At Beijing’s heart, the Forbidden City has stood guard for 600 years. To its south, the other big-hitters: Tiananmen Square, Mao’s mausoleum and Qianmen.

1. Discovering Beijing

2. At Beijing’s heart, the Forbidden City has stood guard for 600 years. To its south, the other big-hitters:
Tiananmen Square, Mao’s mausoleum and Qianmen. These are only a few of what China’s top tourist
destination can offer. You can easily get around the city by the subway. It is fast and easy, with English
signs, but some areas still aren’t served. The arrival of Uber is a welcome plan B to taxis, whose drivers
mostly don’t speak English and are hard to hail. But what more can this city can offer? Below are only
some of Beijing’s top features:
Where to Stay
RAFFLES. Beijing’s grand dame, close to the
Forbidden City, once hosted Charles de Gaulle
and George Bernard Shaw. After a revamp by
Raffles, it has the comfort and luxury to match its
heritage.
THE TEMPLE. Tucked in an atmospheric alley, this
eight-room boutique in a converted 600-year-old
temple keeps things fresh and funky with modern
art and 1960’s furniture mixed in with Qing-
dynasty carpentry.
W BEIJING. Halfway between Tiananmen Square
and the CBD, this newbie has top dining options
and a spa, and all the mod-cons and playful
design you’d expect from the W brand, including
“W insiders” who can book you that Peking opera
class last minute.
AMAN AT SUMMER PALACE. A lot of hotels claim
to offer the royal treatment, but this grand resort
backs onto the Summer Palace, giving guests
after-hours access to the Dowager Empress’s playground. Daily tea ceremonies, other cultural offerings
and elegant courtyards add to the imperial appeal.
Where to Go
THE GREAT WALL. Some of the most picturesque parts are an easy drive from Beijing. Hire a driver to get
to remote Jinshanling or Gubeikou, then soak tired limbs at the open-until-late Feng Shan Hot Springs
Resort. Trek wild sections of the Great Wall with Beijing Hikers or stay the night at charming retreats
beside the wall for a private ensuite and the Brickyard at Mutianyu, so you can see the wall early in the
morning and late at night, day-tripper-free.
FORBIDDEN CITY, TIANANMEN SQUARE AND QIANMEN GATE. The big boys align on a north south axis. The
energetic can cover all three by foot in one day. For full enlightenment and saucy tales of court intrigue,
bring along an engaging guide.
SUMMER PALACE. Escape the city to wander gardens, orchards and pavilions, and to boat out on the lake.
It’s especially pretty during April blossom season.

3. TEMPLE OF HEAVEN. The complex, whose highlights include an ancient sacrificial altar and an ingenious
echo wall, is enclosed by a lively park—arrive by 7 a.m. to see locals doing water-brush calligraphy, tai chi
and swordplay.
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. Affectionately nicknamed “The Egg,” this ultra-modern
icon hosts internationally acclaimed orchestras, Western and Peking opera, ballet and theater groups, in a
setting as dramatic as the performances.
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