The 38 best zoos in and around Beijing

3.5 Stars – A Historic Zoo with Mixed Impressions Beijing Zoo is one of the oldest and most historically significant zoos in the world, and its massive grounds reflect that legacy. The park is very large and spacious, with an adjacent aquarium that requires a separate ticket. It’s located in an unusual spot, partially built beneath a highway overpass, which gives it a unique, urban atmosphere. The animal variety is truly impressive—you’ll see species here that are rare or even absent in many other zoos. A highlight is the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, an endangered species with only about 1,000 individuals left in the wild. The zoo plays an important role in raising awareness for such rare animals. That said, the zoo is a place of strong contrasts. Some parts of the park are modern, spacious, and well-maintained, offering animals more natural environments. You can tell the zoo has expanded and developed new areas over the years. However, many of the older enclosures are in poor condition—they’re small, outdated, and in some cases dirty. Sadly, some animals appear neglected or stressed, especially in the less updated sections. It’s clear the zoo has struggled to renovate consistently across the entire property. For children, it’s still a memorable experience to see such a wide variety of animals up close, including elephants, big cats, and exotic birds. But for adults, especially those sensitive to animal welfare, some parts of the zoo may be difficult to witness. If you want to see the giant pandas, one of the zoo’s most popular attractions, be aware that it requires an additional ticket. While the outdoor panda enclosure is beautiful and spacious, the indoor area feels neglected and long overdue for renovation. Unless seeing the pandas is a top priority, you could easily skip the zoo from your Beijing sightseeing list. While it offers some memorable moments, it doesn’t quite measure up to the city’s many world-class attractions.

Very easy to get into the zoo only 19 yen for the zoo entrance and panda House can buy it in person or scan the QR code and add in passport number and details Foreign children at the age of 6 - free admission Foreign senior citizens at the age of 60 and above get - free admission with their passport Downside is that to go visit Meng Lan panda you have to wait until he wake up to go view and there’s no rough time for it. - Panda Ice cream with green tea cookie - 2/10 - Panda Ice cream - 1/10 vanilla flavoured and not nice and very artificial vanilla taste. Looks nice 10 yen to go on the buggy

Loved seeing the pandas but hated the poor conditions that the animals are kept in. Many of them just lie listlessly on the ground, as if they have no energy to move. I hope they're at least being fed properly. A huge, spread out site meant I wasn't able to see all the animals I wanted/planned to see.

Amazing! We came on September 2nd the day before the military parade and the place was dead quiet! Definitely recommended it regardless but having the place to ourselves was incredible!

What I loved about China is the pride and seriousness they take into everything they do. The zoo was vast and we didn't get to see all of it at once. I was sad not to be able to see the australian animals but it was intersting to see some pandas, even though they weren't in an entertaining mood lol. It is worth the visit and is very affordable too.

1. Prepare your wechat pay, scan&pay to buy entry tickets skipping que. 2. Go for the olympic panda first before anywhere ; que will get really long. 3. Hop on the buggy for 10rmb/person (wechatpay only) quick tour around the zoo. 4. Visit the aquarium for dolphin show.

A world-class zoo with dozens and dozens of different species in well thought out environments. Of course, the panda exhibit is the star attraction, and when we went, it did not disappoint. Yet many of the other fine exhibits we found were equally compelling.

Nice aqua park very well build u can eat and have a nice fresh juice and nice food , we went on children day 1st June it was a dolphin show .

Cool aquarium here, very well themed , a bit small for the price though as adults are 160CNY , but great exhibits and the areas are clean, wouldn't do again but do it once for sure

This is better than the Sydney and Auckland Aquarium for sure. I heard the Singapore and Hong Kong Aquarium may be better but never been there. My favorite part is the beginning, they have a river with full of different kind of fishes, many colourful koi or carp, goldfish. Tip!!!!!!!!, buy a ticket for aquarium, so you don't need to buy an extra ticket for the Beijing Zoo. save you some money.

Very recommended! Very big and clean place with various fishes & other small animals

The aquarium in itself is simply amazing, and if you factor in the dolphin show (which we "accidentally" discovered thanks to the helpful staff who pointed us to the auditorium), it is an awesome experience!

I enjoyed this aquarium. With young kids it would be a nice place to visit. I feel a little sorry for the beluga whale Ina small place alone.

Rather expensive but worth the while if you can bear the crowds during the busy season. The main purpose is conservation and this Aquarium has done that in a spectacular way. There are different parts in the aquarium which is very nice to experience the marine life in their natural habitat. The performance is very nice. Although there was nobody translating into English, it was still nice to see the animals, especially the beluga whales. Just make sure to wait in line at the theater in advance to be able to get a good seat.

