Beijing: A Journey Through Imperial Grandeur and Contemporary Artistry
A city where ancient palaces meet avant-garde galleries, Beijing offers a captivating tableau for those who travel with an eye open for culture and an appetite for the extraordinary. Beyond the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, exploring what to do in Beijing unveils a metropolis alive with innovation, artistry, and centuries of ritual. From secret hutongs (lanes) to futuristic art districts, Beijing rewards the curious traveller with a nuanced portrait of China’s past, present, and future.
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Top Experiences in Beijing
Book one of the experiences that other customers have liked and recommended:
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Beijing Acrobatics Ticket
Visit the best Beijing acrobatics, Chaoyang Acrobatics at Red theatre. you'll be left in awe of the incredible talent, strength, and determination of our acrobats. Join us for an evening filled with awe‐inspiring performances and witness the magic of acrobatics come to life. 1: Prebook to save time and stress 2: Fun for adults and kids 3: The show last for 60 minutes 4: Choose to have a hotel transfer if you like
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Private Beijing Night Tour
Enjoy Beijing City with Illuminated lights. Admire the Contemporary Architecture &Design of Beijing. Check off the Top 4 world class buildings, Beijing Olympic Stadium(Bird Nest), Galaxy Soho, CCTV Building, Giant Egg. Private guide for a more personalized experience. Central Hotel pick up service is included.
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Beijing Acrobatics Night Show
Have an impressive experience as you see contortionists, jugglers, unicyclers, and plate‐spinning at the Beijing Acrobatics night show. Pre book the tickets here, so you avoid lines and hassle. You’ll be picked up from your hotel, given your ticket, and driven comfortably to the Dongtu Theater in plenty of time before the show. This is a small group tour maximum of 15 guests.
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Beijing Private Night Tour
See the sights of Beijing at night during this 3‐to‐4-hour tour, including round‐trip transport. First venture to the Wangfujing Food Market, and explore exotic food items, such as scorpion, snakes, silk warms, and grasshoppers. Then visit Qianmen Street, the National Center for the Performing Arts, and the Olympic Green park. End your tour in the Houhai Lake area, which is known for its awesome nightlife, and choose to stay in that area or go back to your hotel.
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Beijing Bike Tour
Particularly for the lovers who desires biking. Say no to hustlers and discover Old Beijing Hutong on your bike pedals with your tour guide. Visit big‐ticket highlights such as the Drum Towers, Back Lakes, and Yinding Bridge alongside lesser‐known courtyards with your experienced tour guide. Explore the old Hutongs where locals live. Sample authentic Peking Noodles as you go.
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Private Beijing Breakfast Walking Tour
Start the day bright and early with this breakfast tour of the hutongs around Houhai (Rear Lake). Rather than lumbering down to a nearby fast‐food chain for a trashy breakfast, sample a range of fresh Chinese breakfast dishes and treats at the hutong’s many eateries, from dim sum, jianbing (Chinese crepe) and congee to locally‐sourced dragon fruits and baby oranges. You might even discover a new favorite meal. Afterward, enjoy a brisk walk around Beihai Park, a former imperial garden in the center of the city.
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Beijing Private Dim Sum Tour
Immerse yourself in Beijingers favorable cuisine on this foodie tour, led by a guide who shares in‐depth local knowledge. Discover the charms and diversity of traditional Beijing style delicacy. Soak in the atmosphere of people's life on a foot and car around vibrant neighborhoods and Hutong including back lakes, Bell and Drum Towers.Feast on delicious goodies like Dim Sum, Potstickers and for a more. Round‐trip hotel transport included.
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Beijing Hutong Tour
Particularly for first‐time visitors who don’t speak Chinese, a private guide can transform the Beijing experience. Say no to hustlers and discover the city by private guide on this door‐to‐door private tour. The tours itinerary is customizable base on your interests. Visit Back Lakes, Qianmen, Liulichang. stroll through the historical alleys, Hutong. Feel much more atmospheric with a private guide on hand to tell their stories and answer all your questions.
