Beihai Park is one of Beijing’s oldest and most elegant imperial gardens. With over 900 years of history, it served as the royal garden for five dynasties: Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. Unlike the bustling Forbidden City, Beihai Park offers a tranquil atmosphere where you can row across its…
This guide introduces one of Beijing’s most unique parks—Beijing Jingshan Park.
Last updated: Sep. I’ve lived in Beijing for over a decade and have explored Yuanmingyuan in depth on numerous occasions. Yuanmingyuan (also known as the “Old Summer Palace”) is one of Beijing’s most historically significant attractions, but the experience of visiting it is completely different from that of other famous imperial…
The Summer Palace is one of Beijing’s most renowned attractions, famous worldwide for its picturesque lakes and mountains, exquisite gardens, and magnificent imperial architecture. If you’re planning a visit to the Summer Palace, you’re likely wondering: how long should you plan for, which route is the most efficient, and is…
> Last Updated: July, 2026 The Forbidden City has more than 9,000 rooms. If you stayed in one room per night, it would take you 24 years to stay in them all. But you don’t need to see them all. There are probably fewer than 100 rooms that are truly…
The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Beijing’s Liulichang Cultural Street, Tailored for International Visitors: Covering the Four Treasures of the Study, time-honored brands, seal carving, rubbing, bargaining, transportation, payment methods, tips to avoid pitfalls, and in-depth itineraries. Exiting the west end of Beijing’s Yangmeizhu Xiejie, you arrive at Liulichang Cultural Street. This…
Planning an in-depth independent trip to Beijing? Looking for hidden-gem subway-accessible sites, free of admission fees, yet offering an immersive experience of authentic Beijing history and culture?
If you’re in Beijing and want to avoid crowded tourist traps to explore the city’s authentic, lesser-known side—then this article is for you.The following three hidden city walking routes are all tucked away in the city center. They’re easily accessible by public transportation, yet rarely visited by tour groups. They…
When visiting the Badaling Great Wall for the first time, many people struggle with these questions: Should I take the South Route or the North Route? Should I take the cable car? How much time should I set aside?