Probably the busiest place in summer with locals just relaxing. Nice lake sail after walking the amazing long corridor full of art work. Interesting stories about the unlucky rock. Also one of the few places to see museum pieces on site that were not looted by English and French. Stuff luckily found in the lake

The Summer Palace is huge — about 2.9 sq km in size! If you’re short on time, start from the East Palace Gate & walk through Leshou Hall to see the famous Qingzhixiu stone, then head up toward the Tower of Buddhist Incense for the best lake view. After that, stroll along the Long Corridor beside Kunming Lake & exit at the North Ruyi Gate. Whole walk takes around 1.5 hours, enough to feel the beauty of this imperial garden.

The Summer Palace is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places to visit in Beijing. The combination of traditional Chinese architecture, peaceful lakes, and lush gardens makes it perfect for a long walk or boat ride. I especially enjoyed the view from the Longevity Hill — it gives you a stunning panorama of Kunming Lake and the entire complex.

This is one of the main attractions of Beijing. The emperor's summer residence is set in an immense park where you can spend half a day just visiting part of it. Everything is very well kept and beautiful.

Summer Palace is enormous! There is simply no way you can see it all in one day so my advice is, do a little research, find out what you want to see there and stick to the plan. Sure there is one "must" the central pagoda of the "Buddhist Incense" but other than that the place is just so large, you simply won't be able to walk it all, so pick your poison or come back for day two

Alot of history goes into this UNESCO site. Learn about the history of the past and enjoy the architecture and soak in the atmosphere. Would need at least half a day to walk through the summer palace.

It depends which entrance you use, but I’d really recommend checking the side with the Marble Boat—it’s one of the highlights here. From there you can hop on a boat across the lake (about 40 yuan), which is very scenic and gives you a great view of the palace grounds. The little souvenir shop opposite the Marble Boat also has surprisingly good quality items. I was here about 15 years ago and it definitely has improved since then—more organized, easier to get around, and still just as beautiful. Overall, I had a really positive experience. The Summer Palace is beautiful and easy to get to from central Beijing—subway plus a short bus ride. I got my ticket right at the entrance and the line was short that day. The scenery is gorgeous all around and it’s a place where you can easily spend a few hours just exploring and enjoying the views.

Beautiful building. I was here for a expo. The building is huge and has lots of space for events

Olympic ground NEST Concert of Asian Civilization week

Great place to go.

Extraordinary

Need to register in advance.

Very very huge expo centre

Wonderful

The Great Hall of the People (人民大會堂) is a state building used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the government of the People's Republic of China.

Gigantic, cannot be missed. You will look at it all the time when you're on the square and it imposes it's aura on you hahaha. Wether you agree with Chinese politics or not, you're most likely a tourist, so be curious and visit, as I believe you won't regret it. From outside and inside magnificent...despite it's politics

Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) The building houses a grand auditorium, state & banquet halls. Entrance fee is 30 RMB

Words cannot describe how majestic this place is. Totally phenomenal & out-standing building of the hall. This is great combination of both ancient and new era design. The fact that it is situated in the Heart of China, it actually shows and represents why it is situated there. Currently the Head Quarter of Chinese Parliament as the guide told us. But yes you will admire it once you give your eyes the chance to see it's cultural beauty and how it is been managed by there loyal people.

World's Largest Parliament: Do you know which is the largest parliament in the world? It is the Chinese Parliament. In 2018, there were 2,980 members of parliament in the Chinese Parliament. It is a surprising fact that when we compare the number of members of parliament in our country (India), there are about 9 times more members.

The Chinese government building. A very nice building that shows the power of the country in the architecture. They offer tours of the buildings and it is well worth it. You can see many of the committee rooms for each province in which each room is uniquely designed to that specific province.

In 2018 there was the most impressive show I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Five stars for those exceptionally talented and professional actors and actresses. Good job you changed China back!

It is a good place to spend lazy afternoons or early evenings. nicely maintained and extremely clean. If you are foreigner then reach a bit early to get through the entry formalities and do expect to walk a lot. you would love the central pagoda where surrounding it is the urban Beijing but in the middle there is old traditional monument and greenery. A must visit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Temple of Heaven – Beijing The Temple of Heaven is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve visited in Beijing. The architecture is truly iconic — full of history, colors, and traditional Chinese design. The surrounding park area is very clean and well-maintained, perfect for walking, relaxing, or watching locals practice Tai Chi and music. It’s a great place to learn about ancient Chinese culture and religion. The atmosphere feels calm and spiritual, especially early in the morning. The ticket price is reasonable, and the whole area is huge — you can easily spend a few hours exploring. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Beijing!

A truly magnificent and peaceful place full of history and symbolism. The architecture is breathtaking — the blue circular roofs and the layout of the park create a sense of harmony and balance. Walking through the vast green areas, you can feel the authentic atmosphere. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the highlight — stunning both outside and inside. It’s best to visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and enjoy the calmness of the park. Definitely one of the must-see landmarks in Beijing.

The Temple of Heaven symbolizes so much history and events. I recommend a guide to visit it so that I can explain all the history and symbolism of it and getting up early to avoid encountering too many people. There's a beautiful park surrounding it, so you can take a walk. It's the symbol of Beijing.

