Beijing is China’s capital city and one of its oldest, most historic, and culturally rich cities. It has served as China’s capital for over 1000 years. Although it was previously known as Peking it was changed to Beijing In 1979. Wandering through old Beijing’s hutong streets you will quickly realize why it has gathered so much fame as one of China’s most historically significant cities.

The rustic side of old Beijing is what brings visitors back year after year making it one of the most popular destinations in China. This list of the top 10 historic places in Beijing will help you discover old Beijing and its amazing historic places.

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is an imperial palace built in the Ming Dynasty in 1406. The grand palace was ordered to be built by emperor Chengzu, otherwise known as Zhu Di. Emperor Chengzu made Beijing the secondary capital alongside Nanjing, with plans to make Beijing China’s main capital years later. A powerful emperor with such ambitious plans would likely need a grand imperial palace to accommodate his dreams. Thus the forbidden city was built over the span of 14 years, covering an astounding 720,000  acres with 8,886 rooms. The forbidden city is a maze of ancient Chinese architecture in the heart of China’s old Beijing.

The Forbidden City is comprised of many halls, statues, and pavilions. It is ultimately your decision which of these ancient sites you choose to visit. Visiting the whole Forbidden City, every hall, room, and work of art will involve a long day out. For those wanting a shortened visit, the main halls are the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony. These three main halls can be found within the central area of the Forbidden City. However, if you are not short of time then visiting the many other halls is a great idea as you will appreciate the full experience of the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City is an art lover’s dream with over a million artworks inside the forbidden city. This ranges from sculptures, paintings, ceramics, and calligraphy. The art collections of the Forbidden City leave little to be desired, and when it comes to viewing historic Chinese works of art this is the best place in Beijing.

Travelers looking for a magnificent aerial view of the Forbidden City should definitely visit the famous Jingshan Park. The hilltop park entrance is located just outside the north gate exit of the Forbidden City. Most visitors tend to exit through the North Gate so this makes Jingshan Park a very convenient viewpoint. After a long day out you might want to skip this part but make no mistake you won’t find an incredible view of the Forbidden City anywhere else in Beijing. The view of the Forbidden City is even more beautiful during sunset and it is a very rewarding experience seeing the most remarkable sight of old Beijing from above, especially after a long day of walking its amazing halls.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is an iconic part of old Beijing. The large city square was originally built as a gate. Tiananmen means Gate of the Heavenly Palace. The gate was designed to protect the Heavenly Palace that we know today as the Forbidden City. After the gate had been destroyed by Li Zicheng and his rebel army it was then rebuilt in 1651 by the Qing Dynasty emperor Shunzhi. Tiananmen Square was later expanded in the 1950s to make a much larger city square. The result is a huge and historic city square with multiple sights, allowing visitors to discover old Beijing and China’s rich culture and history.

Tiananmen Tower or Gate of Heavenly Peace is the main gate outside the Forbidden City. The monumental gate is famous for its traditional Chinese architecture and the portrait of Mao Zedong, China’s former leader. The Gate is an attraction for many tourists especially the ones who are about the enter the Forbidden City. As the Tiananmen Tower is the main gate to the Forbidden City it would make sense to visit when you are about to enter the palace.

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is otherwise known as The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. This site is the final burial ground of Mao Zedong. His body was embalmed and is now on display in the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. This is one of China’s most famous sites for Chinese tourists, and people from all over China journey to Beijing to visit the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. There are very long waits for this museum and there are only specific times when viewing the former leader’s body is permissible. If this is a sight you wish to visit then preparation is key. Check the opening and closing times on the day you want to visit and prepare to wait in long queues. Although I did not get to experience this site I hope to visit it on my next trip to Beijing.

Beihai Lake Park

Beihai Lake Park is a beautiful historic park that dates back to the 11th century Jin Dynasty. The park was an imperial garden up until 1925 when it was opened to the public. The gigantic park is set upon 175 acres, most of which is the lake area with a fairly small walking path surrounding the lake. This scenic area is a trip to the past and gives you the feeling that you are really in the old Beijing

The White Pagoda also known as the White Stupa is the park’s main attraction and sits at the center of the lake within the grounds of the Miaoying Temple. This fascinating temple and its ancient White Pagoda were built during the Yuan Dynasty between 1245-1306 by a Nepalese architect named Araniko. The ancient Pagoda is well worth seeing up close, of course, the White Pagoda can be seen from the lake but to really appreciate the architecture, entering the Miaoying Temple is a must. The tickets were very cheap and once you are inside the Miaoying Temple you can view more ancient structures of old Beijing. This was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone looking to see old Beijing in a tranquil Buddhist temple.

