Once heard such a sentence – Chinese people must come to Beijing once in their lifetime. Beijing is the capital, the largest city in the north, and the city that countless people yearn for. Its historical culture is deep and profound, and its value and sentiment are incomparable. When visiting Beijing, you can’t miss these places.
Tiananmen Square | Family and country feelings deep in memory
Tiananmen is a landmark building in China and is included in the design of the national emblem. Its importance is evident. When I was a child, I sang “I love Tiananmen in Beijing.” When I grew up and went to Beijing for the first time, I was bound to visit Tiananmen.
Opposite the Tiananmen Tower across Chang’an Street is Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world. Tiananmen Square, covering an area of 440,000 square meters and capable of accommodating one million people, has witnessed countless major historical events in China. In the center of the square stands the Monument to the People’s Heroes. To the south is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. The National Museum and the Great Hall of the People are located on the east and west sides.
The first stop of the itinerary is Tiananmen Square. Starting from the center of the capital, visit the historical sites and scenic spots around Tiananmen to feel the profound sense of history.
Flag-raising ceremony
Tens of thousands of people gather in the square and wait in silence. The commands of the national flag guard echo in the morning mist. When the sun finally breaks through the horizon, the national anthem breaks the silence and the national flag rises slowly. Is there any scene more shocking than this?
Every day, with the sunrise and sunset, the flag-raising and lowering ceremonies are held in Tiananmen Square. If you want to check the flag-raising time on that day, you can search for [Beijing Local Treasure] on WeChat and reply with “flag-raising”. In addition, there are a large number of people watching the flag-raising. If you want to witness the elegance of the national flag guard, you need to arrive at least an hour in advance to get a position in the first row.
Practical information
Address: Tiananmen Square, No. 16, Dongchang’an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at “Tiananmen East Station” or “Tiananmen West Station”.
Opening hours: 05:00 – 22:00.
Notes: Reservations need to be made at least one day in advance on the WeChat mini-program “Reserve a Visit to Tiananmen Square”. Remember to bring your ID card when traveling.
Monument to the People’s Heroes
The Monument to the People’s Heroes is located in the center of Tiananmen Square. It was completed in 1958 to commemorate the people’s heroes who sacrificed in the People’s Liberation War and the people’s revolution.
As the “first monument of the republic”, the Monument to the People’s Heroes is made entirely of granite. The lower pedestal is inlaid with 10 huge white marble reliefs. Starting from the east side of the monument body, the reliefs are in turn themed on “Destruction of Opium at Humen”, “Jintian Uprising”, “Wuchang Uprising”, “May 4th Movement”, “May 30th Movement”, “Nanchang Uprising”, “Anti-Japanese guerrilla war behind enemy lines”, “Crossing the Yangtze River victoriously”, “Supporting the front line”, and “Welcoming the Chinese People’s Liberation Army”.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is located on the south side of Tiananmen Square. It is a memorial hall commemorating the collective leadership of the first generation of the Party with Comrade Mao Zedong as the core. Enter the memorial hall through the North Hall on the first floor and step into the viewing hall to pay respects to the remains of Mao Zedong. The second floor is the memorial hall of the collective leadership of the first generation of revolutionary leaders, showing the revolutionary journey of our great leaders.
Practical information
Opening hours: 8:00 – 12:00 (Tuesday – Sunday)
Ticket: Free
Reservation method:
The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall implements real-name online reservations. There are 12,000 individual reservations per day. Reservations can be made 1 to 6 days in advance. Same-day reservations are not accepted.
- The WeChat service account of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (WeChat ID: mzxjnt);
- Make reservations on the official website;
- The WeChat mini-program of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (click on “Viewing Service” of the WeChat service account to enter).
National Museum | The cultural living room of the Chinese nation
The National Museum of China can be regarded as a three-dimensional encyclopedia about the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Here, the collection is rich and the cultural relics are of extremely high value. There are nearly 6,000 first-class national cultural relics, and the total number of collections reaches 1 million.
