Beijing Capital International Airport 37 min
Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing (26 min) Red watchtower reconstructed in 1420, offering views & performances with replica Ming dynasty drums. The Palace Museum (19 min) Massive palace complex & museum featuring tours, art exhibits & restaurants. Lama Temple (21 min) Ornate Tibetan Buddhist temple complex built in 1694 & featuring bronze statues & incense burners. National Museum of China (11 min) Free, massive (2.2 million-sq.-ft.) museum of Chinese history & art with more than 1 million relics. Zhengyangmen (11 min) Iconic gatehouse originally built in 1419 as part of Beijing's city wall, now offering a museum. Monument to the People's Heroes (11 min) Imposing obelisk built between 1952 & 1958 to commemorate those who died struggling for Communism. Summer Palace (41 min) Lakefront palace renowned for its ornate temples & artworks plus its lavishly landscaped grounds. Houhai (26 min) Picturesque lake known for its shoreline of bustling bars, cafes, souvenir shops & restaurants. Jingshan Park (21 min) Historic 57-acre park located on a hill & offering views of the Forbidden City. Temple of Heaven (11 min) Renowned temple complex from 1420 featuring distinctive circular buildings set in a popular park. Tiananmen Square (11 min) Historic, massive city square (one of the world's largest) & meeting place, featuring a 37m obelisk. Beihai Park (19 min) First opened to the public in 1925, this 69-hectare former imperial park features a massive lake. Tiananmen (15 min) Symbolic, famed gateway to the Forbidden City dating to the 15th century but rebuilt many times. Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (11 min) Famed museum & mausoleum devoted to Mao Zedong & housing exhibits plus the former leader's remains. Forbidden City (16 min) Completed in 1420, this palace complex with 980 buildings features a museum with art & artifacts. |