Beihai Lake Park has few people, no shops or stalls, amazing historic pagodas and temple buildings, and almost no sign of modern-day life for as long as you can walk. Beihai Lake Park is idyllic, tranquil, and all that you could ask for if you are looking to experience old Beijing in a beautiful scenic setting.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is a large Chinese temple built during the Ming Dynasty as the result of Confucius’s theories. The large religious site is one of the most amazing temples I have visited in China. A day out in the Temple of Heaven is the perfect way to see old Beijing and I felt as if I had traveled back in time once I had seen the amazing temple grounds.

This giant World Heritage Site is divided into different buildings which all serve unique Buddhist themes. The three main areas are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The temple’s architecture is said to reflect the earth’s wonders at the time, such as thunder, wind, and rain. Chinese people during this time period would worship the Emperor of Heaven as they believed it allowed them to govern the earth. This is where the building’s unique names came from.

 I recommend you visit all three as they are all amazing parts of old Beijing. This site is very popular amongst tourists and with good reason. It is the most aesthetically beautiful and largest temple in Beijing.

Hou Hai Lake

Hou Hai Lake is a scenic lake in the Xicheng District of Beijing. Shichahai is a series of three lakes across Beijing, with Hou Hai Being the largest and most well-known. Hou Hai Lake was built in the Yuan Dynasty between 1271-1368. The lake is best known for its traditional nearby streets, food vendors, lakefront restaurants, and cool souvenir shops. It is a bustling tourist area in old Beijing, but nonetheless a great place to hang out and experience traditional Chinese culture.

The lake is not as tranquil and peaceful as Beihai Lake Park so if you’re looking for a quiet untouched place then Beihai is still the spot. However, Hou Hai Lake is an awesome site to see and it is a beautiful place in Beijing. There are many things to do on Hou Hai Lake, some of which include buying Chinese snacks or trying Chinese food like hot pot or Beijing specials like Peking duck. You can walk around the lake for the scenic views, or take a rickshaw tour around the lake.

Rickshaw tours are very popular amongst tourists who want to feel as if they are in old Beijing. I know what you’re thinking, this sounds touristy but you have to admit a rickshaw tour around an ancient lake in the center of Beijing is an awesome way to experience old Beijing.

At night the Hou Hai lake area comes alive with many bars and restaurants lighting up the waterfront. It does get very busy in this area and the night scene might be an acquired taste for some. Although, Hou Hai Lake is definitely worth a visit during the day or night depending on how you would like to experience this beautiful lake in the heart of Old Beijing.

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing’s Hutongs are perhaps some of the most famous historic sites in Beijing. Hutongs are narrow alleys with traditional Chinese houses and courtyard residences. The houses usually seem small from the outside but some of them are actually quite large and have huge courtyards.

Many tourists and local Chinese people like to walk old Beijing’s famous Hutong streets. Some Hutongs have shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, and Shieyuan courtyard residences. Some of the most famous Hutongs are Dongxijiaomin, Xijiaomin Xiang, and Guozijian Street. There are many other Hutongs around Beijing, although some of my personal favorites are in the Qianmen Street area.

Traditional Chinese hotels can also be found in these ancient Hutongs. Many hotels are actually converted residences. The Shieyuan buildings are a well-known type of residence with a courtyard in the center of the property. The kind of traditional Chinese houses you might see in movies.

Shieyuan courtyard hotels are a great place to stay if you’re looking to experience old Beijing first-hand and live that local lifestyle in a Hutong. The residences range from budget to luxury. Room sizes can often be quite small depending on the budget so make sure to do your research before booking.

Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street is one of the best ways to experience Chinese culture and old Beijing whilst shopping at the same time. This area has a unique mix of ancient history and fun things to do, all whilst being in close proximity to Beijing’s city center.  

This incredible street is said to be over 570 years old and was previously named Zhengyangmen street. This is because of the ancient Zhengyangmen Gate which can be found at the beginning of the street. Qianmen Street was a place known for its arts and crafts, and many of the hutongs in the area had small traditional shops. Some of which are now modernized but still follow the same theme today.

The Qianmen street area is an amazing place to buy souvenirs, eat Chinese food and snacks and walk through ancient hutongs. In my opinion, you can’t get closer to old Beijing than this. Although it has a modern twist and is slightly more on the commercial side you can still easily find ancient hutongs within a short walk of the main street.

The hutongs in this area are some of the best I had seen during my time in Beijing. They have two kinds of Hutongs, newer remodelled hutongs which are very beautiful and have been rebuilt to a high standard, and then the really old Hutongs which are what Beijing is best known for.

