Beijing Things to Do Tips by wandering360

WangFuJing Pedestrian Mall & Oriental Plaza Wangfujing Street Review

In the heart of Beijing are the WangFuJing Pedestrian Mall (with its 7 level XinDonGan Dept Store) and the Oriental Plaza (with its US$200 shirts).

The pedestrian mall is a great place for a having a beer and people watching.

TianTan - Temple of Heaven Temple of Heaven Review

Located in a 267 hectare park. This 38m high, 30m diametre town built in 1420 is where the emperor made his annual prayer for a good harvest. It was burnt down in 1889 and rebuilt in the following year.

YongHe Gong - Lama Temple Lama Temple - Yonghegong Review

This is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple in China. It was built in 1694 (Qing Dynasty) and was the official residence of Prince Yin Zhen. In 1723, the prince became Emperor and moved into the Forbidden City. His name was changed to Yong Zheng and his former palace was retiled in imperial yellow and became known as Yong-he Palace. In 1744, the palace was coverted into a lamasery.

Directions: Located on the north end of the city center, easily accessible from the metro line (Yonghegong Station)

Great Wall at JuYong Guan Great Wall Review

Originally built in the spring and autumn periods between 770BC to 476BC (Han Dynasty). Rebuilt in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty and reconstruction / restoration took place in 1993.

There are several places to view the Great Wall (e.g. SiMaTai, MuTanYu). The two closest to Beijing are BaDaLing and JuYong Guan. Both have been restored but Badaling is usually where the local tour buses go and hence is busier.

If you're travelling independently but cannot make your own way to further parts of the wall, an option is to jump on one of the many tour buses at Tiananmen Square.

Most will go to Badaling and a couple of Ming Tombs but our driver took us to Juyong Guan. (Most guidebooks will suggest avoiding the tombs but it wasn't that bad if you just try to enjoy the scenic grounds.)

Note that these buses will all be in Chinese without translation or guide and the price does not include admission to the sites...but they do offer cold beverages for sale. ;)

Tower of Fragrance of Buddha (Summer Palace) Summer Palace Review

A World Heritage Site.

Address: Northwest of Beijing

Website: http://www.summerpalace-china.com

Marble Boat of the Summer Palace Summer Palace Review

Do you like irony?! Empress Dowager Ci Xi syphoned funds destined for the Imperial Navy to build her boat of marble.

Address: NW of Beijing, Western end of lake @Summer Palace

Website: http://www.summerpalace-china.com

Yehe Yuan - Summer Palace

Located 15km NW of the Forbidden City, this was the court and garden of China's last dynasty - the Qing (1644-1911).

To get here, I believe there should be tour buses near Tiananmen Square. However, we took the subway to Xizhimen station and took a taxi from there.

Address: Northwest of Beijing

Website: http://www.summerpalace-china.com

Gugong - Forbidden City Forbidden City Review

Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Construction began in 1406 and completed in 1420. 72 hectares, Over 9000 rooms.

You will be amongst the masses and the place is huge so if you're travelling with someone, set a strategy on how to reunite if you become separated.

For example:
Since you'll be heading North/South, agree to wait for each other at, say, the East gate leading to the next courtyard before continuing on. Agree on meeting a given time at a last-resort rendevous point.

Address: North of Tiananmen Square

Directions: In the Center of Beijing