Beijing: places and services

Fragrant Hills Park

Wooded hills in north-west Beijing around a former imperial retreat. The peak season is late October to early November, when the slopes turn red. A cable car runs to the summit.

Haidian, Maimai Street 40

香山公园

Olympic Forest Park

Beijing’s largest city park: lakes, groves and a hill overlooking the Olympic Green. The 5 and 10 km running loops are a favourite of local runners. Free entry.

Chaoyang, north of the Olympic Green

奥林匹克森林公园

China National Botanical Garden

The former Beijing Botanical Garden, made national in 2022. A tropical glasshouse, peony and lilac gardens, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the stream-filled Cherry Valley.

Haidian, Wofosi Road

国家植物园（北园）

National Museum of China

One of the most visited museums in the world, on the east side of Tiananmen Square. The permanent “Ancient China” exhibition runs from the Neolithic to the Qing dynasty.

Free entry, but tickets are booked in advance with your passport.

Dongcheng, East Chang’an Avenue 16

中国国家博物馆

Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

The imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties: nearly a thousand surviving buildings and a collection of more than one and a half million objects.

Tickets are sold online only, with a passport, and often sell out a week ahead; closed on Mondays.

Dongcheng, Jingshan Front Street 4

故宫博物院

Capital Museum

The museum of Beijing’s history: bronzes, porcelain, jade and galleries on old hutong life and Peking opera. Less crowded than the National Museum — a good half-day choice.

Xicheng, Fuxingmenwai Avenue 16

首都博物馆

Temple of Heaven

The complex where emperors prayed for good harvests; the round, blue-roofed Hall of Prayer is a symbol of Beijing. In the mornings locals dance, kick shuttlecocks and sing opera in the park — come before nine.

Dongcheng, Tiantan East Road

天坛公园

Summer Palace

An imperial park on Kunming Lake: Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor with thousands of painted panels and the Marble Boat. In winter the lake freezes into a skating rink.

Haidian, Xinjiangongmen Road 19

颐和园

Great Wall at Mutianyu

A restored Ming-era section about 70 km from the centre — noticeably less crowded than Badaling. Go up by cable car or chairlift, and come down by toboggan.

Huairou District, Mutianyu

慕田峪长城

Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

A working Tibetan Buddhist monastery and former residence of the Yongzheng Emperor. The last hall holds a Maitreya Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk, standing 18 metres above the floor.

Dongcheng, Yonghegong Street 12

雍和宫