Temple of Heaven is one of those places everyone tells you to visit in Beijing—and I can see why. Among all the grand sites in the city, this one has a special charm. The circular design, detailed walls, and beautifully layered rooftops are simply stunning. What I also loved was how the walkways and entrances are mostly sheltered, making it a pleasant visit even on a hot day. If you only have time for one historical site in Beijing, make it this one.

One of the go to places for historical landmarks in Beijing. Temple has a great history and it is huge monument containing several huge parks and flowers gardens as well as very serene resting spots. Normally one would require a good half day to enjoy the full scale historical descriptions and buildings and parks.

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of imperial Chinese architecture, where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors performed rituals to pray for good harvests. The architecture is very symbolic, with a round heaven and a square earth, with huge wooden pillars. The entire complex is very beautiful, should visit with a guide. The place is usually very crowded, but a must visit place in Beijing.

‘A surprising art section in Beijing’ Without any expectations, I decided to visit 798 Art zone. I was positively surprised how spacious it was and how many art galleries you could find. You can feel the influence on the architecture from post war Europe in the art zone. I definitely enjoyed feeling like I was walking in Europe. The only thing to keep in mind that it is not east to reach by public transportation and it can take a long time to find a taxi!

The place is large and well-organized, with many artworks displayed. Some of them required payment for entrance. The atmosphere was nice. It was one of my favorite places during this visit.

Great place . Loads of interesting contemporary Art and industrial grunge. Go there. It's really big so pre plan

Great spot for vintage shopping, coffee, and craft beer. There’s a very cool NBeer pub in a train car.

Reasonably quiet trending location situated on the outskirts of Beijing. There’s a lot of art studios here, and the location itself is like an art museum.

Overall a positive experience but some areas could see some improvements. 1. Bathrooms should have more western style toilets 2. Better maps and road signage for the area district. We like the variety of shopping and exhibitions. We were a bit disappointed when some of the exhibits were closed. We did enjoy the Jingdong soap museum.

Old factory and facilities converted to contemporary art and dining area. Beautiful local art, museums, souvenir and coffee shops, fancy restaurants and more inside. A must-visit in Beijing.

Good Park, Very cool in the summer and autumn, many Tibet Buddhist statues and very nice view when you are on a boat. I recommend that you ride the boats. It is a really beautiful view even though it is expensive. If you want to enter the park, it’s about ¥20 or $3 dollars. It is tricky to navigate without a map and there aren’t any so I recommend that you ask directions to staff. The park is good if you want to go for a little jog or if you want to just look at the statues and learn history.

It’s a lovely park for a leisurely stroll, with beautiful scenery and a peaceful atmosphere. However, be mindful if you’re visiting on a windy day — the wind tends to be much stronger here due to the open lake and lack of shelter. It can feel quite cold, even in late March. And there would be no boat if it’s windy days…

So unbelievably beautiful at Beihai Park. If you are looking for a chill walk, this park is full of amazing views and hikes or even a boat ride.

Pretty park in the middle of Beijing with a big lake. Entry fee is very cheap and can be paid directly at one of the cashiers. Highlight is the white pagoda and the large areas with lotus. Worth a visit to escape the tourist masses around the forbidden city and to enjoy a bit off calm in the middle of the city centre.

A popular recreation spot for both locals and tourists. Beihai Park epitomises the typical elements of Chinese landscape design - careful composition of water bodies, rocks, "mountains", plants, bridges, pavilions. There are also other attractions dotted around the Lake - amongst them is the impressive nine-dragon wall -tucked away in a secluded corner.

Beihai Park is one of Beijing’s oldest and most enchanting gardens, with origins that can be traced back as far as the Liao Dynasty. The centerpiece of the park is the vast artificial lake, dug by hand centuries ago, with the soil used to create the hill where the White Dagoba pagoda now stands. This brilliant feat of landscape design reflects the ingenuity of imperial garden planning in ancient China. Walking through the grounds, you get a sense of layered history—emperors once enjoyed these same lake views, shaded corridors, and pavilions. The glistening waters, willow-lined paths, and island temples make it an oasis of calm in the middle of modern Beijing. The White Dagoba on Qionghua Island remains the park’s iconic landmark, visible from many angles and especially beautiful at sunset.

This place is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet in a very clean and well-maintained environment. Everything has been renovated in recent years, and the water quality has improved significantly. It's a true pleasure to stay there.

Beautiful architecture in the form of a Bird's nest for swimming pool. The street opposite has a lot of eateries and shows with activities for adults and kids. A very happening and colorful place bustling with activities

Beijing Olympic Park is an impressive and beautifully designed place that showcases China’s pride and architectural excellence. It was built for the 2008 Olympic Games and still feels grand and modern. The park is huge, with wide open spaces, clean walkways, and iconic structures like the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Water Cube, which look especially stunning at night when they are lit up. It’s a great place to walk around, take photos, and feel the Olympic spirit. The area is well-maintained, peaceful, and a perfect mix of history, sports, and modern art. Visiting the park gives a real sense of China’s achievement and global vision.

