Tour guides China > Beijing

5 ideas for guided tours in Beijing

• The Forbidden City:

  

  In Beijing, you pass through the great red gate, look up, and there it is – the old Forbidden City, appearing almost without warning, a sequence of stone courtyards and glazed rooftops. The doors creak a little, the scent of sun-warmed wood drifts by, footsteps echo, setting a calm rhythm.

  From one hall to the next, red and gold reign, bronze lions stand guard, worn flagstones, railings smoothed by time. Your eye catches tiny details – a carved dragon, a roof ridge catching the light – then drifts away into the palace’s strict, almost hypnotic symmetry.

  Leaving through the northern exit, the climb up Jingshan Park gives a welcome pause, the entire grid of the palace laid out below. To the south, Tiananmen Square stretches wide, scattered crowds, snapping flags, and the city keeps moving around it, seemingly unfazed.

• Summer Palace

  

  The Summer Palace still carries the elegance of a place designed for imperial retreat. Shady paths, delicately decorated pavilions, and the still water create a landscape that shifts with the seasons.

  The Kunming Lake takes up much of the grounds, bordered by the Longevity Hill with trails leading to sweeping viewpoints. You can board a wooden boat, drift along, and watch the glazed roofs and carved bridges mirrored in the water.

  Among its most striking structures, the Tower of Buddhist Incense rises above its galleries, while the Garden of Virtue and Harmony reveals a series of quiet inner courtyards. Every detail, from carved reliefs to painted beams, draws the eye, even in a passing corridor.

  The walk often ends at the Long Corridor, its beams painted with thousands of scenes, leading gently to the Marble Boat. The Summer Palace is not a place to rush through – it invites slowness, a way of looking that lingers on what matters most.

• The Tiān Tán Temple or Heaven Temple

  

  The Temple of Heaven, or Tiān Tán, stands as one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks. Built to link earth and sky, it still carries a spiritual weight that can be felt when you step through its monumental gates.

  The vast surrounding gardens invite an unhurried walk, dotted with pavilions and altars. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with its painted columns and blue-tiled roof, remains the centerpiece, while the circular Imperial Vault of Heaven captivates with its perfect symmetry.

  Nearby, other structures extend the visit, such as the Hall of Sacred Music and the Palace of Abstinence. Their layout and intricate details recall the elaborate rituals once performed here and the strict order of imperial tradition.

• Hutongs: old quarters of Beijing

  

  The narrow lanes of the Hutongs reveal a more intimate side of Beijing, shaped by neighborhood life and centuries of history. Walking through these winding alleys feels like stepping into a living memory of the city.

  The Nanluoguxiang Hutong charms with its mix of old and new. Colorful cafés, tiny shops scented with wood and paper, and a lively mix of young locals and curious visitors keep the atmosphere buzzing.

  By contrast, Yandaixiejie Hutong moves at a slower pace. Its stone paving, low façades, and lanterns that glow at dusk create a simple yet striking atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you stop for a snack or chat with a shopkeeper.

  Not far from the Drum Tower, Gulou Hutong still hides traditional courtyards and artisan workshops. Each step through the Hutongs brings you back to a quieter Beijing, full of encounters, old houses, and small details that stay with you.

• Qianmen Street

  

  Not far from Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Street stretches out with its old stone paving and carefully restored façades. The mood shifts between tradition and modernity, with red lanterns overhead, glowing shop signs, and a vintage tram gliding slowly through the crowd.

  The row of shops recalls Beijing’s merchant past – some dedicated to tea, others to silk or traditional pastries. You can still find century-old teahouses here, living reminders of a city that evolves yet holds on to its roots.

  Just a short walk away, the Temple of Heaven rises within its vast park, a place of rituals and quiet strolls. Farther north, Tiananmen Square opens wide, its massive scale contrasting with Qianmen’s lively, close-knit lanes where every alley seems to hold a story.