Beijing

Museums & galleries

Forbidden City

Located in the heart of Beijing, this former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties is considered the largest palace complex in the world. With hundreds of interconnected buildings and rooms, it's a great place to take your time exploring the grandeur of the old imperial court.

Parks & gardens

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is a vast plaza stretching out in front of the main gate of the Forbidden City in Beijing. As one of China's most iconic landmarks, it's a great place to explore along with the surrounding architecture.

Temples & religious sites

Temple of Heaven

A Confucian altar complex in Beijing where Ming and Qing emperors once prayed to heaven for good harvests. Covering an area four times the size of the Forbidden City, it lets you sense the traces of these ancient rites as you walk the grounds.

Castles & palaces

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is a garden palace in northwestern Beijing, centered on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, where lakes, gardens, and classical architecture come together. It's a lovely place to stroll along the vast lake and take in the tranquil scenery.

Museums & galleries

National Museum of China

A large comprehensive museum on the east side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Formed by the merger of the former Museum of History and Museum of the Revolution, it offers a broad overview of Chinese history and culture.

Castles & palaces

Zhongnanhai

A former imperial garden in Beijing's Xicheng District, right next to the Forbidden City. Now serving as the seat of China's top leadership, it is heavily guarded, and its stature is palpable even from outside its walls.

Views & landmarks

China Media Group Guanghua Road Office Area

This skyscraper in Beijing was built as the new headquarters of China Central Television and completed in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Standing 234 meters tall, it's a distinctive building designed by world-renowned architects.

Heritage & monuments

Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong's mausoleum, located at the heart of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Many visitors come to see his embalmed body on display.