Olympic park Well recreation park for jogging, running, kids and family park. Well running track with one rope 10Km, if plus north Olympic park will be more than 15KM. Every morning, evening will be a lot of running partner run and jog there. Will running on the natural track, will can explore the greeness of the city. Convenience to reach the park. 2-3 MRT station in between the park and national stadium. Many bike share also can cycle to here, but u can’t cycle inside the running track, only can explore outside the park and nearby national stadium.

U must go and walk around it’s beautiful and if u do go after dark u will see a different side of China and the colours the atmosphere it’s so amazing , ppl dance , play games , sing and more . It was my favourite part of the city, start from the Olympic tower and just walk down to the nest , water cube . Beautiful! Must experience.

Attended a concert at the Bird’s Nest — the venue is huge and it takes quite a bit of walking to locate the correct entrance, so do plan extra time to get around. The lifts to the booth rooms were very slow, and I ended up missing the start of the show. If you’re a foreigner attending an event here, make sure to arrive early. Security checks are thorough — you’ll need to show your ID or passport, and there are multiple body and bag scans. The terrace seats outside the booth area were not well maintained, and many seat numbers were faded or missing. I eventually had to sit on the dusty steps as I couldn't locate my seat and someone else had taken it. The atmosphere and energy of the concert were still amazing once it started, but the venue management could improve on signage, seating upkeep, and overall crowd flow.

A stroll around Beijing Olympic Park is an impressive experience filled with the grandeur and memories of the 2008 Olympics. The spacious area is perfect for a leisurely walk or taking photos. The highlights are the Bird’s Nest stadium and the Water Cube, which remain stunning and iconic, especially in the evening when they are beautifully illuminated. The park also features clean and shaded walkways, along with various amenities such as shops, restaurants, and seating areas. The relaxed atmosphere makes it ideal for families or photography enthusiasts. This location is not only a symbol of sportsmanship but also a reflection of Beijing’s modern development and innovative design.

The park is huge, as are the buildings. A very pleasant place to walk, sightsee and shop.

The Beijing Planetarium is an impressive and educational destination. The exhibits feature detailed models and fascinating artifacts that showcase the history and advancements of astronomy in China. The staff are friendly and enthusiastic, providing helpful guidance to international visitors. However, watching the films can be challenging as they are only available in Chinese, which limits the experience for non-Chinese speakers.

The planetarium is nice but filled with annoying kids. I like that there are alot of english translations so tourists like me can understand. Tickets cost rmb 30 inclusive of a 4d show

Most of the exhibition was not working or broken. Such as buttons on diagrams where missing so those parts could not light up. The planetarium isn't anything much without a ticket to a show so you really need one to make the trip worth it at all. Unfortunately the shows at movies and one is a planetarium but small and with low level equipment and graphics overall super disappointed since u expected a city like Beijing to have a great museum and technology.

Movies are not clear enough

Best place visit specially kids

Plain place, dull memory

(Translated by Google) There is an additional charge for planetariums, 4D movie theaters, and digital theaters other than general exhibitions at astronomical museums. It consists of the historic dome-shaped Building A and the new glass-walled Building B. Located just south of Zoo Station on Subway Line 4, Beijing Zoo and China Ancient Zoo are nearby. There is an annex to Jianguomen, the Beijing Ancient Observatory. (Original) 天文関係の博物館で一般展示以外のプラネタリウムや4D映画館、デジタル劇場は別料金。歴史あるドーム型のA館、新しいガラス張りのB館からなる。 地鉄4号線 動物園駅すぐ南側にあり、北京動物園、中国古動物館が近くにある。建国門に別館の北京古観象台がある。

Cool museum in Chinese only. Main thing to see is the detailed model of the city on the 3rd floor. Last entry 1 hr before closing time. Free entry, no reservations needed. There's many secuirty stops nearby so make sure you have your passport.

It's 150 m walk from exit B of the Qianmen metro station on line 2. Gate fee is 30 RMB. The museum spans 4 floors. English is sparse. The exhibits did not provide good outline of Beijing city planning. Most exhibits stood alone without any focus on how either a city mandate or technology advancement pushed the city forward. For example, there was an animated visual of the evolution of transportation. There was no explanation of the replacement of the sedan chair to the modern speed trains increased the number passengers. We know this intuitively, but numbers and facts helps drive the point. This was the case for a lot of the displays. Many of the movie show times were not running. The 1:750 scale model of Beijing is really cool. The museum needs a refreshed modern look and service.

is ok but But Beijing deserves a better one.

