Skip to content
List your business

Best Attractions in Beijing (2026)

Beijing's main sights line up along the old central axis of the city. The Forbidden City sits at the centre, with Tiananmen Square and the National Museum of China to the south and Jingshan Park directly to the north, so these four can be visited in a single long day. The Temple of Heaven lies further south in Dongcheng, while the Summer Palace and the ruins of the Old Summer Palace are in Haidian, in the north-west, and pair well together.

Booking is the most important part of planning. The Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets and every visitor must reserve in advance with real-name details, the National Museum also requires a reservation even though its permanent galleries are free, and entry to Tiananmen Square needs a booking too. Several parks, including the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, Beihai and Jingshan, sell tickets through official WeChat platforms. Carry your passport, as it is checked at most sites. Many museums close on Mondays, so plan those days for parks and temples instead. The Lama Temple and the Confucius Temple and Imperial College are a short walk apart in Dongcheng and make a good half-day, and Beihai Park is an easy addition after Jingshan.

10 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Beijing

  1. Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Imperial palace and museum, DongchengThe walled palace of the Ming and Qing emperors, now the Palace Museum, with almost a thousand surviving buildings and a vast collection of art and treasures.
  2. Temple of Heaven Imperial altar complex and park, DongchengThe Ming and Qing emperors' altar complex for prayers for good harvests, set in a large park where Beijing residents gather each morning to exercise and sing.
  3. Summer Palace Imperial garden and lake, HaidianThe Qing dynasty imperial garden on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, with the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat and the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Attraction

2. Temple of Heaven

Imperial altar complex and parkDongcheng

The Ming and Qing emperors' altar complex for prayers for good harvests, set in a large park where Beijing residents gather each morning to exercise and sing.

View details — Temple of Heaven

Attraction

3. Summer Palace

Imperial garden and lakeHaidian

The Qing dynasty imperial garden on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, with the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat and the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

View details — Summer Palace

Attraction

4. Tiananmen Square

Public square and landmarkDongcheng

The vast square at the heart of Beijing, framed by the Tiananmen gate, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum and the Qianmen gate tower.

View details — Tiananmen Square

Attraction

7. Jingshan Park

Imperial park and viewpointXicheng

A Ming-era artificial hill directly north of the Forbidden City, topped by five pavilions with the best view over the palace roofs.

View details — Jingshan Park

Attraction

8. Beihai Park

Imperial garden and lakeXicheng

A former imperial garden around a lake west of the Forbidden City, crowned by the White Dagoba on Jade Flower Island and home to the Nine-Dragon Wall.

View details — Beihai Park