A trip to Beijing means lots of fun time, rich culture, and amazing history. You can even visit the famous wonder of the world, the Great Wall of China. But what are other activities you can indulge in while in Beijing for a swell time?
At number 10, we have the Temple of Heaven. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is said to be the World’s largest existing building complex for offering sacrifice to heaven!
It has many interesting features but I’ll let you in on just 2:
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the main Temple building. The most mind-blowing thing about this hall is that it was made without using any nails! Yes, you heard that right.
The Echo Wall is another interesting feature. It is a smooth circular wall that surrounds the temple and you can speak at one end of the 192 perimeter wall and a friend will hear you at the other end.
The temple grounds are a must-visit.
Occupying the number 9 spot is Beihai Park.
It is a very tranquil, large park which is located on a lake.
The best time to pay a visit is on a Saturday morning because during this period, you can watch people practising Tai Chi, dancing to traditional music, or playing a variety of games.
There is abundant land to walk on and explore. Boat rentals and rides are also very much available. There are some significant buildings along the shoreline too.
Overall, it is a calm lake and you should give it some hours of your day sometime.
Coming in at number 8 is exploring the Ming Tombs. It is the final resting place of about thirteen Ming dynasty emperors as well as 23 empresses, courtiers and court concubines.
The tombs were built in the years 1409–1609 but were only inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2000.
The tombs were built as if they were palaces and contained more than 3,000 different items such as silk dresses and ornaments made of gold, silver, or jade.
It is a very interesting place to visit with lots of history and nice scenery.
At number 7, we have the Lama Temple.
This sacred building is an architectural wonder and has a very impressive layout. It is made up of a series of beautiful pavilions but the main attraction is the fifty-four-foot high Buddha carved out from one piece of sandalwood. Its sheer magnificence has rendered visitors speechless over the years! It is worth a visit if you wish to escape from the noise of modern Beijing. Its beautiful grounds will definitely do you some good.
Occupying the number 6 spot is dining at TRB Hutong
I have to warn you ahead of time; locating the restaurant might prove a bit of a task as it is tucked away in an old temple within a narrow hutong but once you manage to locate it, you are in for one hell of an experience!
Their selection of meals and wines is excellent and the meals can be modified to fit your dietary needs too. Additionally, the staff is incredibly welcoming and kind, ever ready to satisfy. That is a great plus.
If you have a special occasion to celebrate, then you should probably do so at TRB Hutong.
Coming in at number 5 is the 798 Art Zone which is a bustling area for contemporary Chinese art with unique styles on display. It sits pretty in an old factory compound, converted now to numerous galleries, murals, walkways, cafés and bookshops.
It has a very different feel from the rest of Beijing and you can even spend hours lost in the beauty of the art here. If you want something to eat, there are restaurants littered in different spots in the neighbourhood.
Visiting 798 means one thing: you desire a feast for your senses and you will not be disappointed.
Number 4 is the Olympic Stadium.
I absolutely love this place, maybe because I’m a fan of football and sports generally. This stadium is also known as “Bird Nest” because of its design which has a striking resemblance to a bird’s nest hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Every part of the stadium looks good and picture-worthy and within it, there are many structures to explore such as the museum and other sports facilities.
The stadium is definitely worth your time and if you don’t want to fall in love with it, then do not visit it at night when it is most colourful!
At number 3, we have the Summer Palace.
The Summer Palace is the summer resort for the Qing dynasty’s royal family. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and It has lots of beautiful views. It also has gardens, lawns, pavilions, towers and a museum area where you can learn the great history associated with the place. You can even rent a boat to take you around the place on the artificial lake.
I absolutely recommend visiting this masterpiece of a Chinese garden.
The number 2 spot is climbing the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
The Great Wall is definitely one of the most famous things about China. It is one of the wonders of the world and I’d like to know how the idea of actually getting close to it sounds. Excites you, right?
The magnificent wall built ages ago still stands tall and you can gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience of climbing up the cobblestones of the Mutianyu wall.
If you prefer to visit with a tour guide who will narrate to you the great history of the wall, then that is just fine and good.
And you can even grab lunch in the middle of a fun day here!
And on the number 1 spot, we have the Forbidden City!
This museum is the number 1 museum in China and also among the best in the world. Like something straight out of a Kung-Fu movie, it has huge red buildings, fancy roofs and a courtyard fit for an emperor. It is home to the best collection of Chinese historical artefacts in the world and I’m referring to collections that span thousands of years of Chinese history. It has more than 9,000 rooms and is spread over 250 acres.
The huge palace complex is the main attraction in Beijing.
It has a bit of an interesting story behind it but I’d prefer you to go learn by yourself all the history behind it.
If you’ve done any of the things on this list, do let me know what the experience was like in the comments section. If you haven’t, you can also let me know which of them tickles your fancy the most.