Visiting China

Beijing Sightseeing

The top 10 sightseeing in Beijing includes:

1. The Forbidden City – You can spend an entire day exploring Beijing’s most famous sightseeing landmark.

2. The Hutongs – These historic streets are a great way to spend a day shopping, eating, drinking, and soaking up the culture in Beijing.

3. 798 Art District – One of the newest additions to the list of top 10 sightseeing in Beijing, the 798 Art District is bursting with contemporary art galleries, cafes, and restaurants.

4. Summer Palace – This beautiful historic architectural gem is a must-see on any Beijing sightseeing tour.

5. Great Wall of China – Perhaps the most famous landmark in all of China, the Great Wall deserves a place on any top 10 sightseeing in Beijing list.

6. Beijing Olympic Stadium – The Beijing olympics may be over, but the famous Beijing National Stadium, which is also called the Bird’s Nest Stadium, lives on. The stunning arena is worth a visit.

7. Tiananmen Square – The largest central urban square in the world, Tiananmen Square is both rich in history and surrounded by cultural highlights including museums, monuments, and towers.

8. Ming Tombs – The Ming tombs of 13 imperial emperors cover an area of forty square kilometers, and are worth a visit to descend into the tombs. It is worth combining a visit to the Ming tombs with a visit to the Great Wall of China.

9. Parks – Beijing has a great variety of urban parks, some of which are notable for their beauty. While visiting Beijing, make sure to stop by Jingshan Park, Fragrant Hills Park, and Taoranting Park.

10. Temple of Heaven – The largest group of ritual temples in China surely deserves a place on the list of top 10 sightseeing in Beijing. The Temple covers a vast space and is one of the most iconic sites in Beijing.

Great Wall of China

The best time to visit the Great Wall of China depends on the day and the time of year.

The best time of day to visit the Great Wall is in the early morning around 6:30am. The crowds are fewer then, and in the summer the heat and humidity are less intense. The light is also good for taking photos at this time of day.

The best time of year to visit the Great Wall of China depends on your interests.

In the summer the Great Wall is surrounded by thick green forest. In the fall the leaves turn yellow, red, and orange, making for beautiful photos. In the winter the wall is covered in snow, which is a dramatic backdrop, if a bit cold. In the spring the area around the wall features beautiful flowers.

In the end, it is up to the visitor to choose which season is the best time to visit the Great Wall of China.

Great Wall of China

A day trip from Beijing to the Great Wall of China is a good way to see the top sightseeing destination in Beijing.

Getting from Beijing to the Great Wall takes around 1 to 2 hours depending on traffic. The best time to visit the Great Wall of China is in the early morning, when crowds are scarce. In the summer the heat is also less intense in the morning.

The Great Wall of China offers a number of different visiting areas, with the Badaling area being the most popular. There is a Great Wall Museum there, and entry to the museum is included in the Great Wall ticket price.

Other visiting areas of the Great Wall of China include the Mutianyu, Huanghua Cheng, and Simatai areas.

Many Beijing hotels can arrange a day trip from Beijing to the Great Wall of China for guests. These trips include a hotel car that will drive visitors to the Great Wall and wait while they tour the area.

A less expensive alternative is to take a taxi to the Great Wall of China. The taxi will also wait while you walk along the wall.

A day trip from Beijing to the Great Wall of China can also be combined with a trip to the nearby Ming Tombs.