# Beijing Visits > Practical, English-language Beijing travel guides for foreign (FIT) visitors — itineraries, local food, the apps you actually need, and an auto-updated calendar of upcoming exhibitions, concerts and festivals. Written by people who live in Beijing. ## Primary Sections - [Beijing Events Calendar](https://www.beijingvisits.com/calendar/): Upcoming Beijing exhibitions, concerts, shows and festivals, updated automatically. Each entry includes bilingual venue addresses for taxi drivers and passport / ticket guidance. - [Beijing Subway Guide](https://www.beijingvisits.com/beijing-subway-guide/): How to ride the Beijing Metro, buy tickets, and use UnionPay / Alipay. - [Essential Apps for Beijing](https://www.beijingvisits.com/app-in-beijing/): Alipay, WeChat, Baidu Maps, Didi and other must-have apps for foreign visitors. - [First-Time Beijing Travel Checklist](https://www.beijingvisits.com/beijing-travel-checklist/): What to prepare before you fly — passport, VPN, payments, SIM/eSIM. ## Attractions (pSEO) - [All Beijing attraction guides](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/): 46 in-depth single-attraction pages grouped into Great Wall & Landmarks; Imperial Palaces & Gardens; Temples & Cultural Sites; Hutongs & Historic Neighborhoods; Modern, Family & Parks. Each covers opening hours, ticket and passport booking rules, walking routes, crowd-avoiding tips and FAQs. - [Forbidden City (Palace Museum)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/forbidden-city/): Complete visitor guide - tickets, passport booking, the one-way route and the best time to go. - [Badaling Great Wall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/badaling-great-wall/): Badaling Great Wall is the most visited, restored section near Beijing, with cable cars. Book online with your passport; take the S2 train or 877 bus. - [Mutianyu Great Wall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/mutianyu-great-wall/): Mutianyu Great Wall is a restored section northwest of Beijing, known for its toboggan run. Book by passport on WeChat; take the 916 bus, then... - [Jinshanling Great Wall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/jinshanling-great-wall/): Jinshanling Great Wall is a partly wild section north-east of Beijing with dense watchtowers. Book by passport; take the 980 bus to Miyun, then a... - [Simatai Great Wall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/simatai-great-wall/): Simatai Great Wall is the only section open at night; entry needs a Gubei Water Town reservation. Book on WeChat; take the 980 bus to Miyun, then... - [Gubeikou Great Wall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/gubeikou-great-wall/): Gubeikou Great Wall is a largely wild, unrestored section prized for original Ming masonry. Free to walk; take the 980 bus to Miyun, then a local... - [Huanghuacheng Great Wall (Lakeside Great Wall)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/huanghuacheng-great-wall/): Huanghuacheng, the Lakeside Great Wall, is a quiet Huairou section where ramparts meet a reservoir. Book by passport; take the 916 bus to Huairou. - [Tian'anmen Square](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/tiananmen-square/): Tian'anmen Square is Beijing's vast ceremonial heart, free but open only with a real-name passport reservation. Book on WeChat; take Line 1 to... - [Chairman Mao Memorial Hall](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/chairman-mao-memorial-hall/): Chairman Mao Memorial Hall on Tian'anmen Square displays Mao Zedong's embalmed body. Free with a real-name reservation; mornings only, bags... - [The Place (Shimao Tianjie)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/the-place/): The Place (Shimao Tianjie) is a Guomao mall famous for a huge LED sky screen overhead. Free to enter; it glows with animations after dusk. Visit... - [China World Trade Center Tower III](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/china-world-tower-iii/): China World Trade Center Tower III is the tallest Guomao tower, crowned by the China World Summit Wing hotel. The 80th-floor lounge gives skyline... - [Summer Palace](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/summer-palace/): The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) is a Qing lakeside garden in northwest Beijing around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Covers tickets, boat and metro. - [Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/old-summer-palace/): The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) was