20 Best Things to Do in Beijing
Ranked by a mix of fame, fun, and how much they define the Beijing experience. Real prices, real times, real insider tips — no filler.
What to Do in Beijing: The Complete Picture
Beijing rewards travelers who mix its two personalities. One is the imperial city — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the lakeside palaces that made this the seat of empire for 800 years. The other is the living city — hutong lanes, art districts, Peking duck at a tableside carving cart, and hot pot bubbling past midnight.
Our list of 20 things to do in Beijing is ordered so that the first items are the unmissable icons, and the later ones fill in the culture, food, and neighborhood experiences that make a trip feel complete. Each entry links to a full guide with real prices, subway routes, and crowd-beating tips, so you can plan as deep as you want.
How to use this list: with 3 days, cover items 1-7 plus a Great Wall day. With 5 days, add the food, art, and neighborhood picks (items 8-15). Everything else is for return visits or rainy-day flexibility. Prices are for 2026 and we re-verify them before every season.
Walk the Forbidden City
China's imperial heart — 24 emperors, 980 buildings, one unforgettable morning. Book 7 days ahead.
See the Great Wall from Mutianyu
Forest-framed wall, gentle slopes, and a 1,580m toboggan down. The crowd-free Great Wall experience.
Stand in Tiananmen Square
The world's largest public square — come at dawn for the flag-raising ceremony.
See the Summer Palace by boat
Kunming Lake, the 728m Long Corridor, and the Marble Boat. China's most beautiful imperial garden.
Climb Jingshan for the palace panorama
CNY 2 for the single best view in Beijing — the entire Forbidden City from Wanchun Pavilion.
Photograph the Temple of Heaven at dawn
The blue-roofed Hall of Prayer plus the city's best morning tai chi and opera scene.
Row across Beihai Lake
Beijing's oldest imperial garden, the White Dagoba, and rowboats on a willow-fringed lake.
Explore the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang
Yuan-dynasty lanes, courtyard homes, and the quiet alleys where the old city still breathes.
Watch the sun set over the Bell & Drum Towers
Climb the Bell Tower for a rooftop panorama of the old city's grey-tiled rooftops.
Find the pandas at Beijing Zoo
Giant pandas up close for CNY 15 — the city's most beloved family outing.
Eat Peking duck, done properly
Siji Minfu or Da Dong — crispy skin, thin pancakes, and the tableside carving ritual.
Get lost in 798 Art Zone
Bauhaus factories turned contemporary art district — murals, galleries, and cafe culture, free to wander.
Tour the Ming Tombs
The 13 tombs of Ming emperors at the foot of the mountains, 45 minutes north of the city.
Take the Great Wall cable car at Badaling
The postcard section, cable car to Tower 4, and the classic panorama of the Wall snaking to the horizon.
Feel the incense at the Lama Temple
Beijing's most atmospheric site — the 18m sandalwood Buddha in a working Tibetan lamasery.
Spend an hour in the National Museum
5,000 years of Chinese civilization in one free, world-class gallery.
Hunt treasure at Panjiayuan Market
Beijing's antique and flea market — jade, calligraphy, and the fine art of haggling.
Share a copper-pot hot pot
Dong Lai Shun's classic mutton hot pot — the dish that warms a Beijing winter.
Ride the subway like a local
CNY 3-9, English signage, and every sight on this list is one transfer from a Line 1/2/5 stop.
Night out on Guijie (Ghost Street)
Red lanterns and crayfish till 4am — the eating street where Beijing stays up.
Things to Do in Beijing: Quick Answers
How many days do I need to do the main things in Beijing?
Three days covers the essentials: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen on day one, a Great Wall day on day two (Mutianyu or Badaling), and the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and hutongs on day three. See our 3-day itinerary.
Which Great Wall section is the best thing to do?
Mutianyu for fewer crowds, the forest setting, and the toboggan slide; Badaling for the classic postcard scene. Our Badaling vs Mutianyu comparison breaks down every factor.
What are the best free things to do in Beijing?
The National Museum, Tiananmen Square, 798 Art Zone, and wandering the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang are all free. Jingshan Park is CNY 2 for the best view in the city. See our free attractions collection.
What should I eat while I'm in Beijing?
Peking duck done properly (Siji Minfu or Da Dong), a copper-pot mutton hot pot, zhajiangmian noodles, and street snacks like jianbing and tanghulu. Our food guide covers it all.
What time of year is best for these activities?
April-May and September-October for clear skies, blooming gardens, and comfortable Great Wall weather. Winter is quiet and cheap with snow on the Forbidden City; summer is hot but the lakes and museums shine. See our month-by-month guide.
Planning a trip?
See the ready-made 3-day itinerary, compare attractions side by side, or check the best time to visit.