Beijing Capital International Airport 47 min
Beijing Zoo (36 min) Venerable zoo, founded in 1906, with traditional landscaping & native animals such as pandas. Forbidden City (39 min) Completed in 1420, this palace complex with 980 buildings features a museum with art & artifacts. Beihai Park (41 min) First opened to the public in 1925, this 69-hectare former imperial park features a massive lake. Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (34 min) Famed museum & mausoleum devoted to Mao Zedong & housing exhibits plus the former leader's remains. Tiananmen Square (35 min) Historic, massive city square (one of the world's largest) & meeting place, featuring a 37m obelisk. Monument to the People's Heroes (35 min) Imposing obelisk built between 1952 & 1958 to commemorate those who died struggling for Communism. Zhengyangmen (34 min) Iconic gatehouse originally built in 1419 as part of Beijing's city wall, now offering a museum. Lama Temple (39 min) Ornate Tibetan Buddhist temple complex built in 1694 & featuring bronze statues & incense burners. Jingshan Park (44 min) Historic 57-acre park located on a hill & offering views of the Forbidden City. National Museum of China (35 min) Free, massive (2.2 million-sq.-ft.) museum of Chinese history & art with more than 1 million relics. Houhai (39 min) Picturesque lake known for its shoreline of bustling bars, cafes, souvenir shops & restaurants. The Palace Museum (43 min) Massive palace complex & museum featuring tours, art exhibits & restaurants. Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing (40 min) Red watchtower reconstructed in 1420, offering views & performances with replica Ming dynasty drums. Temple of Heaven (29 min) Renowned temple complex from 1420 featuring distinctive circular buildings set in a popular park. Tiananmen (39 min) Symbolic, famed gateway to the Forbidden City dating to the 15th century but rebuilt many times. |