Top 10 China tours 2024/2025 for first visits and returns: embark on a lifetime experience. Learn more
It’s Worth Visiting Beijing: 12 Reasons Tell You Why

It’s Worth Visiting Beijing: 12 Reasons Tell You Why

Written by GavinUpdated Jan. 15, 2024

Beijing is brightened by its glorious past but is by no means stuck in the past. Behind its rich and complex historical tapestries, everyday life unfolds with bewildering variety.

From the commanding austerity of the Forbidden City to the hectic bar street at Sanlitun, Beijing is overflowing with a unique charm, beckoning visitors from around the world to lose themselves in its prestigious poise. We could list hundreds of reasons to visit Beijing, but the following reasons should be on the top of the list.

1. Lots of Attractions to Visit

Beijing is a monster of a city. 20 million locals, 16 massive districts and 17,000 square kilometers full of modern to ancient sights that would decorate any Facebook photo album ten times over.

There are so many places to visit in Beijing: historical sights, parks, hills, canyons, museums, art centers, shopping malls and streets… Some of them set national or even world records. Here are some recommended places to visit in Beijing:

Historical Attractions

The Great WallThe Great Wall

Museums and Art Zones

the facility of an old factory798 Art Zone

Parks and Canyons

Beihai ParkBeihai Park
  • Beihai Park: one of the largest of China's gardens; former imperial garden
  • Jingshan Park: best place to get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City
  • Beijing Zoo: China's oldest zoo with giant pandas and other animals and an aquarium
  • Beijing Universal Studios: newly opened in 2021; largest one in the world; the Kung-Fu-Panda-themed area is the highlight
  • Jingdong Grand Canyon: glass sightseeing platform, forest views with waterfall, scenic valley, stone pillars
  • Longqing Gorge: most famous for its Ice and Snow Festival

Pedestrian Streets

Qianmen StreetQianmen Street
Recommended Beijing Tours:

2. Profound History

Beijing attraction, the Forbidden CityThe Fobidden City - 24 emperors' home

Beijing is a window with a view on much of China's history. Beijing boasts a history of more than 3,000 years, of which more than 800 years were as a national or regional/kingdom capital.

For 581 years, Beijing served as the capital of China's three most recent imperial dynasties: the Yuan (1279–1368), Ming (1368–1644, capital from 1420) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties.

During the course of history, many buildings were built by the ruling dynasties in Beijing, making it the city with the largest number of imperial relics: palaces, gardens, temples, tombs…

3. The Culture

Learn Chinese calligraphy Chinese calligraphy learning

As an ancient capital, Beijing has preserved many aspects of traditional Chinese culture very well: Beijing opera, kung fu, tea culture, paper cutting, Chinese calligraphy, sugar painting… If you are interested in these, you can experience them at their best in Beijing.

Beijing's religious culture is also rich including Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity (Protestant and Catholic), and Islam — the Four Religions of China. Lama Temple is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibetan areas in west China, White Cloud Temple is Beijing's most famous Taoist temple, Chongwenmen Church is the largest Methodist church in Beijing, and Beijing Niujie Muslim Mosque is the oldest Islamic site in Beijing.

4. The Food

Peking roast duckPeking roast duck

Peking roast duck is the No. 1 representative of Beijing food. It is called "the first dish to taste in China". In Beijing, you should taste authentic Peking roast duck cooked in a local way. Besides roast duck, there are many more Beijing foods to try like shredded pork in Beijing sauce, noodles with soybean paste, rolling donkey, and sugar-coated haws on a stick.

China's 56 ethnicities from every corner of the country are concentrated in the city bringing their delicacies to Beijing and many are now also ingrained in Beijing life, like Mongolian hotpot, Sichuan hotpot, and Kung Pao Chicken.

5. The Hutongs

Beijing hutongsThe Hutong

One of the major attractions in Beijing are the zigzagging hutongs, an integral part of Beijing's local culture. Created in the 13th century, the Hutongs are actually small public alleys with private courtyard residences. It is the way old Beijing used to be. Hutongs are like folk-custom museums, presenting a window into a traditional way of life intertwined with the old architecture and maze of narrow streets.

