Attractions in Beijing
Beijing Zoo
137 Xizhimenwai, Xicheng District
6831-4411
The Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China. Some 5,000 animals live there and features a wide variety of animals. The panda house is the only place in Beijing where visitors can see giant pandas. Some of the animals that are featured are the golden monkey, the white-lipped deer, the red-crowned crane, and many other rare animals from all over the world.
Marco Polo Bridge
This structure was erected in 1189. It is the oldest and grandest arch bridge in Beijing
Hutongs
A hutong is a kind of street lined on both sides by courtyards containing compound houses. Hutongs are a special feature of downtown Beijing. The hutongs (alleyways) were created by the traditional Beijing courtyard-style architecture
Museum of Chinese History
6512-8986
Located just off the northeast corner of Tiananmen Square, this museum displays more than 9,000 ancient Chinese relics, including bronze pieces dating back 5,000 years. The museum shares the same building as the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. This museum features cultural artifacts from 1919 to 1949.
Beijing Amusement Park
1 Zuoanmennei Dajie
Chongwen District
6711-1155.
Beijing Amusement Park, in Longtan Park, has live entertainment, rides, a water-screen show, paddleboats, bumper cars and roller coasters.
Capital Museum (Confucius Temple)
Guozijian Jie, Andingmennei,
Dongcheng
6401-2118
In a former imperial temple and Confucian civil-service university, this was where China’s best and brightest came to serve the state
Blue Zoo Beijing
(Gongti Nanlu), Chaoyang District
6593-5263
This international-class aquarium is great for the kids. The main attraction is a 140-yard-/130-meter-long moving walkway that swirls around underneath the main tank, with sharks swimming overhead. The museum focuses on such marine issues in China as the damming of the Yangtze River and the slaughter of sharks for shark-fin soup.
Miraculous Amusement Palace
Chaoyang Park
Chaoyang District
6506-6382
Wax exhibitions and scenery depict episodes from the famous Chinese story A Journey to the West, featuring the monk, the pig, the monkey and the warrior.
Beijing Museum of Natural History
126 Tianqiao Nandajie
Chongwen District
6702-4431
The largest of its kind in China, this museum contains fossils or specimens of almost all plants and animals found in China.
The Central Park of Beijing
1 Wenjin St.,
Xicheng District
6404-0610.
Beihai Park has an 800-year history as the royal garden of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The park is grand and sprawling, with some beautiful plantings, a lake and paddleboats for rent.
Beijing Recreation Center
Beisihuanzhong Road, Andingmenwai
6499-3434
Watery fun including a wave pool, simulated river, three slides and a “fast slippery dip” (a steep water slide). A sports complex provides bowling, squash, tennis, roller-skating, disco dancing, billiards and a sauna.
Chinese Geology Museum
15 Yangrou Hutong
Xisi Nandajie
6617-6387
Chinese Geology Museum displays minerals, gems and Paleozoic plants and plenty of animals. A great place for family fun!
China Art Gallery
China’s national museum of art has permanent displays of works by Chinese artists and frequent shows by foreign artists.
Contemporary Art Gallery
123 Longfusi St
6401-7659.
A great place to view the national museum’s collection of China’s leading contemporary artists.
White Cloud Temple
6 Baiyunguan JieXibianmenwai
Xuanwu District
6346-3531
White Cloud Temple also known as Tianchang Temple. It is the largest Taoist temple in Beijing and the center of Taoism in north China.