In comparison with different big-name worldwide cities, Beijing stays a really reasonably priced vacation spot for many vacationers’ wants. After all, that’s all relative to how a lot you need to splurge, however typically talking, entrance charges are moderately priced, public transport is cheap and consuming out is generally low cost and cheerful.
Nevertheless, like wherever on the earth, issues can add up quick when you consider all of the extras: inns, speakeasy cocktail bars and pints of craft beer, tickets for gigs and cultural performances, to not point out taxis, airfares, journey insurance coverage and visas.
However to not fear: you’ll be able to counterbalance all that with all of the free stuff to take a look at in Beijing. From up to date Chinese language tradition to conventional arts and historical past, right here’s our high 10 free issues to do in Beijing.
Tian’anmen Sq.
Positioned within the coronary heart of the town, Tian’anmen Sq. is each Beijing’s most iconic landmark and the nationwide image of the Individuals’s Republic of China. Because the world’s largest public sq., all army pomp and Soviet austerity, it’s a monumental sight with an environment that’s as electrifying because it unnerving.
The sq. is flanked by socialist realism structure of the Nationwide Museum of China and Nice Corridor of the Individuals, whereas to the south are the spectacular gates of Qiánmén and Zhengyang Gate Arrow Tower. To the north stands the Gate of Heavenly Peace, fronted by a large portrait of Mao Zedong, who declared the founding of the Individuals’s Republic of China proper right here on October 1, 1949.
The preferred time to go to is for the army flag-raising ceremony that takes place every day at dawn and sundown. It will get busy then, nevertheless, so purpose to come back a bit earlier to make sure you get view.
Chairman Mao Memorial Corridor
On the middle of Tian’anmen Sq. lies certainly one of Beijing’s most surreal sights: the mausoleum of China’s communist founder, Chairman Mao. Vacationers flock right here from throughout China’s far-flung provinces to pay their respects, becoming a member of an extended, snaking queue for a fleeting glimpse of the Chairman himself. Regardless of Mao’s needs to be cremated, his physique was as an alternative embalmed and displayed right here, the place it’s been on public view since 1977.
Wild Nice Wall
Stretching magnificently throughout northern China on its 20,000-plus km (12,425-plus mile) journey, the Nice Wall is with out query one of many nation’s most enduring symbols. And Beijing is likely one of the greatest locations to embark on journeys to the wall, together with a number of of the crumbling, untouched sections that aren’t ticketed.
Whereas the areas with entrance charges gained’t precisely break the financial institution, the free sections will provide you with a extra peaceable expertise, away from the jostling busloads of vacationers, as befits a sight of such grandeur. Jiankou is one such part, and positioned round 100km (62 miles) from Beijing, it gives a extra dilapidated, untouched really feel, making it excellent for extra intrepid hikers and journey photographers.
Ming Metropolis Wall Ruins Park
There’s multiple nice wall to see within the Beijing space. As soon as spanning 24km (15 miles) across the metropolis, the restored Fifteenth-century Ming Metropolis Wall Ruins are the final remnants of the town’s 15m-high (49ft) internal partitions. Right now solely 2km (1.2 miles) stay – the remainder was torn right down to accommodate Beijing’s ever-expanding roadways and subway system.
Set amongst peaceable parkland, the ruins make for a nice place to walk and absorb a slice of historical past as you ponder what Beijing may seem like in one other 500 years time.
Nationwide Museum of China
Beijing’s showpiece museum sits in a hulking Fifties Soviet-style constructing overlooking Tiananmen Sq.. It’s an enormous house overlaying 5000 years of Chinese language historical past via all of the dynasties and ages, together with Buddhist and Bronze artwork and sculptures. It’s freed from cost, however as with different state museums, you’ll have to convey alongside your passport for entrance.
Different free museums price a glance embody the Abroad Chinese language Historical past Museum for an attention-grabbing background on Chinese language settlement overseas; Lu Xun Museum for a celebration of the daddy of recent Chinese language literature; Capital Museum for some beautiful artifacts; and the Beijing Pure Historical past Museum for dinosaur fossils (amongst many different species on show, together with some questionable taxidermy).
Nationwide Artwork Museum
One other monumental Cultural Revolution–period constructing is that this spectacular artwork gallery showcasing works by Chinese language and worldwide artists. Along with a everlasting assortment, it options ever-changing themed exhibitions on every little thing from historical silk-scroll calligraphy to up to date Chinese language summary painters. Don’t neglect your passport for entry.
798 Artwork Manufacturing unit
One as a lot for artwork lovers as these into extra offbeat points of interest is that this sprawling 798 arts precinct sprung from a Fifties manufacturing facility – full with light cultural-revolution slogans nonetheless seen on the ceiling. Right now it’s grown into a fancy of galleries and public artwork installations showcasing the total gamut of rising and established artists, in addition to cafes, design retailers, bars and dwell music venues. There’s a 798 app you’ll be able to obtain to make getting round simpler.
Hutongs
Unquestionably certainly one of Beijing’s highlights are the normal hutong residential areas. These distinctive neighborhoods comprise a maze of alleyways lined with courtyard homes, stuffed with the thrill of native gossip, enjoying youngsters and limitless video games of mah-jongg.
Sadly most of the hutongs have been bulldozed to make manner for contemporary developments, however there are nonetheless areas you’ll be able to wander, together with across the Drum Tower, Lama Temple and the Xisi and Dashilar areas – the latter a former red-light district. Lots of the homes have been transformed into bars, guesthouses, galleries and cafes, however if you wish to get the lowdown on their historical past, be sure you drop by Shijia Hutong Museum for some fascinating insights.
Fashionable structure
Whereas many come to Beijing to hunt out old-world charms comparable to palaces, temples, gates, drum towers and pavilions, the town additionally has cutting-edge futuristic structure on par with the world’s most fashionable metropolises. There’s no extra iconic instance than the Nationwide Stadium, affectionately generally known as the Hen’s Nest – the location of each the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics.
Designed in collaboration with dissident Chinese language artist Ai Weiwei, the stadium’s round form was impressed by conventional ceramics, then wrapped in a latticework of twisted metal that glows spectacularly at night time. It sits alongside the hanging Nationwide Aquatics Centre; higher generally known as the Water Dice, it was additionally used within the Olympics and has a bubbled exterior that is likewise illuminated at night time.
Different up to date buildings are the silvery Nationwide Centre for the Performing Arts, which juts out from a physique of water like a large blob of mercury; the CCTV Headquarters – aka the Massive Pants; and Beijing’s tallest constructing, the CITIC Tower, (higher generally known as China Zun as a consequence of its resemblance to a zun, a standard vase-like vessel). The late Zaha Hadid left her mark on city too, with the domed Galaxy Soho, the twisting Leeza Soho and the posthumously designed Beijing Daxing Worldwide Airport.
Panjiayuan Market
Everybody loves flea market, and Beijing’s Panjiayuan doesn’t disappoint, with sprawling stalls of antiques and handicrafts. Shopping for distinctive keepsakes makes for an satisfying hour or two; anticipate something from calligraphy brushes to genuine Cultural Revolution propaganda and cigarette posters to Mao memorabilia and Buddhist artworks.
