Top Rated Attractions in Beijing

Built for the reigning emperors of the Khan dynasty, this lush, green park was once used for recreation by the royal family. The gardens were first constructed in the 11th century, though they were not opened to the public until 1925. Renowned for being the home of one of the largest historical Chinese gardens in existence, the park also contains numerous historical temples and structures. Visitors can explore the park's picturesque gardens, lake, and famous White Pagoda on Jade Flower Island. Kids will love riding in a paddle boat around the serene lake or having a picnic in the shade.

A celestial ode that was built at the behest of Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty, the majestic Temple of Heaven is situated in the capital city of Beijing. The temple was built between 1406 and 1420 as a solemn worship site for emperors of the time, who came to pray among other things, for a good harvest season. The austere architecture of this 267-hectare (659.77 acre) shrine was dictated by a stringent Confucian philosophy, one that permeates through the temple's layout, arrangement, and building placement. The temple consists of four main areas - the Round Altar, Echo Wall, the Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The distinctive outline of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the result of architectural ingenuity, and a whisper at any point on the Echo Wall can be heard anywhere else along its length of 64 meters (210 feet). Throughout the temple complex, intricate details that are otherwise lost in its larger-than-life shape symbolize the cosmic relationship between earth and celestial bodies. Such is the attention given to design and philosophy, that each element of the temple has an underlying meaning.

The Capital Museum is a large history museum that features artifacts, architecture and art from throughout Beijing. This museum was designed with a combination of modern and classic architecture, including a contemporary facade and an archway from the Ming Dynasty. With over 5,000 cultural relics, interactive displays and modern technological aspects of the building, it's easy to see why the museum is so popular. The exhibits are described in both Chinese and English making it accessible and informational for various visitors. Visitors need to book an advance reservation and when they arrive at the museum they can pick up their free tickets.

Situated in the heart of the capital, the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) is one of the largest art museums in the nation. It is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and researching modern and contemporary Chinese art. The museum was constructed between 1958 and 1962, and renovated in 2004 through 2005. Spread over an area of 30,000 square meters (320,000 square feet), it is divided into multiple exhibition halls. NAMOC has a collection of over 100,000 ancient and contemporary Chinese and Western artworks, including folk arts, puppets, kites, embroidery and lacquer ware.

Spanning 400 hectares (988 acres), the Beijing Botanical Garden is a rather large breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. The park was established in 1955 and includes dozens of gardens and several Buddhist temples. 6,000 exotic plant species call the park home, including 500 species of flowers that are truly a wonderful sight to behold. Visitors can wander through the serene gardens, explore the inner workings of the hothouses, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon sitting by the park's waterfalls and ponds.

798 Art Zone goes by several names including Factory 798 and 798 Art District. This historic network of military industrial buildings is today a chic art hub. The Dashanzi Factory Complex was originally conceived as part of the 'Soviet Unification Plan' in the 1950s and the factory was designed to manufacture electronics in cooperation with what was then East Germany. The complex was designed in Bauhaus style and was geared towards maximum efficiency and had housing, recreational and manufacturing zones. In the 1980s the factory was decommissioned and left abandoned. A decade later, the space was taken over by the Central Academy of Fine Arts and became a studio space for young and emerging artists. Over the years, art has boomed here, and it is today home to studios, galleries, exhibition spaces, and hosts festivals like the Dashanzi International Art Festival and Beijing Queer Film Festival.