Take a rickshaw through the hutongs, visit a hutong family, hunt for hutong delicacies… These will be unforgettable experiences in your Beijing visit.

6. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Bird's NestBird's Nest: venue for Beijing Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

14 years after the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in 2022, presenting the charm of winter sports to the world.

A total of 109 events in 15 disciplines will be contested. Watching a competition event and cheering for your favorite athletes would be an absolutely awesome experience.

Many excellent ski resorts have been newly built in Zhangjiakou, near Beijing, which is the main venue for the skiing events.

You can go skiing "like an Olympic athlete" there. Recommended ski resorts include Thaiwoo Ski Resort and Genting Resort Secret Garden.

Recommended Beijing Tours:

7. Lively Outdoor Markets

Beijing has several shopping districts offering a mind-boggling variety of goods. Besides the traditional shopping districts, including Wangfujing Street and Qianmen Street, the lively outdoor markets should not be missed by foreign travelers. Check out Panjiayuan "Antiques" Market and Xiushui Street for local specialties such as fresh-water pearls, antiques, silk, and much more.

The Ya Show Shopping Center, Zoo Wholesale Market, and Silk Market offer some of the world's hottest brands at the world's cheapest prices.

8. Ancient and Modern Culture

Beijing CBDBeijing CBD

The juxtaposition of modern and ancient structures and culture is one of the most astounding spectacles on the city's landscape.

A five-hundred-year-old hutong nestled under the shadow of a towering skyscraper or a high-tech super-modern structure across the street from an ancient empirical palace is an awe-inspiring treat that never get old. This in addition to the lightning-fast city development and construction keep the face of Beijing under an unending facelift.

9. Colorful Nightlife

Beijing operaBeijing opera

As the capital city of China, Beijing attracts people from all over the country and the world. The diversity and vitality of the city has endowed Beijing with a varied and colorful nightlife. Lots of people choose to relax themselves in the bars. The numerous shows and performances, including Peking Opera and acrobatics, are attractive to lovers of live entertainment.

10. Accommodation of All Levels

Beijing has great appeal to both domestic and international travelers. To cater for the booming tourist industry, Beijing provides accommodation that can meet all budget levels, including boutique hotels, star-rated hotels, hostels and inns.

11. Convenient Transportation

Beijing road

As the nation's capital, Beijing is the center of domestic transportation. It also has many international direct flights to major cities of the world. Air and rail connections link Beijing to virtually every point in China, and fleets of buses head to destinations around Beijing.

Recommended Tours:

12. Beijing's Safe and Friendly

Beijing is a safe and tourist-friendly city. Beijing has received about 3 million foreign visitors every year (in recent pre-COVID years).

Beijing people are warm and friendly. They will be happy to share everything about Beijing with you. Most young people can communicate in basic English.

Tour Beijing with Us

contact us
contact us for updated travel information and tours

Just make a free inquiry for a customized tour with professional arrangements to save you time and avoid any unforeseen problems. We have over 20 years of experience tailoring tours in China!

Popular tours
Make the most of your time
Choose the best time to visit
Start planning your tailor-made tour with 1-1 help from our travel advisors. Create Your Trip

Sign up to Our Newsletter

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

The China Highlights Experience

1-to-1 Expert Planning

1-to-1 Expert Planning

Your tour will be tailor-made by your personal travel advisor — a destination expert. Every reply will be within 24 hours.

Personal Journeys

Personal Journeys

Enjoy your personal local guide and ride. Explore destinations at your own pace. Have unparalleled flexibility, which is impossible on a group tour.

Authentic Experiences

Authentic Experiences

Discover the hidden gems. Experience local culture by practicing it. Try new and exciting activities, and unveil the stories behind the sights and people.

Well-Selected Local Guides

Well-Selected Local Guides

Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!

China Highlights tailor-makes China tours to help travelers discover China their way. We're a passionate team of one hundred avid travelers who love to share our knowledge of China with those looking for a more authentic travel experience, more ...
China Highlights International Travel Service Co., LTD
Corporate Number: 914503003486045699
Featured on