Beijing by Theme
Beijing offers a profound cultural journey defined by its majestic duality. It's a city where six centuries of imperial history harmoniously coexist with a dynamic, modern capital. One moment you stand in awe within the silent, grand courtyards of the Forbidden City, and the next, you're immersed in the vibrant, everyday life of a traditional hutong alley.
IMPERIAL CORE
Royal Beijing
Palaces, rituals and imperial gardens.
Royal Beijing is the heart of China’s imperial legacy, where palaces, temples and grand city gates reveal the power, ritual and refinement of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Imperial Power and Grandeur
Ceremonial halls, palace axes and monumental architecture express imperial authority and artistic refinement.
Forbidden City
The world’s largest palace complex with 9,000 rooms. Ceremonial halls and priceless collections.
Experience: Traditional royal costume photography for palace-style aesthetic.
Prince Yong’s Mansion
A Qing dynasty royal residence connected with aristocratic courtyard life and historic ritual.
Experience: Professional tea ceremony and calligraphy demonstration in the courtyard.
Spiritual Rituals and Harmony with Heaven
Temples and ritual sites show how emperors linked political power with cosmic order and sacred tradition.
Beihai Park
A former imperial garden with lake views, classical architecture and the White Dagoba landmark.
Experience: Boat across the lake for a refined, serene royal-garden moment.
Summer Palace
China’s largest and best-preserved imperial retreat, once the summer residence of Qing emperors.
Experience: Walk the Long Corridor and practice garden-inspired brushwork by Kunming Lake.
Panoramic Vistas and Royal Leisure
Gardens, lakes and scenic viewpoints reveal the softer, reflective side of royal life.
Where to Eat
- Fangshan Restaurant
- Yuxiandu Imperial Cuisine
Where to Stay
- Aman at Summer Palace
- The Peninsula Beijing
Hutong Life
Old Beijing
Hutongs, courtyards and traditions.
Old Beijing preserves the city’s living heritage through hutongs, courtyard homes, Confucian academies and neighborhood temples.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Courtyard Living & Culture
Siheyuan courtyards show Beijing’s intimate, communal and deeply traditional urban lifestyle.
Hutong Lanes
Winding lanes and family-run courtyards reveal old Beijing’s residential texture and neighborhood warmth.
Experience: Rickshaw ride, then dumpling-making or tea ceremony in a courtyard.
Guozijian Academy
China’s former highest educational institution, where scholars studied Confucian classics.
Experience: Confucian etiquette reenactment with bows and scholarly rituals.
Confucian Scholarship & Education
Guozijian and related scholarly sites connect the city with classical learning, etiquette and imperial education.
Temple of Heaven
A royal site closely connected with everyday park life and local cultural identity.
Experience: Morning Tai Chi with locals in the park.
Yonghe Temple
One of Beijing’s largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist temples.
Experience: Spiritual and architectural visit.
Local Spiritual Life
Temples and parks bring together worship, wellness, music and daily community rituals.
where to eat
- Black Sesame Kitchen, Jing Yaa Tang, King's Joy, Hutong Courtyard Restaurants
Where to Stay
- Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, Shichahai Shadow Art Hotel , Hutel Dieyuan’er
Urban Energy
Modern Beijing
Skylines, lifestyle and Olympic landmarks.
Modern Beijing shows China’s rapid transformation through skyscrapers, avant-garde architecture, nightlife districts and international energy.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Architectural Innovation
Bold contemporary buildings redefine the skyline and symbolize Beijing’s global vision.
CCTV Headquarters
A Rem Koolhaas-designed landmark and one of Beijing’s most recognizable modern buildings.
Experience: Architecture photography tour from different city angles.
Sanlitun
A lively hub of fashion, nightlife, boutique shopping and international dining.
Experience: Cocktail-making workshop, shopping and live music.
Global Lifestyle & Entertainment
Shopping, nightlife, cafés and international dining create a cosmopolitan layer for business and leisure programs.
Bird’s Nest & Water Cube
World-famous Olympic landmarks built for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Experience: Sporting events, light shows or night-view moments.
CBD & Guomao Area
Beijing’s financial core with skyscrapers, luxury hotels and upscale shopping malls.
Experience: Skyline dinner overlooking the city’s modern towers.
Sports & Cultural Icons
Olympic venues and modern cultural centers continue to host world-class events, music, sports and performances.
Where to Eat
- Migas Mercado, Opera Bombana
Where to Stay
- CHAO Sanlitun Beijing, Rosewood Beijing
Creative Pulse
Art Beijing
Contemporary art, design and industrial renewal.
Art Beijing reflects the city’s creative pulse, where galleries, design communities and renewed industrial spaces connect tradition with contemporary culture.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Contemporary Art Hubs
Art districts, galleries and exhibition halls make Beijing a stage for avant-garde creativity and international exchange.
798 Art District
Beijing’s iconic contemporary art hub, set in former factory buildings with galleries, installations and creative shops.
Experience: Vintage sidecar ride through industrial art spaces with gallery stops.
Beijing Times Art Museum
A space dedicated to modern and contemporary exhibitions, connecting local and global art.
Experience: Modern art curation role-play with a mini exhibition concept.
Creative Lifestyle & Design
Fashion, architecture and cultural events support programs around design, performance and creative industries.
Shougang Park
A former steel mill transformed into a cultural and recreational hub with striking industrial scenery.
