Beijing

故宫

The Forbidden City is located at the core of Beijing's historical axis and is a complex of imperial palace buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The layers of courtyards, ceremonial halls and living spaces jointly display the etiquette, administrative system and palace life of the empire. Touring from south to north makes it easier to understand the overall layout than checking in several halls individually.

北京奥林匹克公园

Beijing Olympic Park includes public spaces around Olympic venues and the forest park to the north. The Bird’s Nest and Water Cube area is a popular route for viewing architecture. Walking in the park does not include admission to every venue, and access may change during competitions and events. Reference photographs focus on past views of the central area’s architecture and night scenery; lighting arrangements and facilities may change.

后海

Houhai is one of the three waters of Shichahai (Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai). It is located in Xicheng District. It used to be the terminal terminal of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty. Now it is the most smoky lake view and bar district in the old city of Beijing. Houhai is open to the public for free along the lake. Highlights: Yinding Bridge: The boundary between Qianhai and Houhai. It is the "Yinding View Mountain" in old Beijing (one of the eight scenic spots in Yanjing). It is best to watch the sunset in the evening. The northern edge of Houhai and Bar Street: Weeping Willows, Courtyards and Lakeside Bars, with lanterns reflecting the lake at night, are representative of Beijing’s nightlife.

八达岭长城

Badaling is a commonly visited section of the Great Wall near Beijing. Walk along open sections to observe watchtowers, mountain terrain and defensive architecture. It is jointly listed with Mutianyu as a 5A tourist area, but they do not share an entrance and their tickets and transport are not interchangeable. Reference photographs record autumn walls and mountain scenery; plan around the day’s open sections, crowds and visibility.

明十三陵

The Ming Tombs are an imperial burial complex. The sites currently open to visitors form only part of the whole area. Changling, Dingling and the Sacred Way each offer different architecture, remains and displays; do not assume all thirteen mausoleums can be freely entered. Reference photographs mainly show Dingling’s buildings and underground spaces. Check entrances and tickets for other tomb areas separately.

圆明园遗址公园

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park preserves an imperial garden’s waterways, terrain and architectural remains. The Western Mansions and Great Fountain ruins are historical highlights, not the entirety of the visit. Use site interpretation to understand the garden’s construction and destruction, then stroll along open lakeshore paths. Reference photographs show various ruins and water views. Confirm seasonal plants and open routes separately.

恭王府博物馆

Prince Kung’s Palace Museum comprises a princely residence and garden. Its courtyards, rear building, Western-style gate and landscaped spaces illustrate the layout of a Qing princely mansion. Explore how the architecture reflects daily life and ritual rather than seeking photo spots solely through legends. Furnishings and visitor numbers in historical reference images do not represent the day’s exhibitions or conditions.

北京通州大运河文化旅游景区

Tongzhou’s Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area links historical-cultural sites, waterfront spaces and a forest park along the canal. Focus on canal history or ecological leisure according to your interests. The Three Temples and One Pagoda complex, Canal Park and Grand Canal Forest Park are not neighboring attractions behind one entrance. These photographs mainly document the forest park and riverbanks, not every cultural site.

颐和园

The Summer Palace consists of Wanshou Mountain, Kunming Lake, temples, pavilions and waterfront promenades to form a broad royal garden landscape. The focus of the tour is not just a single building, but the continuous changes in the courtyard, mountain topography and borrowed scenery: the enclosed space will suddenly turn to the lake, and the elevated trails will open up a broad view of western Beijing.

慕田峪长城

The Mutianyu Great Wall stretches along the ridge northeast of Beijing, with dense watchtowers and obvious slope changes. Here you can not only observe the defense system of the Great Wall, but also experience the Great Wall as a real mountain route, rather than just arriving at an observation deck.

天坛

The Temple of Heaven was a ceremonial space where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for grain. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the most recognizable, but the ceremonial axis, circles, imperial vaults and ancient cypresses that run through the park together form a complete narrative. Only by connecting these nodes on foot can we understand the relationship between architecture and ritual.

中国国家博物馆

The National Museum of China is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and presents Chinese history, archeology, art and modern development on a large scale. There are so many permanent exhibitions that it’s difficult to see them all in one visit, so it’s usually more effective to plan your itinerary around two or three key themes.

景山公园

Jingshan Park is adjacent to the north side of the Forbidden City and is located on the historical axis of Beijing. The Wanchun Pavilion in the park is a classic location for observing the relationship between the roof of the Forbidden City, the Bell and Drum Towers and the modern city skyline. It can re-understand the scattered landmarks into a complete urban spatial sequence. The climbing distance is not long, but the steps are steep, and the view is best on a clear day.

北海公园

Beihai Park is a royal garden with the lake as its core, located on the west side of Jingshan Mountain. Qionghua Island and the White Pagoda form the most recognizable landscape, while the painted corridors, temples, stacked stones and gardens on the north bank are suitable for leisurely exploration on foot. The water bodies, islands and borrowed scenery in the garden have been constructed through the ages to present a complete classical garden space.

北京钟鼓楼

The Bell and Drum Tower of Beijing is located at the northern end of the historical central axis. It used evening drums and morning bells to manage the time order of the ancient capital. After climbing the building, you can not only observe the wooden buildings and ancient timekeeping facilities, but also overlook the dense alley roofs, and identify the direction of Jingshan and Miyagi along the central axis to the south.

什刹海

Shichahai is composed of Qianhai, Houhai, Xihai and surrounding historical districts. It is one of the relatively well-preserved open spaces in the old city of Beijing. Lakeshores, alleys, former residences of celebrities, temples and royal gardens jointly present multi-level urban life, rather than a single fee-based attraction. There are obvious differences in the atmosphere between early morning, afternoon and night.