Home to approximately 21,710,000 people, Beijing is one of the most populous cities in China and is likely to have been inhabited since at least 1000 BC, which makes it culturally and historically significant. And,
Home to approximately 21,710,000 people, Beijing is one of the most populous cities in China and is likely to have been inhabited since at least 1000 BC, which makes it culturally and historically significant. And, this is why we’ve decided to bring you the main must-sees of this city.
As this is the second part of our article, if you’ve missed the first part, you can read it here.
The Great Wall of China
If you’re looking for something to do for free in Beijing, you can’t miss visiting the Great Wall of China, as it’s one of the world’s great tourist attractions. Who hasn’t heard of the Great Wall of China? It is one of the 7 wonders of the world and took over 2000 years to build.
As it is very large, there are many places to visit, so it is divided into sections. The first is the restored section, known as Badaling. This is one of the most popular areas of the Great Wall, first visited by tourists in 1957. Today it welcomes millions of visitors every year. You can enjoy the spectacular views and the cable car ride.
Another section is Mutianyu, which with its mountainous landscape is the perfect place to visit. It is located just under 90 km from Beijing. It has a cable car, a chair lift and an amazing slide for tourists. Huanghua Cheng is an area of the wall that is crumbling but still charming for tourists. And even part of the wall is under water.
Finally, Simatai and Jinshanling is one of the most difficult areas to walk, so it is not for everyone. But it’s still a beautiful place, although we recommend you go with plenty of fluids and in good physical condition. Go to the Great Wall of China and fall in love with it from a new perspective.
Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park is located in the centre of Beijing, just north of the Forbidden City. It is an ideal place to relax during a pleasant walk. It is one of the most visited public parks in Beijing. You can breathe in the tranquility here. It has become an excellent meeting place for people of all ages!
Its most popular attraction is Coal Hill. It is a five-storey imperial garden. Another place of great interest in the park is the Shouhuang Palace or Imperial Longevity Hall. So don’t hesitate to visit it, although walking through it in its entirety can be exhausting as it has some rather steep areas.
Wangfujing
If you’re looking for the perfect place to shop, you can’t go wrong with the Wangfujing shopping street. It is located close to Tiananmen Square. You will find shops, boutiques, restaurants and other businesses.
It is characterised by being a very lively street and you can visit it during the day or, if you prefer, at night. In fact, if you visit it at night, you will find a more exotic type of business. You will also find typical Chinese cuisine and other more unusual foods such as seahorse or worm skewers. Of course, be sure to record your visit to Wangfujing and buy some souvenirs.
Yonghe Temple or Lama Temple
The Yonghe Temple or Temple of Lamas is a group of buildings built in 1694 by the Kangxi Emperor. It is a monastery dedicated to the worship of Buddhism. To the west is the entrance to the temple, where a straight path from south to north leads to the temple itself.
To the south you can see the bell tower and the drum tower. At the end of the courtyard is the Yong Harmony Gate (Yonghe Men). Further on is the Hall of Eternal Protection. At the end of the courtyard is the Hall of the Wheel of Law (Falun Dian), built in 1694.
Finally, you can visit the Pavilion of a Thousand Happinesses with its monumental statue of Buddha. Built in the 17th century for Prince Yongzhen as his main residence, it is one of the most historic and cultural places to visit in Beijing. If you love the Asian giant, discover all that the Temple of Lama has to offer.
There you are, so what are your thoughts? Have you decided which places from this list you are definitely going to visit? Let us know in the comments below.