Things to See & Do in Beijing During The Olympics (Or Any Other Time)

We’ve visited Beijing twice since March 2007, spending a total of just under two weeks in the city. Shanghai is modern and new, but we really love Beijing’s strong sense of history and culture. Beijing is a city with a strong “soul.” On our first journey, it took us about three days to get our sea legs under us and get comfortable out and about, but once we did we felt relatively at ease.

Here are some of our favorite tourist sites, along with a handful of “good to know” shops.

Must Visit Attractions in Beijing

The Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square – The two are connected, across the street from each other in an unique juxtaposition of past and present. Neither is to be missed, and if at all possible come here on your first day as an introduction to China. It’ll take you at least 1/2 a day to walk through them both. (Be mindful of heightened Tiananmen Square security, too. As THE public square, Tiananmen is a place of potential protest activity and security has been stepped up accordingly.)

Hutong Tour – Hutongs date to the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, when the maze-like neighborhoods sprouted up throughout Beijing. Hutong life is vanishing in China, as residents are displaced in the name of progress. This is the only site we suggest you visit by organized tour, which often includes lunch hosted in one of the courtyard homes. Worry not about the food (as we foolishly did) — our lunch was the best meal we’ve ever had in China. (see pictures above) Gifts for your host are also unnecessary, but a small token is surely appreciated; hosts are compensated by the tour company the same way your guide is. Allow about 3 hours. (More pictures of food and host available on Flickr.)

Summer Palace –Walk lovely pathways of the Qing Emperors. Dotted with recently refurbished buildings for the Olympic Games, the Summer Palace offers a glimpse into the posh life of Chinese Emperors. Don’t miss the Marble Boat (no, it doesn’t float) and the emperor’s elaborate faux street where he “played” everyday citizen & shop keeper with his court. Be sure to stop by the curatorial area featuring roof tiles from each of the proceeding dynasties; one can gauge each dynasty’s relative wealth by the quality and craftsmanship of the roof tiles. Allow at least a 1/2 day for travel there and walking around the HUGE grounds. (And bring good shoes.)

Wangfujing Snack Street – Not for the faint of heart, try local treats like beetles — among other surprises — on a stick. Xinhua recently published a photo essay on the location: Traditional Beijing delicacies in Wangfujing snack street

Shopping

Panjiayuan Market “Antiques” Market – Don’t expect genuine antiques, but the Panjiayuan Market is fabulous. Similar to what we’d call a “flea market” in the U.S., there are also established vendors who sell everything from mahjong and dominoes sets, chops, and Mao memorabilia, to jewelry, paintings, and vases. Opens daily at 4:30 am (according to our guidebook). Don’t believe some guidebooks that state this is a weekend only market. Depending on what you want to buy, plan to spend anywhere from an hour to 1/2 day.

Foreign Languages Bookstore – Don’t let the plethora of English language books scare you off. The bottom floor, in particular, has a vast selection of English language books on China. Learn about Chinese folk art, calligraphy, tea culture and cooking — great gifts for yourself or those at home. Plan to spend 0.5-2 hrs.

CRC Supermarket, Oriental Plaza Shopping Mall (Dongfang Xin Tiandi), Wangfujing District – Not only does CRC have imported creature comforts westerners crave, they’ve also got nice little gifts to take back home. On our first trip, we purchased cute little owl plates for a song. Also spotted: high end tea sets, tea, beautifully packaged Chinese candies, and an assortment of fun greeting cards. THE place to buy western toiletries, bottled water, and western groceries. (We bought Campbell’s soup and cereal after a bout with the stomach flu.) Prices are roughly comparable to those stateside. Located in the basement, the store is impeccably clean and well organized. No haggling.

Pearl Market – Don’t miss the Fanghua store on the 3rd floor. Select your pearls and have them strung on site. Prices are higher, but the quality and service are superior to the other shops you’ll find in the market. You’ll still have to haggle, but our salesgirl “Julice” made it fairly painless. Depending on your appetite for shopping, plan to spend anywhere from an 1 hr - 1/2 day.

Places we haven’t visited yet, but will

The Lama Temple (YONG HE GONG) – A Tibetan Temple said to be a beautiful place of serenity. With the tumultuous political climate on the topic of Tibet in Beijing, it’s probably best to be mindful of conversations on the topic of Tibet while there.

Bei Hai Park – During our first trip, we accidentally ended up at the Jing Shan Park, north of the Forbidden City and adjacent to both Bei Hai Park and the Forbidden City.

Jenny Lou’s – Another western supermarket, we’ve heard great things about Jenny Lou’s from our friends who travel to Beijing frequently. The only reason we haven’t been yet: our hotel was always closer to CRC Supermarket in the Oriental Plaza Shopping Mall.

Sites to Miss:

Bejing Zoo – We’ve avoided the zoo at the behest of our guidebook which noted that animal care isn’t up to the same standards as those in the U.S.

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Tomorrow I’ll post a list of suggested hotels, as well as our favorite restaurants.

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Tagged as: Beijing, china, travel suggestions