Parks
Chaoyang Park
The largest park in Beijing at 3km by 1.5km. The park features an artifical beach, two large swimming pools, a bungee jumping tower, boat rental, concert stages, sports areas, a number of amusement park rides, flower areas and much more. The individual entertainment options might not be impressive, but the size of the park and the number of local visitors makes a stroll here delightful anyway.
Ritan Park
The park contains the Temple of the Sun with an alter built in 1530 and used for sacrifices to the sun. Great park with entertainment for the children, good cafés and restaurants, plenty of local life to watch and also historical stuff. The altar itself is a round open space popular for flying kites. If you couldn't get close to the "Echo Wall" at Temple of Heaven due to crowds, you can do the same trick here although only on a quarter rather than the whole circle. Also climb to the pavilion at the top of the small hill in the park for a surround view of the CBD skyline.
Honglingjin Park
Here you can watch sculptures and gingko trees. The park also features indoor and outdoor playgrounds, boats for hire and a number of amusement park rides.
Side Park
Park featuring sport activities and play grounds.
Chinese Ethnic Culture Park (China Nationalities Museum)
Park and museum with buildings and exhibitions showing the characteristics of China's 56 nationalities. This does give a good overview and a better understanding of the diversity of China, but everything seems a bit dated and dusty. Also estaurants and shops in the park.
Happy Valley Amusement Park
Amusement park established in 2006 and by far the largest in Beijing covering around 1km2 and comprising more than 40 rides divided in different themed areas.
Olympic venues
National Stadium
Also known as the "Bird's Nest" é¸å·¢ NiÇocháo, this stadium, designed by Herzog & Meuron, is the world's largest steel structure. It hosted opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletic and football matches during the olympics. It was planned to host football matches after the Olympics, but due to few expected spectators the football club backed out of the agreement. Therefore, the stadium has found very little use after the olympics and is planned to be converted to a shopping and entertainment complex.
Many of the Olympic venues are situated in or around the Olympic Green in Chaoyang. Note that the Olympic Green area is now like a public square that can be visited for free. Admission is charged if you want to visit inside the venues:
National Aquatics Center
Also known as the "Water Cube" æ°´ç«æ¹ ShÇilìfÄng Swimming and diving venue. Tickets to visit the inside of the Water Cube are sold throughout the day. The ticket office is inconveniently located by the tour bus parking lot at the northwest corner of the building which is a fair hike from the building entrance at the southeast corner, facing the stadium. The building also sometimes now hosts sound and light shows in the evenings.
Olympic venues are also found elsewhere in Chaoyang:
Finally, Olympic venues can be found in other districts including China Agricultural University Gymnasium, Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium, Peking University Gymnasium, Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium, Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, Beijing Shooting Range CTF, Beijing Shooting Range Hall, Laoshan Velodrome, Laoshan Mountain Bike Course, and Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field.
National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature
Very large museum on modern Chinese literature and writers including reproductions of writers' homes, original and copy manuscripts as well as personal effects.
World Trade Center Tower III
Just north-west of Guomao station, and north of China World Trade Center I. This is Beijing's tallest building and features multiple restaurants and bars at the top.
Dongyue Temple
Taoist temple founded in 1319 with hundreds of life size plaster figures and the possibility of making offerings to different gods responsible for all kind of stuff. The temple also houses the Beijing Folk Arts Museum. Very quiet and peaceful spot.