BeijingTravel Guide

The Jingshan Garden Hotel is a four-star in the Sanyanjing hutong district, and it’s true to tradition, offering authentic Chinese massages, tea ceremonies, and cultural events like musical performances, calligraphy, cooking shows and art exhibitions in the open-air courtyard.

Prefer to stay on the outskirts of the City? The Commune By The Great Wall is an upmarket hotel tucked away in the Shuiguan Mountains. The 36 villas are all architectural masterpieces, but the biggest drawcard is that you can get to an untouched and uncrowded section of the Great Wall on foot.

If you’re a luxury hotels sort of traveller wanting to upscale even more, then the five-star New World Beijing Hotel is for you, conveniently situated in the Wanfujing Commercial Centre, between the imperial religious complex of the Temple of Heaven and the notorious Tiananmen Square. It’s popular with business and leisure travellers alike. The rooftop bar offers panoramic views over the capital, excellent cocktails and has in-house DJs, while the Tian Tan Kitchen features live cooking stations, giving you a view of the bustling streets of Qi Nian. And after a day of exploring, some well-deserved pampering awaits at the luxury spa.

For a guest house option, the charmingly named Delight Inn in the Yanqing district, just under 5km from the Great Wall, offers cosy terraced rooms, a swimming pool, bicycles that are free to use, evening entertainment and Continental breakfasts.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China is an incredible 21,196km long. Several sections, built between the 14th and 17th centuries, are well-preserved and easy to get to. Badaling is the most famous and most-visited section but often crowded (even more so on public holidays) – so get up early to enjoy the 360⁰ views near the No.8 Watchtower. You can hike to the top or get a bird’s-eye view from the cable car before exploring the impressive structure. The scenery at the Juyongguan section features one of the three most famous mountain passes, while Mutianyu has a toboggan ride with a series of zigzag bends.

Beijing is home to the 798 Art District in the Dashanzi area, China’s answer to Soho! A thriving art community lives and works in this urban space where you’ll find many contemporary art galleries, studios, design companies, restaurants and bars. Heading downtown, you’ll find the National Art Museum of China, which exhibits around 100 000 paintings, sculptures and prints. Included are works from the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Qing Dynasty (1683-1840) and the early days of the Republic of China (1912-1949).

Impressive ancient Chinese artefacts, such as ceramics, jade and bronzes are showcased in the Capital Museum of China, Xicheng District. Some items date as far back as 500 000 years ago.

Film enthusiasts should visit the China National Film Museum in the Chaoyang District, where the history and development of Chinese cinema is reflected in a collection of artefacts, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits.

This mega theme park and entertainment resort complex features everything Universal Studios, from shows, rides and attractions to a Universal-themed resort hotel. With loads of excitement and fun for visitors of all ages, word on the street is that this complex is even bigger than the Universal theme parks in Florida, USA!

The Forbidden City was the centre of the Chinese government and home to 24 emperors who ruled from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Ordinary people were not allowed to set foot here, hence the name, but luckily times have changed, and you don’t need to have royal blood or a high-level connection to enter. Behind the tall walls are some of the best examples of traditional Chinese architecture, and more than a million rare artworks and artefacts are safely guarded in the Palace Museum. The stunning Imperial Garden is also worth walking through, situated behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Canal was built 2 500 years ago and is the world’s longest man-made waterway system. It stretches from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang province in the south and was built to transport grain from the farmlands to the capital city. Explore the beautiful Grand Canal Forest Park, which straddles both sides of the Grand Canal and features forests, orchards, lakes and bridges. Or take a boat cruise down the Suzhou section and see how the Suzhou locals live.

Walk around the beautiful Beijing Botanical Garden, home to more than 10 000 plant species and the world’s largest variety of peach blossoms. The fruit-bearing peach tree is embedded in the culture (in Chinese Taoist mythology, it’s the sacred tree of immorality). You’ll also come across the rose and medicinal herb gardens, among others.

If you had trouble choosing between chicken or beef on your flight to Beijing, prepare for a serious challenge when visiting the Qianmen area between Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. This is where you’ll find the “food streets”: Xianyukou Food Street, Taiwan Food Street and the Menkuang Hutong known for Beijing-style snacks.

These streets are dotted with restaurants and stalls featuring Chinese cuisine and street food such as roast duck, roast trotter and noodles with soybean paste. Many restaurants in the area date back to the 15th century, like the Bianyifang Roast Duck restaurant.

Huguosi Street is named after the Huguo Temple built during the Ying Dynasty (1271-1368). While the temple is no longer there, the backdrop of old architecture remains and food is a focal point, with authentic snacks made from recipes handed down from generation to generation. Stalls and restaurants along the 600m stretch also offer famous snacks from the Sichuan, Yunnan and Xinjiang areas.

Just like you can’t leave Beijing without seeing the Great Wall, you also can’t leave without feasting on Peking duck (crispy skin and succulent meat carved at your table and served with thin pancakes, sauce and julienne veggies). Depending on where you go, prices vary.

For a casual dining atmosphere and affordable Peking duck, you can’t go wrong at the Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant in the Chaoyang District. Looking for an upscale experience? Head over to the Dong Cheng District to Duck de Chine, which features a variety of duck dishes, combining French roasting styles with the traditional Beijing style in an elegant setting strung with lanterns and the added drawcard of a Bollinger Champagne bar.

For hotel dining vibes, the Made in China restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Beijing is our top pick, serving up authentic Peking duck roasted for more than an hour in a traditional Beijing date-wood-fired oven.

Gui Jie Street (also known as Ghost Street) in the Dongcheng District is all about shopping, eating and having a good time 24/7. It’s a street that never sleeps and is home to more than 100 restaurants. Many people come here to sample the local dish – spicy crayfish – and Huda Restaurant, with several branches in the street, is the most popular place to do so. They use more than 10 seasonings and serve it smothered in chillies, Sichuan peppercorns and garlic. Also, try the plum juice, which combines sweet and tart to help you handle the heat.

The Wangfujing Street has been Beijing's number one shopping destination for decades. But take note: wear comfortable shoes and have an empty suitcase waiting in your hotel room.

Here you’ll find anything from international high-end clothing brands to those unique to the city, such as the Tongshengshe shoe shop and Wuyutai teahouse.

This pedestrian-only shopping zone is home to one of the largest shopping malls in Asia, the Oriental Plaza, which also connects with the five-star Grand Hyatt hotel. Imagine 120 000m² of modern retail heaven packed with well-known Western and Asian brands.

For a fascinating experience, go to the Wangfujing Department Store and take the escalator down to Heping Guoju, an immersive museum that spans about 2 400m². Step back in time to experience what Beijing’s streets looked like in the 1980s, and get your hands on traditional shadow puppets, calligraphy sets and silk.

Embark on a treasure hunt at one of the most popular markets in Beijing, if not the whole of China. The Panjiayuan Flea Market covers 48 500m² and has the most complete collection of antiques in the country, with more than 4 000 shops selling traditional writing tools, porcelain, old books, handicrafts and jewellery. From a distance it might look overwhelming, but there’s order to the hustle and bustle as the market is divided into six sections: roadside stands, ancient architecture, classical furniture, modern collections, sculptures or stone engravings, and catering.