Here’s a 5 minute read on what to see and where to eat in Beijing:
Bucket List
✅ Forbidden city （紫禁城 ZiJin Cheng) – a must visit (try to spot the plain clothes police!)
✅ Summer Palace (颐和园 YiheYuan) – personally my favourite place in Beijing to visit, and where the emperor used spend his Summers to escape the heat
✅ Temple of Heaven (天坛 TianTan)
✅ Great Wall (长城 Chang cheng) – it’s looong but I recommend Mutianyu 慕田峪 as the best spot to visit
✅ Olympic Park (北京奧林匹克公园）
✅ TianAnMen Square (天安门) – historic
✅ Lama Temple (雍和宫 Yonghe Gong) – for a look at classical China (curvy red roofs and all)
✅ WudaoYing Hutong (五道营胡同) – yonghegong lama temple metro
✅ Wangfujing (王府井) – one of the most famous shopping streets in Beijing (go for the experience, not for the shopping 😉 )
✅ Shijia hutong 史家胡同博物馆 (Dengshikou metro) – take a rickshaw ride or stroll through this neighbourhood for a taste of authentic Beijing
Where to eat
Baoyuan xiaoshi 宝元饺室 – best dumplings in Beijing
SOHO – lots of Western Style shopping and restaurants (Blue Frog- American)
DingTaiFung鼎泰丰 (amazing dumplings, Chinese) Dengzhimen metro (24 Xinyuanxili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing China)
Grandma’s Kitchen 外婆家 @ Wangfujing (Beijing APM, 6F, No.138 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing China) – Authentic Chinese food at cheap-mid range prices
Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (ShiChaHai metro stop) 74 Baochao Hutong Gulou East Street, Beijing 100009 China – cheap, local priced dumplings
Lost Heaven Beijing (Yunnan food) Qianmen metro (No.23, Qian Men Dong Da Jie, Beijing China) – my favourite Chinese restaurant (also in Shanghai) – Yunnan style food (think Thai Chinese fusion 🙂 )
Taiyo 太渔 (Teppanyaki) – go for the amazing teppanyaki experience (think lots of veg and protein and fire, lots of fire!)
Haidilao: for hotpot (esp in Winter) (Dengshikou metro) Address: 8/F, 88 Shopping Mall, No.88 Wangfujing Main Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing China
Peking Duck Square (Xiheyayuan 羲和雅苑) – a must eat when in Beijing – Beijing duck (kaoya) Address: 平安国际金融中心B座 Ping’an Building B, 1 Xinyuan S Rd, Chaoyang Qu, Beijing, 100027
Coco 都可饮料 – great hot drinks (or iced drinks in Summer) – my personal addiction (I recommend the 0% sugar options) Jasmine milk tea is a personal favourite.