The “Ancient China” exhibition on the underground first floor brings together the essence of museums from all over the country: the Houmuwu Tripod of the Shang Dynasty, the bronze mask of Sanxingdui, the Terracotta Army of Qin Shihuang, as well as the Tang tri-colored camel, rare ancient books from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and so on. Many national treasures that appear in textbooks can all be found in the National Museum
In addition to the exhibition of “Ancient China”, there are also permanent exhibitions such as “The Road to Rejuvenation” and “The Road to Rejuvenation in the New Era”, as well as special exhibitions such as “Ancient Porcelain Art” and “African Sculpture Art”. In the lobby on the first floor of the National Museum, many large-scale national exhibitions have been held. For example, the “Great Transformation – Large-scale Exhibition to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up”, which lasted for more than a year, welcomed more than 4.23 million people to visit and became a new benchmark for major exhibitions.
Practical information
Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 to Tian’anmen East Station (Exit C and D).
Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday). Admission stops at 16:00.
Ticket: Free. Make an appointment in advance. Just bring your ID card.
How to make an appointment: On the official website of the National Museum or the official account of “National Museum”, you can make an appointment for a visit within 7 days. The daily limit is 8,000 people.
Tour route:
Tiananmen West Station – National Centre for the Performing Arts – Great Hall of the People – Tiananmen Square – National Museum – Tiananmen Tower – The Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City | A 600-year-long historical scroll
Walking north past Tiananmen is the Forbidden City. As the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, the Forbidden City has more than seventy large and small palaces. In 1925, the Palace Museum was established and it holds a pivotal position in our country. In the past two years, there have been many film and television works and cultural and entertainment products about the Forbidden City, uncovering this former royal holy land. The cultural and creative products produced by the Forbidden City are full of creativity and are highly praised by young people
To visit the Forbidden City, one needs to follow the order from south to north. The Meridian Gate is the only entrance, and the exits are the Shenwu Gate on the north side and the Donghua Gate on the east side. The Palace Museum has a collection of more than 1.8 million pieces. If one really wants to look at them carefully one by one, it will take at least several days
For the first time when you “step into the palace gate”, you must follow the central axis for sightseeing. Passing through the majestic Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will see the famous three main halls – Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony. Continuing northward, you come to the inner court of the Forbidden City, also known as the “three palaces and six courtyards” in common parlance. Visit the residences of the emperor and empress, the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility along the central axis. Moving forward, it is the imperial garden, the famous scene in “My Fair Princess”. Then there is the Shenwu Gate. This is an essence route that can tour the Forbidden City in two hours.
Winter limited edition. Come to the Forbidden City to see the snow.
As the weather gets colder, Beijing has also ushered in a snowy period. The Forbidden City in the snow is serene, white, and full of the aura of China’s dynasties. Friends who like ancient styles cannot miss it.
The Treasure Gallery is located in the Ningshou Palace area and treasures the court treasures of the Qing Dynasty. There are not only precious ritual cultural relics, luxurious ornaments for emperors and empresses, but also exquisite daily utensils. Each one is extremely ingenious and spares no expense, showing the highest level of craftsmanship in the Qing Dynasty.
One-day tour route reference: Meridian Gate → Hall of Martial Valor → Hall of Literary Glory → Gate of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Hall of Mental Cultivation → Six Western Palaces, Imperial Garden, Six Eastern Palaces → Hall of Ancestral Worship (Clock and Watch Gallery) → Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Treasure Gallery) → Exit from Shenwu Gate. Turning left after exiting Shenwu Gate is the popular Forbidden City Cafe. Drinking a cup of coffee under the root of the imperial city is just a good time to take a break.
Regarding the explanations:
In addition to renting electronic guides, the Forbidden City provides guide services. Reservations can be made at the entrance of the Meridian Gate. For small groups of 5 people or fewer, the full tour explanation costs 250 yuan. If only taking the central route (central axis), it costs 100 yuan.
Compared to electronic guides, guides can better combine life knowledge and experience as well as personal stories to guide the audience to learn more about cultural relics step by step. If you want to understand more thoroughly and deeply, it is more recommended to join an in-depth tour group. From the moment you enter the scenic area, you can learn many magical little secrets of the Forbidden City.
Practical information:
Address: No. 4, Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District.
Transportation: Take a bus or subway to reach Tiananmen East Station or Tiananmen West Station. You can reach it by walking along the east and west barrel-shaped river roads from Donghua Gate or Xihua Gate.