There are a wide variety of shops in the area too which range from indoor market stalls which sell souvenirs to boutique shops selling arts and crafts. The same goes for food, you can find nice restaurants and small food stall vendors with a wide variety of foods from all over China. That’s what I enjoyed most about this area, it’s the perfect blend of new and old but it also caters to all budgets. It is a great place to do some souvenir shopping and food tasting whilst seeing some beautiful architecture.

798 Art Zone – Dashanzi

The 798 Art Zone also known as Dashanzi is an area of former factories that have been restored into useable modern buildings. These industrial buildings now house art galleries and boutique shops. The industrial factories are not ancient by any means but they do date back to 1951, which is pretty old. It is said that the factory area was used to produce goods for the unification between the Soviet Union and China. Many of the factories have been left as they were back then and the area holds its rustic industrial charm.

The most outstanding area of 798 Art Zone is the old train carriages. In modern China, you don’t get to see old Chinese trains like this. They are accommodated by a large railway yard in the middle of the industrial Art district. The Railway yard is free to walk around and explore. This is an awesome place to take photos and fits the industrial factory theme so well.

There are genuine factories which can be seen too and you can walk through most parts of this area. The best part is most of these buildings have been left as they were and you are free to explore as you like In this area. I really enjoyed walking freely around the factory areas as I am always interested in seeing old industrial architecture.

There are some amazing art exhibitions at the 798 Art Zone. Some of the exhibitions in the Art district will require you to pay an entrance fee and others are free. Although I was not familiar with any of the artists I still really enjoyed the exhibition I went to. It is worth checking out some exhibitions while you’re there as you can get a better insight into the Chinese art scene.

The Great Wall

Visiting old Beijing’s historic sights wouldn’t be complete without a trip to its world-renowned Great Wall. The Great Wall is China’s most famous sight and likely its most visited too. The Great Wall is a vital part of old Beijing and even more a part of Old China as the wall stretches across thousands of miles into other provinces. The wall is thought to first be built around the 7th Century bc by the emperor Chu. It was a way to divide kingdoms within China and keep areas protected.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you visit the Great Wall. The first is the weather. I visited on a windy day with a temperature of -8 Degrees Celsius. This made it very difficult to walk the walls and enjoy them properly. The experience was rushed as it was too cold and windy to spend time properly there. I wished I had planned it better as the Great Wall is not so easy to get to.

Another important aspect of visiting the Great Wall is deciding which part you will visit. I visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall and although it was a great experience it is the most visited part of the Great Wall. Badaling has mostly been rebuilt and you can see that the wall in this section of the Great Wall is actually a lot newer than other parts. If you really want to experience old Beijing then visiting the oldest parts of the Great Wall might be important to you.

There are still many areas of the wall that have kept their ancient bricks. These are mostly off the beaten track and will be more difficult to get to. Jiankou is said to be one of the oldest parts of the Great Wall. Although it will be harder to travel there as the bricks are not as stable and this area of the wall is on steeper mountains.

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is one of China’s most incredible palaces and it is a must-see when you’re looking for old Beijing. Construction of the Summer Palace started in 1750 and took 14 years to complete this grand palace bringing it all the way to 1764! The palace was built for emperor Qianlong’s mother and was originally named the Qingyi Garden or Qingyiyuan in Chinese. Such a palace fit for the mother of the infamous Qianlong would have to match the ambitions of the leader. Built on 717 acres and overlooking the scenic Kunming lake the palace is the perfect representation of old Beijing.

The Summer Palace was used as a type of holiday home by the Chinese Royal family. Purpose-built to be visited in the summer. But make no mistake its beauty is not seasonal, and Despite being named the Summer Palace it is still open during the winter which is when I visited. Visiting the Summer Palace in Beijing’s fiercely cold winter is a task in itself. Nonetheless, it was an amazing experience and I was lucky enough to get some of that Beijing misty foggy weather which added to the palace’s ancient atmosphere.

The Summer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and with good reason. Old Beijing’s atmosphere can be found everywhere in this palace and the scenes often reminded me of an old Chinese painting. The ancient surroundings of Kunming Lake make the summer palace even more special. Seeing the amazing Pagodas and historic bridges lets you experience old Beijing in full authenticity. The summer palace is like a time machine and if you would like to feel like you are in a Qing Dynasty royal garden then be sure to visit this serene palace.

Suzhou Street or Suzhou Jie is an area of rebuilt old streets that mimic Suzhou’s old towns. The street is just outside the entrance of the Summer Palace and actually requires a separate ticket to enter the street area. It’s worth the extra cost in my opinion as these replica buildings are actually quite detailed and do give you that nostalgic feeling like you have visited a Chinese old town.

Old Beijing is still thriving in modern China. There are many more places that represent old Beijing but these are my top picks so far. With so much history in China’s ancient capital, I hope to go back and further explore its amazing historic sights.