a Qing garden destroyed in 1860. Today parkland, lakes and European Dashuifa ruins; this guide explains... - [Temple of Heaven](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/temple-of-heaven/): The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) is a Ming imperial altar in south Beijing where emperors prayed for harvests. Covers tickets, Hall of Prayer, Echo... - [Beihai Park](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/beihai-park/): Beihai Park is a compact imperial lakeside garden in Beijing, centred on White Dagoba hill and the Nine-Dragon Screen. Covers tickets, boating,... - [Jingshan Park](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/jingshan-park/): Jingshan Park sits on Coal Hill behind the Forbidden City, with best cheap panorama of the palace roofs. Ticket CNY 1-2; climb ten minutes from... - [Prince Gong's Mansion](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/prince-gong-mansion/): Prince Gong's Mansion is the best Qing princely residence near Shichahai, famed for the Pavilion of the Fu. Book the passport ticket online; it... - [Fragrant Hills Park (Xiangshan)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/fragrant-hills/): Fragrant Hills Park is Beijing's wooded west mountain, famous for autumn red leaves and a cable car. Take the Xijiao Line tram; book a slot in... - [Zhongshan Park](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/zhongshan-park/): Zhongshan Park is a small imperial altar west of Tian'anmen, loved for spring peonies and ancient cypresses. Ticket CNY 3-5; it links into the... - [Imperial Ancestral Temple (Tai Miao)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/tai-miao/): The Imperial Ancestral Temple (Tai Miao) sits east of Tian'anmen, with cypress groves and the Hall of Worship. Ticket CNY 2-5; walk in from the... - [Lama Temple (Yonghegong)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/lama-temple/): The Lama Temple (Yonghegong) is Beijing's Tibetan Buddhist temple, centred on an 18-metre Maitreya Buddha. Ticket about CNY 25; take Line 2 or 5... - [Confucius Temple & Imperial College](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/confucius-temple-guozijian/): The Confucius Temple and Imperial College form Beijing's scholar's quarter, with 700-year cypresses. Combined ticket about CNY 30; walk in from... - [Temple of Earth (Ditan Park)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/temple-of-earth/): A visitor guide to Temple of Earth (Ditan Park) in Beijing: opening hours, how to arrive, the Ming square altar of earth, cheap entry, and the... - [Temple of Sun (Ritan Park)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/temple-of-sun/): Temple of Sun (Ritan Park) is an embassy-district park built around the round Ming altar of the sun. Take Line 1 or 2 to Jianguomen for a quiet... - [Temple of Moon (Yuetan Park)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/temple-of-moon/): Temple of Moon (Yuetan Park) is the quietest of Beijing's four imperial altars, a free west-city park with a Ming moon altar. Take Line 1 or 2 to... - [White Dagoba Temple (Baitasi)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/white-dagoba-temple/): White Dagoba Temple (Baitasi) centres on a 13th-century white stupa, in a regenerated hutong quarter. Ticket CNY 20; take Line 2 to Fuchengmen,... - [Fayuan Temple](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/fayuan-temple/): Fayuan Temple, founded in 645 AD, is among Beijing's oldest Buddhist monasteries, blooming with lilac each April. Entry is free; take Line 4 or 7... - [Dazhong Temple (Big Bell Temple)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/dazhong-temple/): Dazhong Temple (Big Bell Temple) is now the Ancient Bell Museum, home to the 46-tonne Yongle Bell. Ticket CNY 20; take Line 13 to Dazhongsi,... - [Beijing Ancient Observatory](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/ancient-observatory/): The Beijing Ancient Observatory is a Ming-Qing observatory, with 17th-century bronze instruments. Ticket ~CNY 20; take Line 1 or 2 to Jianguomen. - [Nanluoguxiang](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/nanluoguxiang/): Nanluoguxiang is an 800-metre lane of 13 parallel hutongs off the Drum and Bell Towers, best before crowds. Go early; take Line 6 or 8 to explore... - [Shichahai (Houhai & Qianhai)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/shichahai/): Shichahai is three linked lakes — Qianhai, Houhai, Xihai — with an evening bar street. Visit at dusk; take Line 8 to Shichahai, near Prince Gong's... - [Dashilar (Dashilan)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/dashilar/): Dashilar (Dashilan) is a Qing-era commercial street near Qianmen, home to old-name shops Ruifuxiang and Yangmeizhu Xiejie lane. Take Line 2 or 8... - [Guijie (Ghost Street)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/guijie/): Guijie (Ghost Street) is the Dongzhimen food strip famous for spicy crayfish and 24-hour hotpot. Take Lines 2 or 13 to Dongzhimen; point at the... - [798 Art District](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/798-art-district/): The 798 Art District fills Bauhaus-era factory halls with galleries and UCCA. Take Line 14 to Wangjing South and walk east; many galleries close... - [Qianmen Street](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/qianmen-street/): Qianmen Street is the rebuilt pedestrian axis south of Tian'anmen. The real draws are the side hutongs, the Dangdang tram, and the food lanes of... - [Panjiayuan Antique Market](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/panjiayuan/): Panjiayuan is Asia's largest flea market, a sprawl of jade curios. Most stock is reproduction; browsing and bargaining are the draw. Take Line 10... - [Sanlitun Taikoo Li](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/sanlitun-taikoo-li/): Sanlitun Taikoo Li is Beijing's flagship open-air shopping and nightlife district, with global brands, restaurants and bars. Evenings are when it... - [Beijing Olympic Park (Bird's Nest & Water Cube)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/beijing-olympic-park/): Beijing Olympic Park centres on the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, linked by the central axis. The grounds make a relaxed half-day north of the... - [Universal Studios Beijing](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/universal-studios-beijing/): Universal Studios Beijing is a park in Tongzhou with seven themed lands, including the world's only Kung Fu Panda land. Arrive early; plan a 10–12... - [Beijing Zoo & Giant Panda House](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/beijing-zoo/): Beijing Zoo is best known for its Giant Panda House, where the pandas draw the biggest queues. Beyond the pandas lie imperial gardens and an... - [Beijing Botanical Garden (National Botanical Garden)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/beijing-botanical-garden/): A guide to the Beijing Botanical Garden (National Botanical Garden): the Sleeping Buddha Temple, cherry blossom and the separate conservatory ticket. - [Yuyuantan Park](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/yuyuantan-park/): A practical guide to Yuyuantan Park in west Beijing: the late-March cherry-blossom festival, lakeside boating, the central lake and tickets. - [Happy Valley Beijing](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/happy-valley-beijing/): A practical guide to Happy Valley Beijing, the city's largest coaster park in the east: the headline rides, evening ticket and how to book. - [Shijingshan Amusement Park](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/shijingshan-amusement-park/): A guide to Shijingshan Amusement Park in west Beijing: a cheap, retro state-run funfair with vintage rides, a Ferris wheel and local family mood. - [China Science and Technology Museum](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/china-science-technology-museum/): A guide to the China Science and Technology Museum on the Olympic Park axis: free timed entry, the Children's Paradise and the dome cinema. - [Capital Museum](https://www.beijingvisits.com/attractions/capital-museum/): A guide to the Capital Museum in west Beijing: free timed entry, the Beijing history gallery, Ming-Qing porcelain and Buddhist statues. ## Comparisons (pSEO) - [Badaling vs Mutianyu](https://www.beijingvisits.com/compare/badaling-vs-mutianyu/): Which Great Wall section to visit — cable car, toboggan, crowds, transit time. - [Forbidden City vs Summer Palace](https://www.beijingvisits.com/compare/forbidden-city-vs-summer-palace/): Which imperial palace to prioritize. ## Data & APIs - [Events API (JSON)](https://www.beijingvisits.com/api/v1/events.json): Machine-readable, cleaned list of upcoming Beijing events (Schema-aligned fields). ## Policies - Content is for independent travellers. Always verify ticket and visa/passport requirements on the official source before visiting.