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About Beijing

State-of-the-art technology and tourist attractions in Beijing equally act as a magnet for travelers around the world. As the capital city of China, Beijing turns into a highly developed city with techno-friendly society featuring high-speed internet access and cashless transaction through a digital wallet. In Beijing, technology is used in almost every activity and routine, even the simple ones like bicycle rental. To rent a bicycle in this city, all you have to do is scan a QR code using an application on your smartphone. This invention makes tourists more convenient to explore every corner of the city. Beijing is the second biggest city in China after Shanghai. It offers various tourist attractions, including historic sites and buildings with outstanding architecture. Formerly known as Peking, the civilization history of Beijing has begun since 3,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. While visiting Beijing, you can expect to see many palaces, parks, cemeteries, temples, and art galleries around the city. Also, this city has seven locations that are regarded as the world’s heritage sites by UNESCO. Those locations are the Forbidden City, Sky Temple, Ming Dynasty Memorial Park, Zhoukoudian, the Great Wall, Big Canal, and Summer Palace. The weather in Beijing is relatively extreme as it can reach 42 degree Celsius during the hot days and -27 degree Celsius during the cold ones. For that reason, the best time to visit Beijing is in the fall or spring, ranging between April, May, September, October, and November. International travelers who come to Beijing will drop in Beijing Capital International Airport which is the second busiest airports in the world. Besides exploring the city’s wonderful attractions, you can also have a taste of the best culinary delights of Beijing on your vacation. 

Top Things to Do in Beijing

Here are some recommended attractions in Beijing that you should visit

The Great Wall

The Great Wall is probably the most popular attraction in Beijing. Built in the 5th century, this attraction lies across 8,851 kilometers. If you want to witness the greatness of this ancient wall, the best time to visit is on October or in the fall. During that time, the weather in Beijing is not too cold while the sun gives an ample amount of light to keep you warm. Use a cableway to explore the wall more conveniently. However, because it is always full of visitors, a good time to make a line for cableway is at 15.00. The Great Wall closes at 16.00, so most of visitors have left by that time.

Forbidden City

Another iconic place in Beijing is the Forbidden City. In this attraction, you will find a palace from the period of Ming and Qing Dynasty. In the past, not everyone was allowed to enter the city. Those who came should ask for the emperor’s permission in advance. The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world. The palace is 150 thousand meter square and has more than 8,700 rooms. Moreover, it lies on the land which is 720 thousand square meters in area. Most features of the palace, including roof, decoration, and floor, are mainly painted in yellow as the symbol of the emperor. However, the library has a black roof as it represents water that can put out the fire.

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven was used by Ming and Qing Emperors to worship gods and asked for a bumper harvest in every season. This attraction is actually wider than the Forbidden City as it lies on more than 200-hectare land. There are three main buildings that you can visit in the Temple of Heaven: sky temple to pray for a bounty harvest, the fasting temple where the emperors fast before worshipping, and an altar where the emperors communicated with gods.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is the memorial park of King He Lu from Wu Kingdom. He Lu passed away in 496 BC after fighting a war against Yue. He Lu’s son then buried him on the hill. Three days later, after the memorial, a white tiger came and sat on the grave to protect King He Lu. This story is the reason why this memorial park is called Tiger Hill. In this area, you will also find a temple which becomes the symbol of the Leaning Tower of China. The temple building is octagonal with a height of 48 meters and inclines at a 3.59-degree angle. Additionally, because King He Lu was known for his sword collections, you can find a crack stone on site that was used to test the sharpness of the sword.

Beijing Botanical Garden

Beijing Botanical Garden is home to more than 1.5 million plants from 1,000 different species. This garden comprises an exhibition zone, history zone, research site, and nature conservation. On the site of the botanical garden, you will also find the grave of Liang Qichao, a philosopher, journalist, and inventor in the Qing Dynasty. Many of his ideas and inventions inspire Chinese citizens throughout history.

Top Culinary in Beijing

Beijing is a melting pot of various cultures which results in a wide variety of culinary delights. Here are some recommended local foods in Beijing, from the traditional to the extreme ones

Beijing Kaoya

Beijing Kaoya, also known as Peking duck, is a traditional Chinese dish. You should also have a taste of this delicious savory dish when you take a vacation in Beijing. Beijing Kaoya features chopped duck meats that are served with vegetables, creating savory flavor and crispy texture. One of the restaurants which serve this dish is BeiJing Dadong Roast Duck (JinBao Hui).

Zha Mian Jiang

You must be familiar with the Italian food, spaghetti. Meanwhile, in Beijing, China, you can find a local dish that resembles the Italian spaghetti, namely Zha Mian Jiang. It is served with peanut sauce, sliced pork, and cucumber. Old Beijing Zhajiang Noodle King is one of famous restaurants in Beijing that sells this dish.

Dim Sum

Complete your trip to Beijing by feasting on a wide range of dim sum. This light meal is actually served with tea in the morning for breakfast or brunch. There are many restaurants in the city which sell dim sum as their specialty. Some of them are Jing Ya Taang, Niuge Jiaozi, Li Yuan Beijing, and Baoyuan Restaurant.

Extreme Street Foods

If you are looking for a unique, yet exciting experience of Beijing culinary tour, you should visit Wangfujing Snack Street in the eastern district of Beijing. The food stalls in Wangfujing sell various strange and extreme foods, such as scorpion satay, starfish, silkworms, crickets, and lizards. Additionally, you can find some other unusual foods, including rotten tofu, lamb kebab, and many more.

Where to Stay in Beijing

Hotels on Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, are considered the most popular accommodation sites among travelers. This is due to the fact that the hotels’ location is close to the city’s shopping centers, street foods, and night market. Wangfujing is also not far from the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Beijing offers a wide range of accommodations, including starred hotels for a family trip, villas that can accommodate 20 people at once, and hostels or dormitories for backpackers. If you are traveling on a budget, the accommodations in Dongcheng District are the best choice for you.

Book any hotel of your choice on Traveloka app to get the best deals. You can also find the best hotels near tourist attractions in Beijing that you want to visit. Complete your experience of exploring Beijing by booking plane tickets, airport shuttle, and international data on Traveloka.