The Beijing City Planning Hall, official name Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, is located in the southeast corner of the famous Tiananmen Square. Opened to the public on Sep.9th, 2004, it is one of the AAAA scenic spots in Beijing. The Beijing City Planning Hall was rebuilt on the basis of the former well-known Front Gate Shopping Mall. Since its opening, it has received more than 4 million visitors from home and abroad, including the paramount leaders in China and dignitaries from more than 90 countries. The Beijing City Planning Hall is one of the best places to know the long history of Beijing, which showcases the great achievements of Beijing urban planning construction, as well as the future development. For example, because there used to be a height limit on the buildings in Beijing, so virtually there are very few skyscrapers in the city. The highest building in Beijing right now is only 330 meters high and located in CBD. A new building called China of Honor is being built in CBD now, which is going to be 528 meters in height in 2016. Visitors could see its model on the second floor of the Exhibition Hall. With a floor space of 16,000 square meters and exhibition area of 8,000 square meters, the 4-storey Exhibition Hall is also playing a role as the patriotism-education base as well as a platform for the international experts and scholars to exchange ideas.

There was a giant miniature city (as you can see in the pictures) which looked really cool. It was really detailed and probably took soo long to make. It was also really informative about Beijing's past, present, and future.

Literally a govt funded SimCity. I've never been within 5000 miles of this place in my life. Amazing.

One of the most must visit in the world, the city linking the past and the future

Amazing place to visit the the emperor's tomb. There are plenty of Qing Dynasty items to view and it's such a great experience to witness. You will never understand until you go in yourself to see. No regrets and all.

Nice to see the history still preserved. Would have been nice to see more workers names on the bricks preserved

The UNESCO world heritage site of the Imperial Ming Dynasty is such a beautiful place with a rich history. I first visited the palace and tombs in May of 2016 with a tour group organised through the Great Wall Marathon. There's a lot of info for visitors to read through about rulers, their spouses, wars, looting, etc. Also this encompasses a vast area so DO wear good walking shoes and be careful as there are lots of uneven paths. If you are visiting in the warmer months wear sunscreen and bring water.

My friends took me to this place and it is very special. It is quite far away from the city centre. The trees are interesting growing from the stones. You can walk down to the tombs and it feels very humid and suspicious 🤨. The little garden 🪴 is very cute. The souvenir shop is trash 🚮 and you can ignore it. Beautiful experience overall!

What a beautiful place, 😍. A work of a mastermind this is. When I entered this tomb I was greeted by a huge gate Infront of a massive mountain. The underground tomb was most fascinating. With several chambers and admirable structures it was a great place to go to. I would really recommend a visit.👍

This is a place where 18 of Ming Dynasty King buried over there. Not recommend if free and easy. Sincerely advise to those who plan to go there by yourself. Each tomb is far away from another, book a tour will save all you time and headache. Oh ya and be careful of those vendors selling things over there, told me 30rmb per kg, i took 2 tangerine and said 29 rmb. 2tangerine 1kg is really a joke.

It's a very spacious and quiet place. It's a wonderful place to be healed by the refreshing scent of pine trees. We walk along the path of the wonderful pair of sculptures. It's very soothing to the soul.

This is a large, good zoo in the center of Beijing. There are plenty of exhibits on offer, and is good for all ages, especially kids from 4-15. There are plenty of spots to stop, sit and eat/drink as well, and plenty of seating too to rest. A panda cart also goes around property for a small fee. The most popular exhibit by far is the Pandas. For example, to see their most famous Prince Panda, guests may line up for hours upon opening till the cub awakens. So be prepared! The panda exhibit and the aquarium are extra fees. One downside for me is the facility upkeep. It is definitely NOT as clean as other zoos I've been too, though it's not terrible by any means. Buildings there can also use a major refurb. The zoo could definitely use more funding. Speaking of $, you will have to purchase and reserve your tickets In Advance, through their Chinese app. You may need your National ID/Passport info also. All in all, a fun time! Can easily spend a full day here

3-floors perfect for dinosaur and animal loving kids and adults. To pay, they do accept cash but prefer WeChat or some other Chinese app foreigners don’t usually have. The fossils are very cool, as well as a giant fish that looks fake but is real. And while isn’t as big as say the Museum of Geology which also contains dinosaur exhibits, you can see everything quickly in 45min if going fast. If they had a bit more interactive bits it’d be a 5/5, but I’d still recommend it highly as is!

Chinese culture in Pictures. And IT IS totally Free!! Iam Not a Fan of evwry Pictures but rhere are so many that there IS Somethin for everyone. Take a Look and enjoy IT!

A really good place for people who wants to learn about the evolution of life on earth. Definitely worth a visit!

Fantastic little museum for adults and kids alike.

Very well decorated and organized with many old collections

Loved seeing the pandas, polar bears and monkeys but hated the seeing the dismal conditions that the animals were kept in.

The Forbidden City is a must in Beijing as well as in China. It refers primarily to the history of the country and remains the most important Palace. Its construction was initiated by the Emperor Jongle during the Ming dynasty and was realized between 1406 until 1420. Some remarks to make. As a visitor, you will have the possibility of seing the different buildings from the outside. As compared to some palaces in other part of the world, it is a bit short. You will go from gates to gates and present your passport several times. Moreover, there are around 80'000 persons visiting the site every day, so forget about the mystery that you can feel in the movie " The Last Emperor". Nevertheless, the Forbidden Palace remains a unique monument in the history of humanity. NB The name forbidden city comes from the fact that the Palace complex was reserved to a restricted number of persons - the Emperor, the Royal Family and some officials. Transgression of this rule could be punished by death.

