Beijing is the capital of China and its political centre. At the core of the city sits the Forbidden City: a complex of some nine hundred buildings completed in 1420 that served as the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties for five centuries, inscribed by UNESCO in 1987. North of the city the Mutianyu and Badaling stretches of the Great Wall are within a day trip. Between the palace and the modern boulevards, the narrow lanes called hutong carry on Beijing's traditional courtyard housing.
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See flights to Beijing →When to visit Beijing
September and October bring the clearest and most balanced weather, with April and May also good. July and August are hot and wet. Winters are dry and hard, with January days staying below freezing, though the Wall can be seen under snow.
Things to do in Beijing
Forbidden City
Completed in 1420, the palace complex holds some nine hundred buildings and served as the dynastic seat for five centuries. Its courtyards advance along a single south to north axis, showing the symmetry of imperial architecture.
Great Wall at Mutianyu
This stretch about 70 kilometres northeast of the city runs along wooded ridges and is well preserved, with its watchtowers intact. A cable car makes the climb, and it is less crowded than Badaling.
Temple of Heaven
At this fifteenth century temple complex the emperors made sacrifices to heaven for the harvest. The round wooden Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, built without nails, is known for its three tiered blue tiled roof.
Summer Palace
This ensemble of gardens and pavilions around Kunming Lake was the dynasty's summer residence and was inscribed by UNESCO in 1998. The seven hundred metre Long Corridor along the shore is painted end to end with scenes.
Tiananmen Square
The square south of the Forbidden City is among the largest city squares in the world, and the Tiananmen gate at its northern end forms the palace entrance. The National Museum and the Great Hall of the People stand around it.
Nanluoguxiang hutong
This lane of about eight hundred metres is one of the best preserved parts of the hutong grid laid out in the Yuan period. The side alleys between courtyard houses are explored on foot or by bicycle.
Flights from Turkey to Beijing
The flight from Istanbul to Beijing is about 9 hours 30 minutes on the great circle route, operated by Turkish Airlines. Capital Airport is northeast of the city, while the second airport, Daxing, lies to the south, so it is worth confirming which one your ticket uses.
Beijing FAQ
How many days do you need in Beijing?
Three days cover the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the hutongs. Adding the Great Wall and the Summer Palace makes five days a balanced programme.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Capital International Airport is about 30 kilometres from the centre. The Airport Express metro line reaches the city in around 25 minutes.
How do you get to the Great Wall?
The Mutianyu section is about 70 kilometres from the centre, roughly an hour and a half by bus or private car. Badaling is closer but noticeably more crowded.
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