Guide to Beijing Attractions

Beijing Attractions

Den (The)

True to its name, this ever-popular venue is decked out like an opium den of old China.

Zhengyi Ci Theater

The 340-year-old Zhengyi Ci is under constant threat of extinction but is the first choice for authentic Beijing opera when it's open.

Mix Club

If you are a hip-hop fan or a dance lover, check out Mix,

Face Bar

You get a classy, Southeast Asian-inspired decor that incorporates Buddhist statues

Even the classic Xinjiang dishes, such as roasted mutton joints, barbecued beef and meat kebabs struggle to prize diners' attention from the dazzling spectacle of central-Asian musicians and dancers. The belly dancers are particularly distracting.

No Name Bar

D-22

Schiller's III

It is a German-style pub, featuring a live Filipino cover band, darts and sports television.

MAO Livehouse

Beijing Articles

Tour guide recommendation

Xiao Wei was in every way an expert guide for the Beijing portion of our trip to China in November 2012. He speaks excellent English and expertly navigated Beijing to show us many sights that would not normally be on the standard tour group itinerary. We stayed at the Park hotel near city center, and were able to navigate using the city’s taxis and subway on our own for major attractions such as the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and even some out of the way locations such as the Lama Temple, hutongs, and flower market. We wanted to use a guide to help us see more of the local culture beyond the main tourist attractions and Xiao Wei was a fabulous guide for that. For the Great Wall, Xiao Wei drove us out to the less-visited Mutianyu gate through a scenic route through the countryside beyond the crowded city. On our return from the Great Wall he stopped at a local (and very non-tourist) diner for some very authentic and delicious local cuisine and that evening took us to the Pearl market and while we shopped arranged for a dinner of Peking Duck at a local (and again very non-tourist) restaurant and obtained discounted tickets at a nearby Kung Fu show to top off the evening. We found Xiao Wei through a neighbor friend of ours whose daughter was part of a group of American English teachers who spent a year in China and who used Xiao Wei as a guide. He even remembered our friend’s daughter! When we asked about options to reduce the cost that he initially quoted us, he was very accommodating and gracious in doing his own driving rather than utilizing a separate driver. He has clearly built a great reputation on great service and we recommend him without hesitation.

What to wear in November in Beijing ?

In November, the weather changed within days. If you plan to travel in Beijing I think you need to take a light coat, hat and gloves. Also take layers so you can wear and shed to your comfort.

Chinese Ancient Timber Structure

Based on plenty of history file research and physical tests upon Dougong , the corbels and brackets in Chinese ancient timber structure, tests on three Dougong specimens made in term of Chinese ancient method of Song dynasty subjected to low cyclic reversed loading are performed. Besides a systemic introduction of Dougong structure in detail, the test results are presented and preliminarily analyzed. The static function and the seismic performance of Dougong are ana...

There are very rigid rules to select the form of Chinese traditional architectural roof. It is the most remarkable signs to stratify the architectures. The gigantic roof treatments, in addition to the ornament on it, make it them ost charming parts of Chinese ancient timber structure. Through elaborating the evolution and development of the Chinese ancient archite ctural roof, the author has analyzed its structure and elevation molding, and de scribed its aest...

Top Beijing Tours

$300 Per Day

Shicha Hai

Shichahai is a famous scenic area that includes three lakes (Qian Hai, meaning Front Sea; Hou Hai, meaning Back Sea and Xi Hai, meaning Western Sea), surrounding places of historic interest and scenic beauty, and remnants of old-style Beijing residences, Hutong and Courtyard. It is located in the northwest part of Beijing, and covers a large area of 146.7 hectares (about 363 acres). We can take a walk along the lake and have a cup of hot coffee after some strolling.

The greatest point of interest in Shichahai today is its residences, Hutong and Courtyard. In and around Beijing City, Shichahai is one of the best places to view well-preserved Hutongs and courtyards.

Hope you can enjoy!!

$200 Per Day

Private Beijing Antique Shopping Tour with Lunch

Start your private tour with pickup from your central Beijing hotel, and meet your private guide.

Hop inside your private, climate-controlled vehicle and travel to your first stop: Liulichang Antique Street. Situated in old Beijing, this history-steeped street is lined with stone shop-houses selling antique books, handicrafts, paintings, rubbings, glazed pottery, and other treasures.

Hear about Liulichang’s history, and get advice from your guide as to the best shopping opportunities....Read more

Start your private tour with pickup from your central Beijing hotel, and meet your private guide.

Hear about Liulichang’s history, and get advice from your guide as to the best shopping opportunities. Sift through the traditional shops and stands, and explore the side lanes (hutongs), where the shops still bear original Ming and Qing architectural features like ornately carved doors and upswept roofs.

Next, drive to Panjiayuan Market, a so-called ‘weekend market’ that’s open daily. Weave through the throng of stands, perusing the huge array of antiques, curios, ceramics, Tibetan rugs, calligraphy, and other finds.

After shopping here, refuel with lunch at a Chinese restaurant, and continue to Baoguosi Cultural Market, set around an old temple. Scour the courtyards of vendors hawking stamps, books, coins and jade, and get tips on scouting out and clinching the best deals from your guide.

If time allows, squeeze in a visit to Hongqiao Market, a mall known for its pearl traders, and electronics, art, clothes, and accessories shops. Trawl for bargains, and haggle over pearls and other precious gems as perfect keepsakes of your time in Beijing.

After seven hours, your tour concludes with a hotel drop-off.

$50 Per Day

One day tirp to Bajiao Zhai, a noticeable Danxia Landform.

This is a tailor-made trip for nature-lovers and fans of photography. Danxia rock formation in the inland basin is a red rock debris, and later uplift due to the movement of the earth-crust, erosion of rocks by the water and weathering, which was dominant in the hillside to collapse back, kept down the rocks to form the red mountain block. This area was listed in the Natural Heritage of the world in 2009 by UNESCO. Bajiao Zhai Village is a combination of strategic place, steepy mountian, elegant scenery and secluded remote. It is reputed as the "Soul of Danxia Landform". Here you can enjoy the sunrise or sunset and the sea-cloud. 1. I'll pick you up at 8:00 am in your hotel, and transfer to Bajiao Zhai Village by our private van. On the way, you can enjoy some terraced fields, bamboo groves and the wooden residences of the natives.(3.5 hours by ride) 2. First, we'll visit the village and have lunch in the village, and then we'll hike the mountains, the scenery including the group of snails looking up the sky, the ancient trail, Eye-stone, Joss stick of dragon's head and the Treasured sword Peak.(4 hours by hike) 3. After appreciating the sunset, after dinner in Ziyuan county, we'll take the bus back to your hotel around 10:00 pm.

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