10 Unusual & Unique Things to Do in Beijing in 2024
Beijing, the capital city for the last 800 years since the 12th century, has a lot of world heritage sights and a rich history and culture, making it the most visited tourist city in China. Some attractions have become very popular with tourists, and some are little-known treasures. Changing a tour plan for some of the sights will make your experience more unique and remembered for life.
1. Enjoy the Sunset at Jingshan Park
Jinshan Park, located in the heart of Beijing, is a carefully constructed hill offering breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Forbidden City and the bustling cityscape. The park is open to visitors until late evening, with closing times varying throughout the year (8 pm from November to March and 9 pm from April to October). You can access this stunning viewpoint for a nominal fee of only 2 RMB per person. For a more serene and unforgettable experience, consider waking up early to catch the tranquil sunrise. However, note that the park opens at 6:30 am during the summer months, which may not align perfectly with sunrise timings.
2. Visit the Forbidden City in the late Afternoon
The Forbidden City is a top-rated attraction, welcoming around 1.5 million visitors annually. As expected, it tends to get crowded in the mornings when it first opens. However, if you prefer a more peaceful experience and want to capture stunning photos without the hustle and bustle, I recommend visiting later in the day. The crowds thin out considerably before closing time (4 pm in winter and 5 pm in summer). So, to enjoy the tranquility and snap some crowd-free shots, consider going late in the day.
3. Taking a Taiji Class in Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven, a revered UNESCO Heritage Site in Beijing, is a vibrant hub of local activities, particularly in the mornings. Instead of merely observing, immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and join the locals for an enriching and enjoyable experience. Engage in conversations with the friendly locals and witness the authentic local way of life. To make the most of your visit, aim to arrive before 9 am. If luck is on your side, you might even stumble upon the blind dating corner near the illustrious 7-star rock, a captivating sight that takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
4. Hiking From Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is over 6,000 km long. It is not only Badaling and Mutianyu but also most parts of the Great Wall that have not been rebuilt for tourists. The Jiankou Great Wall is super beautiful and dangerous Great Wall, and the view is outstanding. To be safe, the best route is from Zhengbeilou to Mutianyu; this 10 km hike will give you a special experience of the Great Wall. By the way, you can take the toboggan down from Mutianyu at the end of the Hike.
5. VISIT FOUR GREAT REGIONS AT SUMMER PALACE
If the Summer Palace is on your list, you are lucky to read this. The Summer Palace is one of the UNESCO heritage sites in Beijing, and it is always busy. After you go up to Longevity Hill and down from the north side, you will see the FOUR GREAT REGIONS with super nice Buddhist pagodas and artificial Gardens; you can take amazing photos there without a crowd.
6. GET LOST IN BEIJING HUTONGS
Hutong is huge; your guidebook always shows where you can see a lot of shops and tourists, such as Nanluoguxiang, drum, and bell tower. But the hutong is enormous, and the local hutong is more interesting. I recommend you walk around the lama temple area. There are quite a lot of local hutongs to visit. This is real Beijing and real life.
7. WATCH A CHINESE DANCE SHOW AT NATIONAL CENTRE
The official sights: http://en.chncpa.org/
The best theater in China is the National Center, which has a lot of great shows every day. It is a great place to spend one evening here.
You can choose from many shows, but I recommend you watch a Chinese dance show because of the language barrier. It always has English.
8. HAVE A REAL BEIJING BREAKFAST AT HUGUOSHI
Food is always an essential reason for travel. There are Beijing duck and hot pot, which are pretty famous. But if you want to try the authentic Beijing flavor, Huguosi Snack Restaurant offers you an authentic Beijing breakfast. More information from The Beijinger.
Recommend food: Pea cake (豌豆黄)， Seasoned millet mush (面茶)， Butter fried cake (奶油炸糕)， Snowballing usury (驴打滚)， Glutinous rice ball (艾窝窝), Fermented Soya-bean Milk (豆汁)
9. EAT CRAYFISH IN GHOST STREET (簋街，guiJie)
Ghost Street in Beijing is Beijing’s most famous food street, located near Beixinqiao station. There are hundreds of restaurants you can choose from. The queue is always long on the weekends or holidays. Most locals will go for a dish called Malaxiaolongxia (麻辣小龙虾， Spicy crayfish). I recommend you choose HUDA (胡大), a chain restaurant with nine restaurants on the same street. Does it sound a bit crazy? Go to have a try!
10. LIVE IN THE HUTONGS
There are thousands of hotels in Beijing. You can stay in a Western hotel everywhere, so why not live like a local here in the Hutongs? You can choose from many Hutong hotels, most of which are friendly. The only problem is finding it on your first arrival, as Hutong Street is small, and the taxi drivers usually don’t want to drive inside. So you need to walk to your hotel, remember to do some homework before you get there or ask for the pickup service from your hotel. I recommend you stay in the Dongsi (东四) area, with many hotels and is close to all the tourist sights. The price is cheaper than the Wangfujing area and more authentic, such as the Double Happiness Hotel, Hulu Hotel, Orchid Hotel, etc.
Except for the things I listed, there are still many exciting things. What are your options? Please let me know if you have any good ideas, or leave a message below. Let’s help to make the Beijing trip more enjoyable.