The Forbidden City in Beijing, China is one of the most fascinating and historically rich places I have ever seen. It was once the royal palace where Chinese emperors lived and ruled for nearly 500 years, and today it stands as a grand reminder of China’s imperial past. The place is huge and majestic, with thousands of rooms, large courtyards, and traditional red-and-gold buildings that reflect perfect Chinese architecture and symmetry. Walking through its wide stone paths feels like stepping back in time — every wall, gate, and roof seems to carry a story from centuries ago.

We’ve all seen photos of this place countless times online, but nothing truly prepares you for the feeling of standing before these majestic, centuries-old walls. The scale, the details, and the atmosphere—it all hits differently when you’re there in person. We had planned to enter through Tiananmen Gate and reached just around the official opening hour. The queue was already a sea of people, nearly shoulder to shoulder, with little regard for personal space. The closer we got to the security checkpoint, the more chaotic it became—a mix of shoving and pushing. To make things trickier, the shorter lane near the gate was apparently only for visitors without bags. We only found out when reaching the security checkpoint, aftrr 45 minutes in that line, as there were no visible signs indicating the rule. By the time we were redirected to the other lane, we realized it would take at least another hour just to pass the checkpoint. That’s when we decided to change plans. Instead of entering through Tiananmen, we walked toward the Palace’s side entrance on the right—about a 30-minute walk, and easily the best decision of the day. The crowd was still there, but far more manageable—we could move at our own pace through a hutong and into lush greenery inside the compound. Way better than standing shoulder to shoulder for another hour just to get in. Stepping into the Palace Museum was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Vast open courtyards stretched in every direction, surrounded by grand, intricately detailed halls that seemed to whisper stories from another era. It’s one of those moments where you just stop, look around, and quietly take it all in. Reserve your tickets at least a week in advance via WeChat or the official website. Once you get your QR code, just keep it on your phone—no need to print it.

While visiting Beijing, we booked a tour of the forbidden City for a Saturday morning. We were lucky that the weather was really nice and the group was pretty small, of around 30 people. The thing we were the luckiest about, though, was our guide, Maggie, who was a very good and experiences professional, fluent in English, with a clear pronunciation, and relentless in helping every member of the group with their individual needs. We were not aware that the tour only covers outdoor spaces of the forbidden City, which is huge in area. No indoor spaces were visited. Being a saturday, as expected, the place was crowded, mainly with Nationals that looked like they were visiting the place for the first time, sometimes in groups of around 100 people, many of whom were elderly and had some locomotion problems. The area is so large that even with the thousands of people around us I managed to make some photographs of some of the spaces with barely anyone in the picture. This place gives you an educative insight into what the past history of China and the roots of their culture are all about. It was a great experience. The lower points of the visit were: 1 - The security screening, made by machines, which was chaotic, with people screaming and pushing each other. I even dropped a case with one of my lens, without noticing, but some other visitor saw it happen and returned it to me, pronto. 2 - Especially if you take into consideration the size of the whole city, we found it strange that there was only one set of bathrooms available, and they were located at the far end of the visitedd area. Since my girlfriend needed to use the restroom only a few minutes after we passed the security screening and were walking towards the first pavilion, and with the careful help of Maggie we had to walk past the three main buildings close to where the tour would end use the bathroom, and return to the group. This took between 12 and 15 minutes using Maggie's wise advices and explanation on how to get there and back. We didn't feel like we lost an important part of the tour. It would be interesting, and helpful, if visitors could have access to a bilingual map of the whole visited area - for this kind of situation - that could be made accessible through a QR code read by our phones. At the end of the visit, Maggie was again very professional and helpful, by showing us out of the visited space and giving us information on how and where to go to grab a taxi. I made several hundreds of pictures with my camera and phone and finally enough, some of my favorite are the ones I took of the outside of the walls of the forbidden City by getting them in the sentinel Tower reflected on the outside moat. All in all the tour was a very positive and enjoyable experience, made possible by the nice weather with some sun but mainly cloudy sky which, and the cold air in beijing, which allowed us to spend so long outdoors without feeling either too warm or too cold. Kudos to Maggie who was one of the best guides I've ever experienced.

