Beijing Capital International Airport 29 min
Beihai Park (10 min) First opened to the public in 1925, this 69-hectare former imperial park features a massive lake. Houhai (14 min) Picturesque lake known for its shoreline of bustling bars, cafes, souvenir shops & restaurants. Lama Temple (7 min) Ornate Tibetan Buddhist temple complex built in 1694 & featuring bronze statues & incense burners. Zhengyangmen (16 min) Iconic gatehouse originally built in 1419 as part of Beijing's city wall, now offering a museum. National Museum of China (17 min) Free, massive (2.2 million-sq.-ft.) museum of Chinese history & art with more than 1 million relics. Tiananmen (14 min) Symbolic, famed gateway to the Forbidden City dating to the 15th century but rebuilt many times. Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing (9 min) Red watchtower reconstructed in 1420, offering views & performances with replica Ming dynasty drums. Tiananmen Square (14 min) Historic, massive city square (one of the world's largest) & meeting place, featuring a 37m obelisk. Forbidden City (11 min) Completed in 1420, this palace complex with 980 buildings features a museum with art & artifacts. National Stadium (22 min) Iconic stadium known as the Bird's Nest built for the Olympics & now hosting concerts & sports. Jingshan Park (9 min) Historic 57-acre park located on a hill & offering views of the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum (12 min) Massive palace complex & museum featuring tours, art exhibits & restaurants. Temple of Heaven (26 min) Renowned temple complex from 1420 featuring distinctive circular buildings set in a popular park. Summer Palace (33 min) Lakefront palace renowned for its ornate temples & artworks plus its lavishly landscaped grounds. Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (15 min) Famed museum & mausoleum devoted to Mao Zedong & housing exhibits plus the former leader's remains. |