Head through the famous gates which hold the image of Mao up proudly as he watches over his city and into this imperial palace from the Ming dynasty. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings it covers over 180 and is one of China’s most important cultural venues.

Just across the road is the Forbidden city, closed off to the public for centuries this secretive place is now a museum that stretches out for what feels like miles. Be aware of scams however with regards needing ID and to wear certain clothing. We were asked once and not the other time, bit hit and miss. Price: FREE, You sometimes need to take your I.D to get passed the security area. But truly a historical place to visit that would surely make everyone’s rough guide to Beijing! This sure is a surreal place made even more strange by the lingering smog which makes it hard to see from one end to the other. From Chairman Mao’s mausoleum and communist statues surrounded by traditional Chinese architecture. Who can visit Beijing and not venture into Tiananmen square, that is, once you finally find the entrance past all the barriers and security! Reputed to be the world’s largest square it sits in the centre of the city offering a huge expanse of almost nothing and yet somehow is one of the best things to do in Beijing and really makes you realise why Beijing is one of the most important cities in China.īut look closely and there are some fascinating things to look at. Powered by 12Go Asia system Take in the strange world of Tiananmen Square

Duck down these passageways and you will see people speeding passed on little electric scooters, children playing, old women cleaning their pots and pans in the streets and a much simpler way of life.Ĭhances are you will also be the only visitor down these streets, they might not be overly clean, but they are interesting indeed! It most certainly is up at the top of our rough guide to Beijing and its nice to see real people living in Beijing!īook your transport across China and Asia here: But here the tiny networks of back alleys and tight streets known as the Hutongs are still alive and thriving. The best thing about Beijing is local life here, so it follows that seeking this out is of of the best things to do in Beijing! In other cities, as we saw in Xi’an, they have pretty much gentrified the entire city making it a grim and polluted urban wasteland.

So here’s our best things to do in Beijing and our rough guide to Beijing!īest things to do in Beijing: Wander the Hutongs and see the real China! In Beijing you can see the real China rather than just the urban sprawl or super modernity of other cities. The capital might not be the most picturesque of places, but fortunately modern China is only just creeping into life here. The beeping, the noises, the spitting and the smog, it felt a world away from what we knew back home and despite the initial shock we were ready and excited for this adventure out east. Beijing is the crazy capital of China, landing here was like a whirlwind.

Grim dawn map showing unrestored shrine