Beijing

Built by Emperor Yongle in the early 15th century, the 720,000 square metres of Forbidden City was home to the imperial household. It was opened to the public in 1949. The well-preserved area boasts more than 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, beautifully decorated with thousands of Dragons, was used to celebrate the Chinese emperor’s birthday. The Palace of Heavenly Purity served as the emperors’ living area and features several bedrooms.

The Summer Palace is a 220-hector imperial garden. The idea was to rebuild a classic view of southern China so that the emperors, as well as the royal families, could enjoy a different atmosphere without even leaving Beijing. Both the mountain and the lake inside the Summer Palace are artificial. The lake was intended to imitate the famous West Lake of Hangzhou and is even a street alongside the river that perfectly restores the scene of a small northern waterside village.

This enormous park was built in the early 15th century, around the same time the Forbidden City was constructed. The park hosts several intriguing buildings. In the north of the park, a stone carved stairway leads up to the entrance of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its cylindrical blue-tiled roof and a beautifully decorated ceiling. It was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground in 1889 but was carefully reconstructed the following year. The Hall of Abstinence was used by emperors for fasting. In the south, you will find the Round Altar—a three-tiered marble platform.

Originally built in 1694 as the residence of the Yongzheng Emperor, this complex of beautifully designed buildings was transformed into a Tibetan Buddhist Temple in the mid-18th century. The Falun Dian, the temple’s teaching and assembly hall, features a large bronze statue of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Buddhist Yellow Hat sect.

Beihai Park is one of the oldest and largest ancient imperial gardens in China which is located in the city centre, and one of its best-preserved parks. It has over 1,000 years of history and is located just behind the Forbidden City. This is a nice quiet park with a relaxing atmosphere.

For adrenaline-pumping rides, head over to this theme park which opened its doors in 2006. It consists of 6 themed zones, in total 40 rides, an IMAX theatre complex and a shopping complex. This is a very popular amusement park among tourist and locals alike, so it can get crowded on weekends.

National Museum of China (NMC) is one of the largest museums in the world. It focuses on both history and art. You will find NMC on the east side of Tiananmen Square, and you can easily spend a whole day here.

Beijing Aquarium is the biggest inland aquarium in the world, located inside the Beijing zoo. It consists of seven exhibition halls with thousands of marine species, presenting also endangered creatures. In addition, there are shows with adorable animals like dolphins and seals. This is a great attraction for both adults and children.

Nan Luogu Xiang is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Beijing and the best-preserved hutong area. This large-scale and complex checkerboard patterned structure has never changed since the Ming dynasty. Today, Nan Luogu Xiang is filled with boutiques, bars, and restaurants, and is always crowded when night falls.

The park was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Beijing National Stadium the "Nest" and "Water Cube" are located inside the park, and it is also the greatest green space in Beijing.

Dashilan used to be the busiest suburban commercial area, and one of those most steeped in history. This traditional market is kept as it once was; some of the longest-standing brand boutiques started here, as well as the very first cinema in Beijing - and all of them are still running. Dashilan represents the other side of Beijing. It shows you that this city is not only about royal families but also about regular residents who lived outside the palace. This place breathes vitality of daily life. This is also the main exhibition spot of Beijing International Design Week, making for a unique chemistry between the area's traditional vibe and modern art and design exhibits.