Destination Guide
Discover the Imperial Charm of Beijing
Welcome to Beijing — an imperial capital on one north-south axis, with palace walls for six centuries, hutong life just outside, and Peking duck as the city's soul. It is China's capital, and the first city that helps you read the country. What is Beijing like? Straight. Broad. Deep. All capital temperament. The city spreads from that axis: the Forbidden City faces south, hutongs turn into daily life at the foot of the walls, and glass towers run east along Chang'an Avenue. Same ground, three layers — emperor, neighborhood, and China now. It has been a capital for more than 800 years. The Yuan, Ming, and Qing left the world's largest palace complex here, and that presence is still in the streets: the Forbidden City's corner towers at night, courtyard after courtyard in the hutongs, and the Summer Palace on the lake. Out of town, the Great Wall; back in, the Temple of Heaven. Eat first: Peking duck with crispy skin, sweet bean sauce, and scallion, then a bowl of zhajiangmian. Then walk in through the gates, along the old axis, and out to the Wall. Beijing is not a city you pass through. It is a city you step into.
Authentic Beijing Cuisine: Must-Try Traditional Dishes
Savor the rich culinary heritage of China's capital. From the world-famous crispy Peking duck to iconic street snacks, explore the best tastes Beijing has to offer for every food lover.
MUST TRY · FOOD
Authentic Peking Duck Feast
Experience the legendary crispy skin and tender meat of traditional roasted Peking duck, sliced tableside and served with thin pancakes, sweet bean sauce, and scallions.
SNACKS · STREET FOOD
Traditional Beijing Hutong Snacks
Wander through historic alleyways to taste local favorites like Zhajiangmian (Noodles with Soybean Paste), Douzhi (fermented mung bean milk), and crispy sugar-coated tanghulu.
IMPERIAL · DINING
Imperial Court Cuisine & Royal Dishes
Indulge in exquisite, meticulously crafted dishes once served exclusively to emperors in the Forbidden City, featuring rich historical flavors.
HOTPOT · LOCAL FAVORITE
Beijing-Style Copper Hotpot
Warm up with a traditional charcoal-heated copper pot featuring thinly sliced fresh mutton dipped in a flavorful sesame paste sauce.
BREAKFAST · COMFORT FOOD
Fragrant Fried Dumplings & Baozi
Start your morning like a true local with juicy pork-filled steamed buns (baozi), golden crispy-bottom potstickers, and a bowl of warm millet porridge.
DESSERT · SOUVENIR
Traditional Pastries & Mung Bean Cake
Discover sweet treats from century-old bakery brands, including delicate mung bean cakes, donkey rolling pastries (lvdagun), and sweet sesame cakes.
NIGHTLIFE · SPICY FOOD
Guijie Food Street Night Dining
Dive into Beijing's vibrant midnight food scene on the famous Guijie Street, famous for spicy crayfish, grilled fish, and bustling late-night dining culture.
Popular Attractions in Beijing
Unlock the historic capital's imperial landmarks and world-class architectural wonders, from ancient dynasties to modern marvels.
The Forbidden City & Imperial Palace
Explore the largest ancient imperial palace complex in the world, featuring magnificent throne rooms, centuries of dynastic history, and priceless royal treasures.
The Great Wall of China (Mutianyu/Badaling)
Walk along one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, offering breathtaking panoramic mountain views just a short trip from central Beijing.
The Summer Palace & Kunming Lake
Stroll through a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, featuring vast tranquil lakes, ornate long corridors, and historic imperial pavilions.
Temple of Heaven & Imperial Altar
Discover the architectural marvel of the iconic triple-gabled Circular Altar, where ancient emperors prayed to heaven for good harvests and national prosperity.
Temple of Lamasery
Visit one of the largest and most perfectly preserved Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world, renowned for its grand halls and towering giant Buddha statue.
Beijing Olympic Park & Bird's Nest
Marvel at futuristic modern architecture including the iconic National Stadium ("Bird's Nest") and National Aquatics Center ("Water Cube") from the 2008 and 2022 Games.
Beijing After Dark: Nightlife & City Lights
When the lights come on, the capital turns magical — glowing ancient architecture, bustling night markets, vibrant bar districts, and breezy lakeside walks.
Sanlitun Bar Street & Modern Hub
Experience Beijing's trendiest nightlife district, packed with stylish craft beer lounges, international clubs, upscale dining, and fashionable shopping complexes.
Shichahai Lake & Hutong Bars
Stroll around the romantic waters of Shichahai under glowing red lanterns, enjoying cozy live music bars, traditional courtyard cafes, and night breezes.
