benjing visit

As part of our city guides series, we interviewed Stephen Whale who has lived in Beijing for two years.

Stephen shares with us his insider Beijing travel tips and knowledge on things to do in Beijing for those looking for the best places to see, eat, stay, drink, and explore.

what to do in beijing
Stick to the left or right paths through the Forbidden Palace to avoid the crowds
Why visit Beijing?

Beijing is the capital of the most populous nation on earth and home to some of the most iconic tourist attractions.

It’s also a city undergoing tremendous change, so it’s worth visiting soon before the last of the traditional streets and hutongs are bulldozed in the name of progress.

what to do in beijing
Birds nest Olympic Stadium
What to do in Beijing

The big three things to do in Beijing are Tian’an’men Square, the Forbidden Palace, and Temple of Heaven.

These are all reasonably close and can be visited in a long day, ending with a trip to DongHuaMen night market to sample the unusual foods on a stick, such as seahorses and scorpions.

Other Beijing attractions are the ornate but busy Lama (YongHe) Temple or the nearby Confucius Temple that is generally much more serene.