In Beijing, imperial history can be read along a north–south axis: it runs through the historic heart of the city and includes former palaces and gardens, places of worship, and ceremonial and public buildings. The urban layout developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties has been preserved. The axis shows how closely the shape of the city, imperial rule and rituals were connected.
Imperial History and Rituals
Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of Heaven and prayed for a good harvest. It is considered the most complete surviving imperial sacrificial complex in China and, at the same time, the world’s largest surviving complex for sacrifices to Heaven.
Visitors can make a staggered reservation for the Temple of Heaven online one to seven days in advance through the official WeChat accounts “Visiting Beijing Parks” or “Temple of Heaven,” providing their name. Entry requires a valid identity document. Check the reservation requirements before your visit.
Founded in 1925, the Palace Museum is based in the imperial palace known as the Forbidden City and houses extensive collections of imperial art. The historic palace complex administered by the museum covers more than one million square meters and comprises around 9,000 buildings. It is considered the largest and best-preserved historic palace complex in the world. Tickets for the Palace Museum are not sold on the day of the visit: all visitors must purchase tickets in advance through the official WeChat mini program or official website. Check the current ticket requirements in advance.
Gardens of Water, Bridges and Trees
The Summer Palace is an imperial garden covering 3.009 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. This makes water an essential part of its spatial layout. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge, built in 1750, offers a special combination of history and architecture: it is more than 150 meters long and is considered the longest bridge in China’s imperial gardens. The Summer Palace offers audio guides, smartphone tour guides and in-person guided tours. Check which languages and service points are available before your trip.
Beihai Park is laid out around Beihai Lake. Its structures include the Nine-Dragon Wall, built in 1756 and about 25.52 meters long. Visitors interested in a specific route through the park can follow the visitor guide’s roughly two-hour route to the Circular City and Jade Island.
Other parks tell their own stories: Jingshan Park served as the rear garden of the imperial palace during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. In Fragrant Hills Park, a forest cover of 96 percent and more than 5,800 old and famous trees shape the landscape.
Great Wall Landscapes and Ming Tombs
The Great Wall at Mutianyu in Huairou District and the Wall at Badaling in Yanqing District were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987. Mutianyu is well preserved and has distinctive architectural features. To reach the Mutianyu scenic area, the route guide recommends taking express bus 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairoubeidajie stop. From there, transfer to bus H23, H3 or H71 to Mutianyujingqu stop. Check bus routes and stop names before setting off.
The Shuiguan section of the Great Wall offers a different landscape: its features include an old path, old trees and vines, mountains and water, as well as the ancient city of Guguan. Mutianyu, Badaling and Shuiguan thus represent different aspects of the Great Wall landscape: architectural features, World Heritage and connections with a historic setting.
The Ming Tombs are located in the town of Shisanling in Changping District and comprise mausoleums for thirteen emperors of the Ming dynasty. The Sacred Way leads to the Changling Mausoleum. Built in 1409, it is the burial place of Zhu Di, the third Ming emperor, and his empress, Xu.
Archaeology and Temple History
The Zhoukoudian Site Museum in Fangshan District is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national 4A-level scenic area. It presents the living conditions of Peking Man around 600,000 years ago, Upper Cave Man around 100,000 years ago and Upper Cave Man around 18,000 years ago. It also displays rock specimens from the Zhoukoudian area.
A visit to the China National Botanical Garden also offers a glimpse into temple history: the Wofo Temple was built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty, from 627 to 649, and was originally called Doushuai Temple. It is more than 1,300 years old. It takes its name from the bronze statue of a reclining Buddha worshipped there. Visitors to the China National Botanical Garden must purchase personalized admission tickets one to seven days in advance through the WeChat account “China National Botanical Garden Ticketing Platform.” Check the ticket requirements before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Beijing, Changping, Mentougou, Guangxi, Hainan, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi
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