Things to Do in Beijing
Great Wall tours, Universal Beijing, acrobatics & Peking duck

If you come to Beijing and do not stand on the Great Wall, you have not quite arrived. Mutianyu is the section most visitors choose: well restored, beautiful mountain scenery, and considerably less crowded than Badaling. Ride up by cable car or chairlift, walk the wall from one watchtower to the next, and come down on the toboggan — a metal track that runs down the hillside and is the highlight for kids and brave adults alike. It is about 1.5–2 hours from the city, and booking a tour with transfers is far simpler than connecting several public buses yourself.

Universal Beijing is currently the largest Universal park on earth. It has seven themed lands, including a spectacular Harry Potter's Wizarding World, Transformers, a Kung Fu Panda Land found nowhere else, and Jurassic World. The standout ride is the Decepticoaster — fast and intense — while the Harry Potter ride draws the longest queues. Arrive at opening and plan a full day. If you visit on a weekend or only have one day, an Express Pass to skip the lines is well worth it, because headline rides can run to an hour or more of queuing.

The Forbidden City is the largest wooden palace complex in the world — nearly 9,000 rooms, home to 24 emperors across 500 years. The crucial thing to know: tickets use a timed-entry system booked in advance, usually requiring WeChat and your passport, and they sell out fast in high season. The palace is enormous but has limited signage, so a guide who can tell you about the dynasties, the feng shui and palace life turns a long walk past empty halls into something far richer. Some guided tours arrange the tickets for you — convenient if WeChat is a barrier.

Coming to Beijing and skipping Peking duck would be a genuine miss. A chef carves the whole bird at your table — crisp, glossy skin wrapped in thin pancakes with spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce — and the first bite explains exactly why the dish became famous everywhere. Quanjude is the legendary house, over 150 years old, with a classic atmosphere. Siji Minfu is where locals queue: excellent and good value, though the branch near the Forbidden City has very long waits, so go before standard meal times or reserve ahead. One duck comfortably feeds two to three people.

Picture a young performer stacking chairs ten high and balancing at the top, or a troupe of more than ten riding a single bicycle at once — Chinese acrobatics is an art handed down over centuries, and the Chaoyang Theatre has staged it nightly for years. From 1 February 2026 it presents a new production, "The Legend of Chinese Charm", performed by the Suining Acrobatic Troupe, with two shows a day. It is a great choice for families and anyone wanting an exciting evening. Seats come in several tiers; the front rows put you close to the action. Book ahead, as the better slots fill quickly.

Behind the towers and wide boulevards, Beijing still has its hutongs — narrow lanes lined with siheyuan courtyard homes that are centuries old, the original fabric of the city, slowly disappearing. A rickshaw ride takes you weaving through the tight lanes around Houhai lake, past old houses, teahouses and corners that are hard to find on foot. A typical tour runs 30–60 minutes. If you hire one on the spot, always agree the price before you climb in; a guided tour booked through Klook is clearer. The Houhai lakeside is at its best in the early evening.

These two UNESCO World Heritage sites sit alongside the Forbidden City on any must-see list. The Temple of Heaven is where emperors came to pray to heaven for good harvests; the round Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with its triple blue-tiled roof, was built without a single nail. In the surrounding park each morning, older Beijingers practise tai chi and sing opera — a lovely scene. The Summer Palace is the vast imperial garden on Kunming Lake, with its Long Corridor, marble boat and scenic Longevity Hill. Both can be booked ahead, which cuts queue time.

If you have already done the Great Wall, or want a wilder, quieter experience, Jinshanling is the answer. Partly restored and partly left in its original state, it feels like the real wall — unpolished and authentic — with ridgelines running to the horizon and almost no crowds. It suits people who like to walk and photograph. It is further out than Mutianyu (around 2–2.5 hours), so a tour with transfers is the sensible choice. Bring proper hiking shoes and water, as some stretches are steep and the surface is uneven.

Tianjin is just 30 minutes from Beijing by high-speed rail, yet feels like a completely different city. Once carved into foreign concessions, it is full of European-style architecture along the Hai River. The Italian Quarter is lovely for a stroll and photographs, the Tianjin Eye is a Ferris wheel built across a bridge over the river (the only one of its kind in the world), and the local Goubuli steamed buns are a famous snack. It makes an easy day trip once you have covered Beijing — out in the morning, back in the evening. Buy train tickets in advance, as popular departures fill quickly.

For an extra cultural evening, Beijing offers several options. "The Legend of Kung Fu" is a stage show blending martial arts with dance and lighting, telling the story of a boy who trains to become a master — striking and family-friendly (showtimes and venues change from time to time, so check the schedule before you go). Alternatively, a Chinese cooking class teaches you to fold dumplings or prepare Peking duck hands-on, or a tea ceremony in an old quarter combines tasting with a little learning. All of these can be booked ahead on Klook — confirm there is a session during your stay before you plan around it.