Guijie Midnight Food Street
Dive into Beijing's legendary late-night food culture on Guijie, famous for glowing neon red signs, spicy crayfish, grilled fish, and bustling crowds.
Arts & Live Performances in Beijing
: From grand imperial theatres staging classic Peking opera to avant-garde modern art zones and spectacular acrobatics, the capital blends timeless heritage with creative brilliance.
National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA)
An iconic titanium-and-glass dome surrounded by water, hosting world-class classical symphonies, grand operas, ballet productions, and cultural performances.
Authentic Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre
Experience the mesmerizing facial makeup, acrobatic martial arts, and high-pitched vocal mastery of traditional Peking Opera in a classic tea-house setting.
798 Art Zone Galleries & Exhibitions
Explore a sprawling complex of avant-garde modern art galleries, creative design studios, and striking sculptures housed in retro 1950s military factory buildings.
Spectacular Chinese Acrobatics Show
Be amazed by world-class balancing acts, breathtaking aerial stunts, and high-energy traditional Chinese theatrical performances suitable for all ages.
LaoShe Tea House Cultural Show
Enjoy traditional Beijing tea culture alongside an entertaining variety show featuring acrobatics, magic, shadow puppetry, face-changing, and folk music.
Poly Theatre Modern Stage Production
Catch popular international and domestic touring stage plays, contemporary musicals, and large-scale cultural dance dramas in a premier performance venue.
Unique Beijing Experiences & Local Lifestyle
Want to slow down and travel your own way? Tailor your Beijing wander with immersive hutong strolls, traditional craft workshops, and authentic local daily life.
HUTONG · LOCAL LIFE
Historic Hutong Rickshaw Tour
Glide through narrow, maze-like traditional residential alleyways (hutongs) by rickshaw to discover hidden courtyard homes and authentic neighborhood community life.
COOKING CLASS · FOODIE
Traditional Beijing Cooking & Dumpling Class
Join a hands-on culinary workshop to learn how to wrap traditional Chinese dumplings, hand-pull noodles, and cook authentic northern home-style dishes.
CRAFT · HERITAGE
Chinese Calligraphy & Seal Carving Workshop
Learn the ancient art of brush writing from master calligraphers and carve your own personalized traditional Chinese name seal as a unique souvenir.
MORNING RITUAL · WELLNESS
Temple of Heaven Morning Tai Chi & Fan Dance
Join local residents at dawn in the leafy park grounds to practice soothing Tai Chi movements, traditional sword forms, and graceful fan dancing.
TEA CULTURE · HERITAGE
Traditional Tea Tasting & Ceremony in Dashilar
Step into a historic teahouse in the vibrant Dashilar commercial area to sample premium loose-leaf Chinese teas and learn the refined art of tea brewing.
HISTORY · SCIENCE
Ancient Astronomy at Beijing Ancient Observatory
Explore one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world, featuring magnificent pre-telescopic bronze instruments dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Beijing Shopping & Traditional Souvenirs
From intangible-heritage crafts to royal-grade tea and edible gifts, here's what to carry home from the historic capital.
ANTIQUE MARKET · VINTAGE
Panjiayuan Antique & Flea Market Treasures
Hunt for vintage treasures, jade carvings, old Chairman Mao memorabilia, ancient porcelain, and folk art in Beijing's most famous weekend open-air market.
INTANGIBLE HERITAGE · CRAFT
Exquisite Cloisonné Enamelware
Purchase genuine Beijing-made enamelware featuring intricate copper wire inlays and brilliant colored glazes, a masterpiece of imperial craftsmanship.
TEA CULTURE · SPECIALTY
Premium Chinese Tea & Silk Goods
Pick up top-grade Jasmine tea from historic century-old tea houses like Zhang Yuan, alongside fine silk garments and traditional embroidery pieces.
HANDMADE · SOUVENIR
Beijing Swallow Kites & Folk Art
Take home a hand-painted traditional bamboo-frame swallow kite, masterfully crafted by local folk artists following centuries-old lineage techniques.
EDIBLE GIFTS · BAKERY
Traditional Beijing Pastries & Baked Goods
Pack boxes of famous traditional Beijing pastries (like "Jing Bajian" assorted cakes and flaky jujube-paste pastries) from legendary heritage bakeries.
CULTURE STREET · CALLIGRAPHY
Liulichang Cultural Street Antiques & Brushes
Browse traditional Chinese painting scrolls, high-quality writing brushes, ink stones, and antique books along the historic scholarly alley of Liulichang.
Tour Packages That Include Beijing
Private China journeys with Beijing on the route — every itinerary can be tailored to your dates.
