There are few cities on earth that offer as much as Beijing. The Chinese capital has a history going back thousands of years and is full of significant landmarks such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.
If you want to dive into Chinese history and culture, then Beijing is the place to do so — there are endless things to do in Beijing, you’ll never be bored, and you’ll be continuously learning something new.
In addition to its storied past, Beijing is also catapulting into the future at breakneck speed. Futuristic skyscrapers dominate the landscape of the city’s Central Business District, standing in stark contrast to the traditional courtyard homes tucked away in the city’s hutong (alleyways).
Indeed, Beijing is a city that appears to have one foot firmly planted in the past and another in the future, making the present a very interesting place.
There are so many amazing things to do in Beijing that one could spend a lifetime in the city and not do it all. I should know, having spent over five years calling the Chinese capital home.
As a part-time English teacher and avid explorer, I was fortunate enough to have plenty of time to experience all that this fascinating city has to offer. Beijing is one of the best cities in China for English teachers.
After spending so much time in Beijing and doing so much there, I know it better than my own hometown.
In this guide, I’ll take you on a tour of the best things to do in Beijing. I’ll also make sure to include plenty of tips to help you make the most out of your visit and not get stuck at tourist traps.
1. Visit Tiananmen Square
When it comes to the top things to do in Beijing, our journey has to begin in Tiananmen Square. This is the heart of the country, as it’s the place where Mao Zedong founded the modern-day People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
For Chinese people, there’s no place more important than this. Many Chinese dream of one day making it to Beijing to visit Tiananmen Square, just as many Americans hope to see the White House at some point in their life.
Every day of the year, the square is packed full of tourists, both domestic and international, who come to see the sights in and around the square.
If you’re up for it, I recommend getting up before sunrise to make it to Tiananmen Square for the daily flag-raising ceremony. Once it’s over, you can grab some breakfast and coffee outside of the square and then head back in to take it all in.
Important landmarks here include the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Goats On The Road…