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Romantic Tour in Beijing
An exclusive tour for all the romantics of the world! Together with the local professional guide, you will visit the most romantic places in the city. There are many parks in the center of Beijing. You will feel spellbound in a charming atmosphere. Where is considered as one of the best places to have a date in the city? Where can you take lovely photos? You will be surprised how many historical love stories there are hidden in the streets, buildings, and parks of the city. Stories range from the heartbreaking and tragic, to the hilarious or spicy ones. What legends lie in Beihai Park? What is the most famous historical couple in China? Do you know why Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai are considered the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet? A tour especially recommended in the Saint Valentine period!
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Beijing Brewery Bike Tour
Spend a wonderful evening in the old Hutongs. Party down in some of the best breweries in Beijing, guided by informative hosts who are enthusiastic about highlighting the authentic taste of Beijing. This tour includes 4 unique IPA beers stops as you go. Explore the old Beijing hutongs and alleyways on bikes. Learn Chinese culture in depth.
What to Do in Beijing for Lovers of Art and Culture
Start your exploration at the 798 Art District, a sprawling, industrial-chic neighbourhood where old munitions factories now house contemporary galleries, artist studios, and conceptual installations. For art lovers who are serious about discovering what to do in Beijing, this creative enclave offers everything from avant-garde exhibitions to luxury concept stores.
Beijing at Night: Elegance by Lantern Light
As dusk drapes over the capital, it’s time to decide what to do with your night in Beijing. Start with a Peking opera performance at the luxurious Liyuan Theatre, where ornate costumes and hypnotic melodies offer a deep immersion into one of China’s oldest art forms.
Unique Things to Do in Beijing: Beyond the Guidebooks
Beijing richly rewards those looking for unique things to do. Visit the Red Gate Gallery, located inside the Ming-era Dongbianmen Watchtower, where cutting-edge art meets ancient stone walls. Or join a private tea ceremony hosted by a modern tea master in a hidden courtyard home, learning the subtleties of Chinese tea culture far from the tourist throngs.
A Curated List of What to See and Do in Beijing
The Forbidden City, with its labyrinth of crimson halls and gilded dragons, remains a must see in Beijing, but the real magic lies in taking your time. Hire a private historian-guide to lead you through some of the lesser-known narratives hidden within its ancient stones.
Pressed for Time? What to Do in Beijing in One Day
Just one day in Beijing and you’re wondering what to do? Start with a sunrise visit to Jingshan Park for an unmatched panoramic view over the Forbidden City. Then, descend into the old hutongs of Dongcheng, where boutique cafés and indie bookshops breathe new life into traditional alleyways.
A Deeper Cultural Dive: What to Do in Beijing in Two Days
If you have 48 hours at your disposal, choosing what to do in Beijing becomes an exciting exercise in balancing imperial splendour with contemporary pulse. On day one, explore the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and round off the day with an evening Peking opera experience. Begin day two with morning tai chi in the Temple of Heaven, followed by a culinary tour through Wangfujing’s boutique eateries, and an afternoon exploring the lush grounds of the Summer Palace.
The Unmissable Experience: A Beijing Must Do
Among the many dazzling experiences on offer in this multifaceted city, one absolute must do is walking a wild, unrestored section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling or Simatai. Here, without the crowds, you’ll feel the ancient heartbeat of China echoing through the rugged stones — a profound, almost spiritual encounter with history.
Final Reflections: The Artistic Soul of Beijing
Beijing is not simply China’s capital; it is a living canvas that encapsulates the country’s past and future. Culture hums through every alley, every palace gate, and every minimalist gallery. Whether you are contemplating ancient scroll paintings or sipping jasmine tea in a courtyard shaded by centuries-old persimmons, planning what to do in Beijing is an invitation to step into a vivid, multilayered world.