Beijing, China: things to do, prices and tips 2026

Things to do in Beijing (China): The Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, The Summer Palace. Prices, opening times and the author’s tips.

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What to see

🏯The Forbidden City

The imperial palace with 980 buildings, home to the Ming and Qing emperors for 500 years. The largest surviving wooden palace complex in the world.

Price 60 yuan from April to October, 40 from November to March

Insider tip Tickets are online only with your passport; sales open 7 days ahead and sell out in minutes. Closed on Mondays. You enter from the south and exit in the north — head straight up into Jingshan Park.

🧱Mutianyu Great Wall

A restored stretch of wall in green mountains 70 km from Beijing: a watchtower every hundred metres and views to the horizon. Up by cable car, down by toboggan.

Price Entry about 40 yuan, cable car with toboggan about 140–160 yuan

Insider tip Arrive at opening — tour groups come by 11 am. Walk to towers 20–23: it's steep, but almost empty. In autumn the maples on the slopes turn red.

🔵Temple of Heaven

A round temple with a blue roof where the emperor prayed for a good harvest. Around it is a huge park where locals dance, sing, play mahjong and practise tai chi in the morning.

Price About 34 yuan including the main halls

Insider tip Come at 7–8 am — the real show isn't the temple but Beijing pensioners' morning life. Join the dancing — they'll invite you.

🛶The Summer Palace

The imperial summer retreat on Kunming Lake: a painted corridor 728 metres long, a marble boat and the Tower of Buddhist Incense on the hill.

Price About 60 yuan including the main pavilions

Insider tip Take a boat across the lake — you'll see the palace from the water and save your legs. Allow half a day; the grounds are huge.

🚲Hutongs & Nanluoguxiang

Old alleys of grey siheyuan courtyard houses where Beijingers still live. Nanluoguxiang is the best known, surrounded by quiet hutongs and the Houhai lakes.

Price Free; a pedicab is 100–200 yuan an hour — agree the price first

Insider tip Turn off the main tourist street into any side alley — that's where real life is. In the evening the bars around Houhai have live music.

🌅Jingshan Park

An artificial hill right behind the Forbidden City: from the pavilion at the top you see the palace's golden roofs in their entirety.

Price 2 yuan

Insider tip The most beautiful view is at sunset, when the roofs glow gold. Tickets are also bought with your passport at the entrance.

🪷Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)

A working Tibetan Buddhist monastery with clouds of incense and an 18-metre Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk.

Price 25 yuan, incense included

Insider tip Photos are not allowed inside the halls. Opposite is the Confucius Temple and the quiet Guozijian lane with cafés.

🎨798 Art District

A former Bauhaus-style factory turned into a district of contemporary art galleries, cafés and design shops.

Price District free, some galleries charge

Insider tip Many galleries close on Mondays. Start with UCCA, China's leading contemporary art centre.

🥾Jinshanling hike

The most photogenic stretch of the wall — half-ruined towers on the ridges, without the crowds.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

🏮Gubei Water Town & Simatai by night

The only place where you can see the Great Wall lit up at night.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

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