Galleries
Wan Fung Art Gallery
Worth a peek if you're in the area. Housed in a side building in the courtyard of the Imperial Archives, which you can't go in, but is quite impressive. The courtyard itself is a quiet corner in an otherwise crowded area of the city.
CourtYard Gallery
Founded in 1996. Exhibits emerging and mid-career artists working in a wide range of media.
onemoon
Chinese artist working in a range of media.
Soka Art Centre
Founded in 1992 in Taiwan and established in Beijing in 2001. The gallary exhibits modern famous artist from China and around Asia.
Parks
Zhongshan Park
Beautifully landscaped park with lots of trees and bamboo. Paddle boats of rent on the moat of the Forbidden City. Also an indoor playground for children, and bumper cars.
Ditan Park
Park with a lot of cypresses and also a small amusement park area.
Liuyin Park
Park showing what rural China looks like. Also contains childrens playground and a tea house.
Qingnianhu Park
The park contains basketball, croquet, golf, electric boats, paddleboars and an amusement zone. Waterland contains a large pool with waterslides.
Changpu River Park
Narrow strip of landscaped park along a small stream. Begins in the east near the Beijing hotel and runs almost to Tian'anmen Gate.
Museums
The Poly Museum
Small art museum specialising in bringing Chinese artifacts home to China from abroad. Main exhibitions cover ancient bronze art, ancient stone carvings and Buddha statues.
Mao Dun Former Residence
Mao Dun 1896-1981 was a famous revolutionary writer. His former residence including personal effects and writings can be seen here.
Beijing Police Museum
Large museum on police history.
National Museum of China
Imperial City Art Museum
The Imperial City was the Manchu city that surrounded the Forbidden City during the Qing dynasty. The museum's centrepiece is a scale model of the Forbidden & Imperial Cities. There are also displays on lifestyle, costumes, arts & crafts of the Qing imperial city. Occasionally hosts special exhibits that cost extra.
Tiananmen square
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
Mao's mausoleum. Expect huge, but moving, queues. No bags, cameras or water bottles are allowed inside and must be dropped off for a fee at the 'Bagcheck' building across the road to the east mobile phones ok. Flowers can be purchased to lay at the feet of Mao's statue inside although they are collected and resold at the end of the day as well as leaflets for ¥1. There is disagreement among the locals as to whether the body is real or fake waxwork so make up your own mind. Mao souvenirs can be purchased at the exit.
Monument to the People's Heroes
The monument documents key events in modern Chinese history.
Forbidden City
Open April 1st- October 31st: 8:30-17:00. November 1st- March 31st: 8:30-16:30. Get there when the gates open around 8.30AM if you want to walk through the vast and spectacular courtyards in relative peace Close at 5PM. This is truly the spot to appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City remains mercifully relatively untouched. There are a handful of cafes and gift shops, which are surprisingly not very overpriced considering what a tourist area it is. Only two-fifths of the area of the palace is opened but more sections open all the time. Wandering to the right or left can yield some beautiful secluded courtyards and, of course, padlocked dead ends. You can rent an audio guided tour which explains certain temples along the central axis and their uses for ¥40 with a ¥100 deposit more than a dozen languages available. The signs posted around and on buildings inside are fairly short and are written in both Chinese and English. You can reach the Forbidden City via subway line 1 to Tiananmen West or Tiananmen East,or by buses lines 1,4,52 and 728. Alternatively, the lines 101,109 and 810 stop at the north gate of Forbidden City.
Tiananmen Square 天å®é¨å¹¿åº; TiÄnÄnménguÇngchÇng is the largest square in the world. Built by Mao to impress; the square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings. Tiananmen Square remains an astounding place and a spot to linger and see visitors from all over China, many visiting their capital for the first time. There is a flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk at the north end of the square. There are 4 marble lions in front of the Tiananmen gate, the northwest one has a bullet hole on its stomach from the 1989 Tianamen Square massacre the lions are enclosed by fences, making the NW one nearly impossible to see close up. The square is best reached by subway. Qianmen station on line 2 is at the southern end of the square, while Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West, both on line 1, are at the northern end. Due to traffic restrictions, taxis cannot stop on the square, so if you come by taxi, the driver will have to let you out on a nearby side street.
The Great Hall of the People
Seat of China's parliament and important political meetings.
Tian'anmen Gate
Tian'anmen Gate, and its large portrait of Chairman Mao, dominates the northern end of the square. Pass beneath the gate to head north toward the Forbidden City. It costs nothing to pass through, but on the far side there is a ticket booth where you can pay admission to visit the Gate. Although visiting the Gate allows a good view over Tian'anmen Square, do not be fooled into thinking you are buying tickets to the Forbidden City: they are separate attractions.
Temples
Imperial Academy
The academy was the highest level college and location of examinations for the civil service in Imperial China. Very much related to the neighbouring Confucius Temple in that the studies and exams were conducted in the Confucian tradition. Displays documenting the history of the imperial exams system and the lives of students. Pleasant courtyard, slightly quieter than that of the temple.
Yonghegong
The temple was built by Chinese emperors who harbored a deep fascination for the Tibetan Tantric version of Buddhism. Over the years, many Tibetan and Mongolian monks lived and taught here, and there are still monks in residence today. The temple is famous for its 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures of holy statues inside most of the temples. You can view most of buildings in an hour or less.
Zhihua Temple
Buddhist temple built in 1443 One of the largest, oldest and best preserved wooden structures in Beijing. Houses the Ancient Music Center, which now and then gives concerts played by monks and true to the ancient traditions. Also houses the Beijing Cultural Exhange Museum. The temple has recently been renovated.
Tongjiao Temple
Originally used by eunuchs but now actively used by nuns.
Confucius Temple
The temple was built in 1302 and honors Confucius åå; KÇngzi; 551-479 BC who was one of China's greatest thinkers, still with significant influence on all aspects of daily life. The pavilions along either side have displays about Confucius and the history of Confucianism The courtyard is a pleasant place to relax or watch art students practice sketching.
Other
Drum and Bell Towers
The drum tower was originally built in 1272 and reconstructed at a new location in 1800. The bell tower is build around 1700. Being situated straight north from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Qianmen Street, they are on the central north-south axis of Beijing. Originally, the towers were used to play music and later on to tell the Beijingers the time. Now they houses a 63-ton ancient copper bell and a number of ancient/replica drums. Free guides start tours at specific times, and the Drum Tower also has performances every hour or so usually around half-past. There are great views from the top of the towers, but be prepared to hike up the 60+ very steep! steps. Ignore the touts at the bottom who try to push off "hutong tours" in rickety tri-shaws.
Ancient Observatory
The observatory covering 1,000 m2 was built in 1442and has been open to the public since 1983. Ancient star maps and instruments to watch stars can be seen here. Displays on the history of Chinese astronomy, and several large astronomical instruments set on top of an old watchtower of the city walls.
Legation Quarter
Once famous in the Boxer Rebellion, the legation quarter is now occupied by government offices and army offices but can still be seen from outside. There's a wonderful bakery store called "Sapporo" near the legation quarter, famous for its breads and cheesecakes.