Top 10 Must-see Attractions in Beijing｜2025 Latest Tips to Play Beijing Easily!

Beijing, a city that combines a thousand years of history with modern vigor, has world-class cultural heritages such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, as well as trendy hit spots such as Universal Studios and 798 Art District. If it’s your first time in Beijing, how can you efficiently play around the core attractions? This guide selects the top 10 must-see attractions in Beijing for you, covering history, culture, nature and entertainment experiences! Remember to follow me after reading for more useful travel information, and feel free to share it with your friends! ✨

🏯 1. The Forbidden City (紫禁城)
📍 Address: 4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District
🎫 Tickets: 60 RMB (peak season) / 40 RMB (off season)
⏰ Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 (closed on Mondays)

Why must go?
The Forbidden City is the world’s largest existing and best-preserved wooden structure of ancient architectural complexes, witnessed the 600 years of royal history of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, every brick and tile hides a story.

Must-play experience
✅ Tour along the central axis (the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Qianqing Palace and the Imperial Garden) to feel the royal grandeur.
✅ Take photos of the Western Building and the Red Wall of Yanxi Palace (recommended to wear Chinese dress).
✅ Visit the Treasure Museum and Clock Museum (separate ticket required) to enjoy the luxurious royal collection.

🍽️ Dining around
Four Seasons Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant (Forbidden City Branch), with a window seat overlooking the panoramic view of the Forbidden City!

🏰 2. Badaling Great Wall
📍 Address: Badaling Town, Yanqing District
🎫 Tickets: 40 RMB
⏰ Opening hours: 6:30-16:30

Why must you go?
“It’s not a good man until he reaches the Great Wall”, Badaling is the most representative section of the Great Wall, majestic and steep, with different sceneries in all seasons.

Must-play experience
✅ Climb to the top of the North Eight Floors (the highest point), overlooking the rolling hills.
✅ Experience the roller coaster or cable car (separate ticket required) to save your energy.
✅ Autumn foliage season (late October-early November), the layers of forests are stunning!

🚌 Transportation Suggestions
Take bus 877 directly from Deshengmen, or take the high-speed train from Beijing North Railway Station (about 30 minutes).

🎢 3. Universal Studios Beijing
📍 Address: Intersection of Beijing-Harbin Expressway and East Sixth Ring Road, Tongzhou District
🎫 Tickets: from RMB 528 (peak season)
⏰ Opening hours: 9:00-21:00

Why you must go?
China’s first Universal Studios, with 7 themed zones (e.g. Harry Potter, Transformers, etc.), offers an immersive movie experience for the whole family!

Must Play
✅ Harry Potter Forbidden Journey (4D flight experience, a must for Haha fans).
✅ Decepticon Roller Coaster (catapult start, full of excitement).
✅ Future Water World Stunt Show (explosions, diving, shocking scenes).

💡 Time Saving Tips
Weekdays + Early Arrival + Priority to play popular items, you can purchase a Premium Pass to reduce queuing time.

🌳 4. Summer Palace
📍 Address: 19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District
🎫 Tickets: 30RMB (high season)/20RMB (low season)
⏰ Opening hours: 6:30-18:00

Why must you go?
China’s largest existing royal garden, Kunming Lake and Wanshou Mountain, known as the “Royal Garden Museum”.

Must-play experience
✅ Stroll along the promenade (728 meters painted promenade, Guinness World Record).
✅ Take a boat ride on Kunming Lake (excellent viewpoint, overlooking the Buddha’s Fragrant Pavilion).
✅ Climb the Sea of Wisdom (panoramic view, superb view at sunset).

🛍️ 5. Nanluoguxiang
📍 Address: Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
🎫 Admission: free
⏰ Opening hours: all day

Why must you go?
Beijing’s most literary hutongs, with cafes, cultural and creative stores and old snacks hidden among the green bricks and gray tiles, epitomize the collision of old and new cultures.

Must-play experience
✅ Hit the online stores: Wenyu Cheese Shop, Suzuki Canteen.
✅ Explore the neighboring hutongs: Hat’s Hutong and Yu’er Hutong are quieter.
✅ Visit bars at night (e.g. “Jianghu”) to experience the nightlife of old Beijing.

🕌 6. Tiantan Park
📍 Address: No. A1, Tiantan Dongli, Dongcheng District
🎫 Admission: 15 RMB (34 RMB for a joint ticket including the Hall of Prayer for the Year of the Dragon)
⏰ Opening hours: 6:00-22:00

Why must go?
Ming and Qing emperors sacrificed to heaven, the Hall of Prayer for the Year of the Round building symbolizes “heaven and earth”, taking pictures is very out of the film!

📸 Photo Tips
Take a panoramic shot of the Hall of Prayer for the Year, avoiding the crowds by using a wide-angle lens.
Wear red clothes or Chinese dress, and blue tiles and red walls form a sharp contrast.

🎨 7. 798 Art District
📍 Address: No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District
🎫 Admission: free (individual pavilions charge)
⏰Opening hours: 10:00-18:00

Why you must go?
Beijing’s most pioneering art gathering place, converted from an abandoned factory and filled with galleries, graffiti walls and cafes, it’s a mecca for literary youth.

Must-play experience
✅ Visit UCCA Ullens Center for Contemporary Art.
✅ Take a photo at Locomotive Square (industrial style).
✅ Stroll through the weekend market (for handmade and vintage goods).

🏛️ 8. National Museum
📍 Address: 16 East Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District
🎫 Admission: free (advance reservation required)
⏰ Opening hours: 9:00-17:00

Why must you go?
The collection of 1.4 million pieces of cultural relics, from the Simuwu Tripod to the Four Sheep Square Dignity, is like a vivid “Chinese civilization class”.

🌃 9. Olympic Park
📍 Address: No.15 Beichen East Road, Chaoyang District
🎫 Admission: Free (Bird’s Nest/Water Cube interior tours require a separate ticket)
⏰ Opening Hours: All day long

Why must you go?
The main venue of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube have a very cool night view for walking and taking photos.

🍜 10. Guijie
📍 Address: Dongzhimennei Street, Dongcheng District
🎫 Tickets: free
⏰ Opening hours: 17:00 – midnight

Why must you go?
Beijing’s late-night snacking “bearer”, spicy crayfish, shabu-shabu, grilled fish to make people salivate!

🍢 Must-eat recommendations
Hu Da Restaurant (crawfish), Yudefu Old Beijing Shabu Shabu.

🚇 Transportation Suggestions
Subway: cover the main attractions, Alipay to get the “Beijing subway ride code”.
Bicycle sharing: suitable for hutong tours and short-distance transportation.
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