Opening hours: 8:30 – 17:00 (peak season), 8:30 – 16:30 (off-season).
Tickets:
Peak season (April 1 – October 31), main entrance ticket is 60 yuan/person.
Off-season (November 1 – March 31 of the following year), main entrance ticket is 40 yuan/person.
Treasure Gallery: 10 yuan/person. Clock and Watch Gallery: 10 yuan/person.
Reservation information: Through the official website of the Forbidden City or the mini-program [WeChat Forbidden City], make reservations and purchase tickets in advance. You can enter the scenic area with your ID card.
Jingshan Park | Overlooking the commanding heights of the ancient capital
Exiting Shenwu Gate, across the road is Jingshan Park. The altitude of Jingshan is only 89 meters, and it only takes half an hour to reach the top. In Beijing where high-rise buildings had not yet been built, this was once the highest point in the city center. The Wanchun Pavilion on the top of the mountain is the best viewing spot, where you can have a panoramic view of the Forbidden City.
Appreciating the magnificence of the Forbidden City again from a high place, seeing the surging crowds at the foot of the imperial city, and the red walls and glazed tiles contrasting with the skyscrapers in the distance, it is inevitable to feel emotional.
When coming to Jingshan Park, you must stand at the central point of the central axis and also take a look at the crooked-necked tree where Emperor Chongzhen died for his country (currently, the real crooked-necked tree is no longer there). Especially in Jingshan Park in spring, there are the most beautiful peonies in Beijing.
Practical information
Address: No. 44, Jingshan West Street, Xicheng District.
Transportation: Take bus No. 111 or 124 and get off at “Jingshan East Gate” station; or take bus No. 5 or 609 and get off at “Xibanqiao” station to reach the west gate of Jingshan.
Ticket: 2 yuan/person.
Opening hours: 6:30 – 20:00 (November – March of the following year); 6:30 – 21:00 (April – October).
Reservation information: Follow the official account [Visit Parks] to make reservations and purchase tickets in advance.
Beihai Park
Beihai Park is located on the west side of Jingshan Park. It is the earliest existing classical imperial garden with the most complete preservation in China. It was once the detached palace of the Jin and Yuan dynasties and the imperial garden during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Entering Beihai Park, you can feel the grandeur of the imperial garden. The red walls and green tiles reflect the lakes and mountains, and the beautiful scenery is completely natural.
There are not many water systems in Beijing, and it has the dryness characteristic of the north. The vast lake in Beihai Park naturally becomes one of the favorite places for old Beijingers. Spring and autumn are the most suitable seasons to come to Beihai Park. In spring, it is sunny and pleasant; in autumn, the sky is high and the air is crisp. Rowing on the Taiye Pool, rowing with both oars in the gentle breeze, chatting freely with family and friends on the boat, or simply swaying with the water waves in silence is the most comfortable moment in the capital city.
2-hour route
Enter from the south gate of Beihai Park. Visit Tuancheng and multiple scenic spots on Qionghua Island. Along the way, you can see the White Pagoda, Qionghua Spring Shade (one of the Eight Views of Yanjing), and so on. Finally, return through the south gate.
4-hour route
Tour the scenery of the whole park. Enter from the south gate. After visiting Tuancheng and Qionghua Island, take a ferry from Yilan Hall to the north shore. Visit scenic spots on the north shore such as the Nine-Dragon Screen, Five-Dragon Pavilions, and Chengguan Hall. Finally, leave Beihai Park through the north gate
Practical information
Transportation: Take bus No. 13, 42, 107, 111, 118, 612, or 701 and get off at Beihai Park North Gate Station. Get off at Beihai North Station on Metro Line 6. To go to the north gate, take bus No. 5 and get off at Xibanqiao Station.
Opening hours: 6:30 – 21:00 (peak season from April to October); 6:30 – 20:00 (off-season from November to March).
Tickets: In peak season, the entrance ticket is 10 yuan, and the combined ticket is 20 yuan. In off-season, the entrance ticket is 5 yuan, and the combined ticket is 15 yuan.
Reservation method: Make reservations and purchase tickets one day in advance on the WeChat official account [Visit Parks].