🏯 Explore the Forbidden City in 1 Hour The world’s largest ancient palace & if you only have an hour, here’s how to explore the place without missing the important parts! 👉 🕐 Express Route (Main Central Axis) Entrance: Meridian Gate (午门 / Wǔmén) Exit: Gate of Divine Prowess (神武门 / Shénwǔmén) ********** 1️⃣ Meridian Gate (午门) 🔸 Grand southern gate & main entrance 🔸 Used by emperors for important ceremonies ⏱️ 5 min — 📸 photo stop & 🧭orientation 2️⃣ Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和门) 🔸 Leads to the outer court with vast open courtyards — impressive scale! ⏱️ 5 min walk🚶‍♀️‍➡️ 3️⃣ Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿) 🔸 Largest & most important hall — coronations & state ceremonies held here 🔸 Iconic yellow roofs & dragon throne inside ⏱️ 10–15 min — must-see 👀 & 📸photo spot 4️⃣ Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿) & Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿) 🔸 Smaller halls behind the main one for resting & rehearsal before ceremonies ⏱️ 5–10 min — quick walk🚶& 📸photos 5️⃣ Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门) → Inner Court 🔸 Transition to private palace area 🔸 Glimpse the emperor’s residence (Palace of Heavenly Purity) ⏱️ 10 min — walk-through & short stop 6️⃣ Imperial Garden (御花园) 🔸 Charming courtyard with ancient cypress trees & colorful pavilions ⏱️ 10 min — quick stroll 🏃‍♀️‍➡️ before exit 7️⃣ Exit via Gate of Divine Pro­wess (神武门) 🔸 Leads to Jingshan Park — climb for the classic Forbidden City skyline (add 15–20 min optional). ********** ✅ Tips for a Smooth Visit 🎟️ Buy tickets online in advance. On-site tickets often sell out. 🏃‍♀️ Enter south (Tiananmen → Meridian Gate) & exit north — one-way only. 👟 Wear comfortable shoes — expect ~2 km of walking. 📷 Focus on the central axis; skip side halls if short on time. ☕ If you finish early, grab a drink at the Forbidden City Café near the exit. 😉

The history that this palace holds dates down to many centuries ago. The place is magnificent and best visited in autumn. Take some time to enjoy this place! Foreigners would buy tickets on day of visit but while stocks last.

Would recommend dressing up before going in! It is crowded but you need to find secluded spots away from the main pathways to get some good photos! If you want pictures without people in front of the entrance, go again at 5pm. You can also catch the sunrise for photos. Make sure to read all of the information signs if you do not get an audio guide. We got an audio guide to help us understand more and it was not too expensive.

Beijing during spring is wonderful. Not too cold and not too hot

We signed up to the two day tour of Beijing and instantly saved 50 percent off the cost of a similar tour booked on our Cruise Ship. Unfortunately late patrons spolied the start. 27 of the 31 participants got to the tour bus on time. Almost two hours late we left for our adventure, andry, hungry, and anxious. The tour itself was wonderful and Lisa was an incredible guide with an incredible knowledge of Beijing, the Great Wall, and China. We learned so much from her that if mitigated the problem with waiting. If you have signed up to be there by 9 am and the Cruise Ship has given you first passage off the boat before any others - you should be on time! If you do take this tour please respect your fellow passengers and make sure you depart the cruise ship on time.

China is just incredible

The company is not limited to Beijing. I found them on the web and arranged a day-trip to Suzhou while I was in Shanghai last week. Vivian helped me book and pay for the tour from the US and Chris was my awesome tour guide for the day. I was collected from (and returned to) my Shanghai (Pudong) hotel for the lengthy drive to Suzhou. We stopped at The Humble Administrator's Garden, had lunch, Bao'en Temple (Beisi Pagoda), Cold Mountain Temple, Tiger Hill and walked along one of the streets lining the canal. Chris is knowledgeable, friendly and speaks excellent English. Had I used the hotel-provided Suzhou tour, I would have paid twice the amount and been part of a group.

This area is a little overrated. But it's very nice to walk inside this area. Many controls around, take the passport with you

Terrible experience with them and cannot recommend them because not only did they threaten us with a lawsuit for writing our reviews but they refused to honor their own refund policies. We are in litigation with them now but you are not protected as an American citizen. This is not an American friendly company and all they want is your money and interested in your travel experience.

Wow. What an amazing company. I don’t think I have ever dealt with a sales person as efficient and helpful as Mary Ma. We ended up booking 4 tours/transfers through them and had zero regrets. The price was great, guides/drivers always punctual and helpful, and Mary catered to every request we had. Mary would always be prompt with her email responses, even if it was 8pm on a Sunday night. We will definitely be back in Beijing and will use this company again.

This was the best service I've ever experienced at a train station! I had gone to cancel a ticket I mistakenly bought online, not realizing that children under 6 don’t need a ticket in China. I also asked if it was possible to have the rest of our tickets changed so we could all sit together. The staff were incredibly patient and guided us step by step through the process of updating my family’s tickets. Very impressive!

The subway truly is a great easy to get around but a little hot in the summer

A Beautiful Railways station. Neat and clean. Well organised staff. Everything is intact. Had a dream travel

Easy to navigate.

Don’t be fooled! There is no railway station! Don’t go there!

Very clean place

(Translated by Google) Great place, well organized (Original) Świetne miejsce dobrze zrganizowane

I purchased tickets for a football game and it was canceled. I have sent multiple emails requesting a refund and they do not respond. It is almost impossible to talk to someone over the phone. I finely got to talk to a human through their sales line, not customer support. I got hung up on twice and then the last person said they could not refund my money. This company is a thief. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH Ticketoffices.com.

