…
Gate of Heavenly Peace
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Instantly recognisable by its giant framed portrait of Mao, and guarded by two pairs of Ming dynasty stone lions, the double-eaved Gate of Heavenly Peace …
798 Art District
Beijing
Contemporary art meets communist history at this thrilling enclave of international galleries installed within China's model factory complex of the 1950s…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Transportation
Getting around Beijing can be daunting. We demystify how to get around the Chinese capital.
Read articleFree Things to Do
There are plenty of world-class sights to see in Beijing, and lots of them are free.
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Latest stories from Beijing
HotelTrailblazers: crossing into China as a Lonely Planet writer in the 1980sJul 7, 2019 • 8 min read
MusicBeijing’s Forbidden City hosted an epic classical music gala for the first time in 20 yearsOct 18, 2018 • 1 min read
Guidebooks
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