Experience: Cycling, jogging and photography around the High Line and park areas.
Langyuan Station
A former textile warehouse turned international cultural hub for art, design, film, fashion and lifestyle.
Experience: Pottery or printmaking workshop, followed by coffee by the lake.
Cultural Innovation & Community
Creative venues often combine food, workshops, events and social spaces into active cultural communities.
Where to Eat
- Tribe Organic, Café Flatwhite, Maison Flo Beijing
Where to Stay
- Hotel Jen Beijing, The PuXuan Hotel and Spa, Hotel Éclat Beijing
Green Escape
Nature Beijing
Parks, lakes, hot springs and seasonal beauty.
Nature Beijing offers a greener and slower side of the capital, with mountains, lakes, parks and hot springs close to the city’s cultural core.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Seasonal Beauty
The landscape shifts through the year, from spring blossoms to autumn maple leaves.
Fragrant Hills Park
Known for autumn red maple leaves, forested trails, temples and scenic views.
Experience: Hike maple-covered trails and add a landscape sketching session.
Olympic Forest Park
Beijing’s largest urban green lung, ideal for cycling, jogging and outdoor breaks.
Experience: Cycling tour ending with Tai Chi on open lawns.
Urban Green Spaces
Large parks and natural reserves support cycling, jogging, leisure walks and outdoor cultural activities.
Hot Spring Resorts
Resort areas such as Xiaotangshan and Yanqi Lake combine mineral waters with spa-style relaxation.
Experience: Traditional hot spring spa with mineral baths and herbal therapies.
Miyun Reservoir
A vast lake surrounded by hiking trails, fishing spots and cherry blossom fields in spring.
Experience: Boating, fishing and seasonal cherry blossom viewing.
Wellness & Retreats
Hot springs, mountain resorts and retreat-style spaces help groups recharge through wellness and relaxation.
Where to Eat
- Bai Family Courtyard
- InNature Café
- Green T. Living
- Miyun Reservoir Fish Banquet
Where to Stay
- Brickyard Retreat at Mutianyu
- Sunrise Kempinski Hotel
- Tsinghua Unisplendour International Center Resort
Iconic Adventure
Great Wall Beijing
History, hiking and incentive impact.
The Great Wall is Beijing’s defining landmark, stretching across mountains and valleys as a symbol of China’s endurance, strength and cultural identity.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Symbol of Defense & Heritage
Originally built to protect the empire, the Wall reflects centuries of military history and UNESCO-recognized cultural identity.
Mutianyu
A scenic and well-restored section with cable cars, watchtowers and toboggan options.
Experience: Take the cable car up and toboggan down.
Badaling
The most iconic and accessible section, with museums and cultural exhibits.
Experience: Visit the Great Wall Museum and watch a cultural performance about Wall legends.
Diverse Landscapes & Experiences
Each section near Beijing offers a different atmosphere, from restored icons to wild hiking routes.
Modern Adaptation for Visitors
Restored areas now support cultural interpretation, photography, outdoor activities and event-style moments.
Jinshanling
Partially restored with wilder sections, ideal for adventurous hikes and dramatic photography.
Experience: Guided hike ending with sunrise or sunset photography.
Jiankou
Untamed and rugged, known for steep climbs and dramatic mountain scenery.
Experience: Adventure trek with professional guides and outdoor survival tips.
Where to Eat
- The Schoolhouse Restaurant (Mutianyu)
- Commune by the Great Wall (Shuiguan, near Badaling)
- Xiao Yuan Restaurant (Mutianyu Village)
- William's Bar & Restaurant (Gubei Water Town)
One of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall, featuring the beautiful Cloud Platform with fine carvings.
Juyongguan
Experience: Ancient military history exploration and stone architectural study.
Simatai
The only section open for night tours, with steep slopes and original architecture. Connected to Gubei Water Town.
Experience: Walking beneath lantern light before ending the evening with a riverside stay in Gubei Water Town.
Where to Stay
- Brickyard Retreat
- Commune by the Great Wall
- Jinshanling Great Wall Hotel
Future Capital
Innovative Beijing
Science parks, universities and future industries.
Innovative Beijing reveals the capital’s future-facing side, from tech parks and research clusters to leading universities and national laboratories.
Planning Character
Attractions & Experiences
Innovation Ecosystem
Zhongguancun and wider regional clusters connect enterprises, research institutes and incubators across AI, aerospace, new energy and life sciences.
Zhongguancun Science Park
Known as China’s Silicon Valley and home to startups, tech giants and incubators.
Experience: Visit an innovation café or incubator demo day with pitches and prototypes.
Global Connectivity
Headquarters, multinational organizations and R&D cooperation make Beijing a gateway for global innovation exchange.
Peking University & Tsinghua University
China’s leading universities and major drivers of research, talent and entrepreneurship.
Experience: Campus innovation tour, maker space visit or hands-on student workshop.
Leading Hub for R&D
Dynamic clusters and academic excellence drive breakthroughs in technology, medicine and smart manufacturing.
Beijing Future Science City
Experience: Science exploration program with space technology or energy lab simulations.
A national hub for aerospace, new energy and life sciences.
Where to Eat
- Jingyuan Courtyard Restaurant, Niajo, Haidilao Hotpot, The Horizon Chinese Restaurant
Where to Stay
- Park Plaza Beijing Science Park, Tsinghua Unisplendour International Center, Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun, Shangri-La Hotel Beijing