Beijing Attractions
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Fragrant Mountain
(Western Mountains)
Fragrant Mountain, and the surrounding park, is located a short distance northwest of Beijing, making it a popular excursion for tourists and locals. There are several restored temples and pavilions.
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Imperial College
The Imperial College today houses Beijing's library. It functioned as a college for over 600 years and was known as one of the country's best.
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Imperial Palace (Forbidden City)
(City Center)
The Forbidden City is Beijing's most famous tourist attraction and most important building. It dates to the 13th C and has been the residence of 24 Ming and Qing emperors.
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Lama Temple
(Beyond City Center)
The Lama Temple, a finely preserved 18th C temple, was originally the residence of a prince. It was transformed and became the official seat of Lamaism in the capital.
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North Lake Park
(City Center)
North Lake Park dates to the 10th C, making it one of Beijing's oldest imperial gardens. The park, enclosed by a wall, is now a popular recreational area.
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Temple of Heaven
(Beyond City Center)
The Temple of Heaven is actually a complex of sacred buildings designed to symbolize heaven and earth. Key highlights are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Hall of the Vault of Heaven.
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Tian'anmen Square
(City Center)
Tian'anmen Square is the largest, and perhaps the most famous, square in the world. It can hold a million people and has been the location of important demonstrations.
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Western Mountains
The Western Mountains, located in the Taihang Mountains, include Fragrant Mountain, numerous temples, and the pleasant Gardens of the Cherry Ravine.
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Chairman Mao Mausoleum
(Tian'anmen Square)
The Chairman Mao Mausoleum contains the embalmed body of the controversial leader in a crystal sarcophagus.
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Coal and Viewing Hill
(City Center)
An ancient coal and rubble storage site, Coal and Viewing Hill, rises opposite the North Gate of the Imperial Palace.
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Confucius Temple
(Beyond City Center)
The early 13th C Confucius Temple is well known and boasts of 198 steles complete with inscriptions.
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Museum of Chinese History
(Tian'anmen Square)
The Museum of Chinese History in Beijing contains over 9,000 artifacts, covering Chinese development. It was opened in 1961.
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Niujie Qingzhen Si Mosque
(Beyond City Center)
The Niujie Qingzhen Si Mosque was first built in 995 and is considered to be Beijing's oldest and largest mosque.
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Temple of the Source of Law
(Beyond City Center)
The Temple of the Source of Law is today the main seat of the Buddhist academy.
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Tian'anmen Gate
(Tian'anmen Square)
The famous Tian'anmen Gate was the main entrance of the Imperial City. A picture of Chairman Mao stands above the central arch.
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Temple of the Sleeping Buddha (Temple of Universal Spiritual Awakening)
(Western Mountains)
Beijing Surroundings
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Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is China's largest park, with over 700 acres. It was originally designed in the 12th C, but has been burned or destroyed periodically. It was most recently restored in the first half of the 1900s.
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Thirteen Ming Tombs
The Thirteen Ming Tombs are the final resting place for thirteen of the sixteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty, as well as empresses. Each tomb was designed by the emperor who resides within it.
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Eastern Qing Tombs
The Eastern Qing Tombs contain the bodies of five Qing emperors along with empresses and various other relations.
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Excavations of Peking Man
The "Excavations of Peking Man" is an important archeological site where significant discoveries have emerged over the years.
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Gouya Rocks
Three towering peaks comprise the Gouya Rocks. The area surrounding them is a nature preserve with numerous walking trails.
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Marco Polo Bridge
The historic Marco Polo Bridge is 235 m long and crosses the Yongding River. It was first erected in the late 12th C.
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Tanzhe Si Temple
The Tanzhe Si Temple was built in its present form in the 14th C. Of particular note is the exquisite temple pond.
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Temple of the Consecrated Altar
Dating to the early 7th C, this temple was later rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It is located at the base of Ma'anshan Mountain.
