All trip prices are in Rand R © Copyright 2024 Contiki. All Rights Reserved.
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the city can get a bit much, so skip out on the noise and traffic and head straight for Fragrant Hills. Something straight out of a storybook, this Imperial Garden and pine forest spans over 188 hectares and is the place to see the red-leafed trees that China is famous for. While you’ll want to spend a bit of time here, even the most efficient of you will find it hard to cover an area that big. Our tips? Figure out which parts of the park you want to explore most. Whether it’s seeing the Fragrant Hills Pagoda, the Xiangshan Temple, the Fragrant Mist Cave or just some choice views, the park has something for everyone.
Culture
The Beijing Pop Festival is an annual music festival held in Chaoyang Park. This ground-breaking festival hosts both Western and Chinese acts, and the organisers somehow manage to get around the Ministry of Culture’s censorship rules – what legends! Past acts have included Nine Inch Nails, the Ramones and Supergrass.
Music
Culture
Music
Beijing is an amazing melting pot of ancient and contemporary culture, as well as a splash of Western influence. This city is always pumping with one festival or another, so there’s always fun to be had. Here are our picks for the top five festivals to go to in Beijing.
For lovers of the stars, a visit to the Beijing Planetarium can’t be missed. Geek out at the sight of the swinging pendulum in the entrance hall, showing how the earth continually rotates from East to West. Once the only Planetarium in Asia, this massive museum is packed with interactive displays and 4D light shows.
Movie buffs, here’s one for you: The China National Film Museum is the biggest of its kind in the world. Taking you through the history of Chinese Cinema and its different movements and genres, this museum also doubles as a Cineplex, so once you’re done with all the learning, kick back and catch a flick.
Stick this on the very top of your list – the Forbidden City is a must-see for every visitor to Beijing. Not only are the palace grounds a spectacle in-and-of themselves, they’re filled with tonnes of galleries. Check out ancient Chinese calligraphy, painting and ceramics in the halls of this amazing complex.
Phnom Penh
Located on the Eastern side of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China is one of the biggest art museums in the world – second only to the Louvre. With a mission to educate visitors on the history of art and culture in China, discover ancient scrolls, artefacts and suits of armour at the National Museum of China.
If you love a good interactive museum, the China Science and Technology Museum is our pick. Here you’ll find showcase of ancient and contemporary Chinese technologies spanning the fields of astronomy, mechanics, IT and environmental sciences. Plus, the huge, mirrored sphere out the front of the museum makes for a great selfie.
As the nation’s capital, Beijing is bursting with stories to tell. Whether you love history, art, science or just want to snap some cool stuff, Beijing probably has a museum for that. Here is our list of some of our favourite Beijing museums.
Formally known as Peking Duck, this regional specialty has been served since imperial times. Crispy roast duck is lovingly carved and served in taco-like pancakes with spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce. The best place in the city to get this dish is Da Dong Duck Restaurant. You’ll want to book a table in advance to avoid some serious fomo.
Best eaten at
Da Dong Duck Restaurant, F1-F2, Nanxincang Business Building, 22 Dongsitiao Jia, Dongcheng District
Chinese Dumplings
No doubt you’ll be stuffing your face with dumplings wherever you are in China, with Beijing being no exception. The traditional moon-shaped Jiaozi will hit the spot, steamed or fired. To get a feel for old Beijing, check out Mr Shi’s Dumplings. This hole-in-the-wall diner in one of the city’s old Hutong – or residential laneways – has a great vibe and some seriously good eats.
Best eaten at
Mr Shi's Dumplings, 74 Baochao Hutong, Gulou Dong Dajie
Shredded Pork in Beijing Sauce
Another staple of Beijing, Jing Jiang Rou Si is one dish that’ll leave you wanting seconds. Delicate pieces of shredded pork tenderloin are sautéed in a sweet bean sauce. Crunchy, succulent and delicious, you can chow down on this bad boy at Jin Ding Xuan Restaurant in the Dongcheng District.
Best eaten at
Jin Ding Xuan Restaurant, 77 Hepingli Street, Dongcheng District
You can never go wrong with potatoes, but the Gangou variety you find all over Beijing are truly something special. Thinly sliced and fried up with pork, chilli, ginger, onion and shallots, it’s easy to fill up on these bad boys. You can find them dotted around lantern-filled Gui Jei, also known as Ghost Street.
Best eaten at
Ghost Street (Dongzhimen Nei Dajie, Chaoyang District)
Shredded Potato
Can we get a heck yes for more potatoes? Shredded and fried up with garlic, chilli and vinegar, these thin potatoes are coated with a sweet gloss. Served hot or cold, this is the perfect side or any meat dish, or as a quick snack on its own when you’re on-the-go. Tuck into some tu dou si at Shijin Yuan restaurant in the Chaoyang District.
Best eaten at
Shijin Yuan, Dongsanli Tunzhong 13, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District
Chinese food needs no intro, but when you’re exploring a country as wide and varied as China, you’ll find a lot of regional variation. As Beijing is in the north, the cooler climates are ideal for root vegetables and meat. You know what that means? Dumplings, fried potatoes and lots of delicious meat. Get ready for one hell of a food adventure in Beijing.
Places we visit in Asia
Countries we visit in Asia
Other Regions
Back To Top
About Contiki
All trip prices are in Rand R © Copyright 2024 Contiki. All Rights Reserved.