北京市

Why this place

Beijing is not just a city, it is the country's ceremonial centre: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Ming tombs and the Great Wall all sit within a day's reach of each other. It is also where you can see modern China's institutions up close — Tiananmen Square, the National Museum and the Olympic park. If you only have one week in China, this is where to spend three days.

What to see

• The Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and the Bell and Drum Towers along the central axis
• The Great Wall — Mutianyu or Jinshanling for quieter stretches, Badaling for convenience
• The Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, the two great imperial ritual landscapes
• Hutongs around Nanluoguxiang and the Shichahai lakes
• The National Museum, and 798 for contemporary art

What to eat

• Peking duck — the city's signature, carved at the table
• Zhajiangmian, lamb hotpot and the Muslim quarter at Niujie

How to plan

Four days: the palace and the axis, the Wall, temples and hutongs, museums. Add a day each for Chengde or the Ming tombs.

Best time

September–October and April–May

Practical tips

• The Forbidden City closes on Mondays and needs an online booking — do not count on buying at the gate

Cities 1

北京市 Beijing