If there were negative stars I would give Ticketoffices.com a negative 100 stars. I bought tickets through them to Hamilton at Keller Auditorium - Portland, OR Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022 7:30 PM WELL, THERE IS NO SHOW HAPPENING AT THAT THEATER ON THAT DATE! They ripped me off taking almost $700 out of my bank account and not responding back. I have called their phone number, done their "live chat" and sent emails. No response at all. Ticketoffices.com is a fraudulent company, selling fake tickets for show dates that aren't even happening. Thanks for nothing.

Just like all of the other reviews here AND the BBB reviews, this place has horrible customer service. You have to trick your way into speaking to someone, and they refuse to contact to issue refunds for cancelled or stopped events. Do NOT waste your time and money here!

They are not giving refunds for events. I’ve tried calling for months and only got a hold of an operator. Finally got a person on the phone and they said i couldn’t get a refund because i missed a 7 days refund window. What a joke. I was never informed about this “window” and I don’t understand how they are not understanding people need the money back in times like these

This is a ticket resale company. No customer service. No refunds issued due to cancellations. Ticket price gouging at its finest. Save yourself the aggravation and buy your tickets elsewhere. If you are not convinced by these reviews, check out their profile on Better Business Bureau... oof.

WORSE PLACE TO BUY TICKETS, IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS WAITING FOR A REFUND. IF YOU CONTACT THEM, THEY WON'T GIVE YOU AN EXPLANATION AT ALL, BESIDES THE SAME LIES EVERY TIME. I AM NOW THINKING THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO COURT FOR THIS? THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!!

These people are scammers! DO NOT BUY any tickets from them. They steal their money and especially during a pandemic......shame on you!!! Refund people their money if the show has been cancelled due to Covide-19

Subway station in Xizhimen. Mall for shopping and convenience store accessible from this subway station.

easily lost yourself here

very bad

(Translated by Google) Hello passengers, welcome to Beijing Xizhimen Station. This is the largest and most complex underground maze in Beijing. Please pay attention to the instructions and don’t get lost. I wish you a happy play. ^﹏^ Passengers carrying luggage to Beijing West Railway Station are advised to take other routes next time to avoid Xizhimen Station. Dragging luggage through the maze is really tiring. Welcome to Beijing again. I wish you a pleasant journey. have a nice day! (Original) 乘客您好，欢迎来到北京市西直门站。这里有全北京最大最复杂的地下迷宫，请您注意看清提示，不要迷路，祝您玩的愉快。^﹏^ 携带行李去往北京西站的旅客，建议您下次换乘其他路线以避免西直门站，拖着行李走迷宫真的很累的，欢迎你再到北京来，祝您旅途愉快。have a nice day！

(Translated by Google) Once when I was transferring trains, I was locked in the middle of the passage between Line 2 and Line 13. The doors on both sides were locked. Being smart, I jumped over the wall and got out. (Original) 有一次我换乘的时候，被锁在了二号线和13号线的通道中间，两边的门都锁了。机智的我翻墙出去了。

(Translated by Google) The transfer experience is worse than other stations. But the rest of the experience was pretty good. (Original) 换乘体验较其他站差些。但其他体验还是不错的。

Good experience of seeing a live Panda. Reset , overall experience was average.

(Translated by Google) The place is closed. (Original) Место закрыто.

Love its technology

(Translated by Google) I expected more. Interesting. But for once. There is no point in taking the most expensive ticket. No difference (Original) Ожидал большего. Интересно. Но на раз. Брать самый дорогой билет смысла нет. Разница никакая

recently been here, is a Monday, the fierce animal bus where u can feed the bears and tigers is not open for the morning we paid for the bus ride and travel around the park. also paid for the animal food at the entrance, able to feed some animal, seems like most of them prefer carrots so the park is very big with a few mode of transports, you can rent a small electric car, so u can go wherever u want, in-park bus is fix route, cheaper option, fierce animal bus for feeding tigers and bears, free but long q, train where they bring u around the outer park, free but long q my suggestion is to go for the fierce animal bus, then train then internal park

This park is very nice, apart from the entry gate fees you'll still have to pay more during your stay inside the park for traveling and entering to see certain animals. So this trip will be a bit expensive overall.

The enclosures are not properly staffed; there was nobody to prevent people from harassing the capybaras and guide them in feeding animals responsibly. Also, seeing a baby chimp in a human crib with a diaper and no zookeeper or adult was upsetting

They had cappy blappys👍

PLEASE TAKE NOTE, for truly animal lovers please do avoid. Definitly not an ethical place for animals. Some animals dont have much room in their enclosure. Dont waste your time on the train ride as its long and sad. Youll realise their birds dont fly away even in an open enclosure. Some birds even just stay at their nest. They are also breeding animals which is sad. To summaries it, its just a sad place for MOST of the animals.

Cool park with lots of different animals

Amazing , beautiful !!! Must come if you visit Beijing . Come early its very big park lots to do ...