Beijing is very much like Shanghai, a busy city with air quality compromised by the size of the city. It is well maintained, clean and efficient, but the most obvious thing you will notice about it is the number of Police that patrol the city, especially around key tourist attractions.

The city has several key tourist sites within reach, so there is plenty to do and see here.

  1. The Great Wall – everyone wants to visit the Great Wall, and you will marvel at its construction across the rugged hills of China. We visited the Juyongguan Pass section which is about a 2 hour drive from Beijing. We arrived very early in the morning for good reason. Once the dozens of bus groups arrive it is impossible to move freely up and down the wall. Be aware though, that the wall is very steep, and the steps are not normal tread sizes. There were many steps which we had to crawl up as they were far too big for stepping onto. About half-way down on your return journey there is a little shopping centre. It offers cheaper souvenirs than the shops at the bottom, so if you are looking for some good trinkets to buy, we would suggest using these shops rather than those located down near the bus stops.
  2. Tiananmen Square – it is interesting seeing the square and its actual size if you know its history. It is also interesting to note that our guides (who were young people either studying at University or a few years out of University) did not know the history of Tiananmen Square. They were quite surprised to hear what it was all about and eager to learn. Unlike western countries they cannot access this information via the internet, as there are restrictions on social media and internet access throughout China. Soldiers were evident both in the Square and at the Forbidden City across the road.
  3. Forbidden City – a formidable structure in many ways covering 72 hectares of land. It was once the Imperial Palace for the emperors and got its name because you were forbidden to enter unless you had the permission of the Emperor at the time. It is well preserved and well worth having a tour guide to give you some of its rich history. Check out the map of the whole area which will give you some idea of its enormous size.
  4. Temple of Heaven – this building is exceptionally well preserved and worth a visit. Surrounded by two altar walls, the whole altar is divided into two parts, the inner altar and the outer altar. The total area is 273 hectares. The main buildings are concentrated in the inner altar. Again, a tour guide is an added bonus to share the history of this building.
  5. Summer Palace – built in a vast area of man-made lakes covering 2.9 square kilometres, the Imperial Family preferred to stay here in the hot summers to take advantage of the airy pavilions. You can take a boat ride to see the island temple, wander through the beautiful gardens and walk through the roofed colonnade, known as The Long Corridor which is said to be the longest in the world.
  6. Rickshaw ride through the old town – this was part of our tour and was loads of fun as we saw another side of living in China that the tourist does not normally witness. Part of this excursion included lunch cooked by a local family, which allowed us some insight as to what daily life is like in Beijing.

Travel Tips

  • Be ready to move efficiently around Beijing if you are with a tour group. They very much stay on time and are well co-ordinated. So, in turn, you need to be on time and ready to go.

Travel Alerts

  • Being with a tour group we felt perfectly safe in Beijing, however we did not venture out at night as our hotel was situated in an area that did not provide much in the way of tourism.

Travel Adventures

  • You are only limited by what is on your trip agenda, but if you get a chance try and get out to some of the shopping centres where you can find some great items and souvenirs at very reasonable prices.